PRIMER21 Global: Now What?

This year, our virtual conference will represent a collaboration between our global Speculative Futures Chapters.  Speakers, panels, and workshops will be held spanning time zones, continents, languages as together we investigate and propose the question: “Now What?”

The past year leads to reflection as well as questioning “Now What?”.  As a collective planet, humans have been asked to be patient, pivot, persevere; collaborate, compromise, and act with concern and consideration for our fellow humans.  

A remote, virtually operating world has revealed more clearly the harsh, ignored truth: that most of our systems and services are intentionally built to maintain inequality--built upon colonized, nationalistic, racist, sexist, homophobic, classist, religious bigotry.  And even then, these constructs are inadequate, incompetent, and inconsistent even in supporting those they are intended to benefit.  

Many have been staring at their own reflection questioning their humanity--both as an individual and a collective, albeit dysfunctional, society.  The world is looking to and grasping for a better tomorrow, searching and re-evaluating the past to help inform the future.  In many cases, visions of the future for some are already a reality for others.  Does studying and applying an always lengthening timeline prepare and build a better world?

Here, a year later, many are left wondering what, if anything, has changed in the global situation.  Without a doubt, the future will look back on actions taken now and call it history.  From government policy to education to climate change to healthcare to international diplomacy to business ethics and beyond, what has COVID changed in terms of how life is lived?  Not only day-to-day but more importantly in how the world will live moving forward?  What does it look like?  How does it function?  Who does it benefit?  Who bears the cost?  And the biggest question: How do we get there, together?