Submit a Press Release | Pricing & Sign Up | About | Help | Blog

FUTURISTS TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES FOR A CLEANER, GREENER, SMARTER MINNESOTA

(PRLEAP.COM) Futurists and strategists from across Minnesota will discuss hydrogen energy, public education, Minneapolis immigration and other issues vital to the future of the Twin Cities as part of Minnesota Futures Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday August 1 at the Hilton Minneapolis. This special event is presented in coordination with WorldFuture 2007, the annual conference of the World Future Society.

Among the strategists and thinkers participating in Minnesota Futures Day is Elizabeth Glidden, Minneapolis councilwoman, 8th Ward. Glidden will discuss the future of immigration and what it means for the city.

"In 2006, non-white people made up 38% of the entire household population in Minneapolis, compared with 37% in 2000. These residents represent the increasing diversity of Minneapolis; many are immigrants. During the 2006-2007 school year, 30% of all Minneapolis public school students lived in homes where the primary language spoken was not English," says Glidden. "These changing demographics highlight the imperative for us to embrace communities of color and immigrant communities in order to reduce disparities in education, home ownership, and health care and increase the competitiveness of our workforce in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities."

Glidden will be joined by Michael Krause, founding partner of Kandiyohi Development Partners, who will lead a discussion on "Creating a New Energy Future: One Neighborhood at a Time." "This presentation looks at the Midtown Eco-Energy (MEE) Project, a biomass-fuel combined heat and power facility in Minneapolis that is addressing demands for more renewable energy and shifting the power over energy decision-making back to the local level," says Krause. "The solutions to many global challenges are in the hands of individual communities where innovation among small businesses and local organizations is a major force for change."

Rolf Nordstrom of the Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative will describe the opportunities and challenges of a hydrogen energy economy in his presentation. "We will discuss how hydrogen and fuel cells may fit in the overall energy system, and how hydrogen, fuel cells, and related technologies can contribute to a cleaner, more prosperous, and more peaceful world," he says.

Technologist Ken Moses will examine the future of public transportation in the Twin Cities. "The ongoing price increases and shortages of oil and gasoline—not to mention the Twin Cities’ obsession with light rail and streetcars—have reheated the discussion of the need for changes in transportation," says Moses. "With Minnesota’s official ‘thinking’ tending toward 200-year-old conventional rail technology and expansion of roads so they cover all available land, it’s time to consider what other methods work in other parts of the country and world."

David Shupe, president of eLumen Collaborative, and Victoria Ford of the Citizens League will offer two separate presentations on education in the new millennium. Shupe’s talk, "Back the Future: The New Technology of Humanism," will explore how to recreate the classroom learning experience for the new era.

Ford will moderate a discussion on the future of education in Minnesota. "What if education in Minnesota looked completely different?" she asks. "What if students, instead of going off to schools on a set schedule, completed their requirements in an online virtual school? How would that change schooling—and how would it change Minnesota?" Ford will be joined by faculty from Concordia University and the Citizens League.

Registration for Minnesota Futures Day is $55 and includes a box lunch and a cash bar reception The evening reception is sponsored by Concordia University and the Minnesota Citizens League. Minnesota Future’s Day is a special event in conjunction with WorldFuture 2007, the annual conference of the World Future Society. For more information go to: http://www.wfs.org/2007main.htm

WorldFuture 2007: Fostering Hope and Vision for the 21st Century will take place at the Hilton Minneapolis and will feature nearly 100 sessions and presentations on such topics as education, health, biotechnology, security and terrorism, and environmental stewardship.

Registration for the conference is $600.

www.wfs.org

For information about WorldFuture 2007, contact the World Future Society at 1-301-656-8274 or e-mail director of communications Patrick Tucker, ptucker@wfs.org, or Susan Echard, sechard@wfs.org, vice president of membership and conference operations, or check the World Future Society’s Web site www.wfs.org.

PR Leap is a service of Condesa, Inc. © 2007 All Rights Reserved. Use of our service is governed by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Issuers of news releases are solely responsible for the accuracy of their content. Copyright / IP Policy