Project researched, written, and presented by:
Nadia Ackah
Laurissa Barnes-Roberts
Iris Elliott
Julia Forrester
Amy Morrell
Report layout by:
Laurissa Barnes-Roberts
Context
This strategic foresight project was completed as part of joint Strategy Development and Foresight Studio courses at OCAD University.
For this project, our team was asked to explore space in the year 2048. After an initial trend and horizon scanning process, we worked collaboratively in a mock client consultation to apply foresight tools and methods to explore the concepts of terra nullius, space ownership, and decolonization in the context of space. From there, we developed strategic options to recommend to our mock client based on our analysis.
Research Question
How might we learn from our past and present relationships to the land and planet Earth to help guide our relationship with space in the future?
Strategic Recommendations
Based on the horizon scanning, scenario building, and wind tunneling our team conducted, we proposed establishing Stewards of Space (S.O.S.) as an office within the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
S.O.S. would exist as a decentralized entity comprised of UN member nations and non-members from typically from underserved and underrepresented communities (e.g., Indigenous and First Nations) around the world.
S.O.S. would have a unique organizational structure – a flatarchy, that encourages creativity and ideation, and provides a platform for non-traditional state actors (specifically the misrepresented and underrepresented) to inform process, policy and decision-making.
The primary focus of S.O.S. is on the long-term sustainability of all life, for (seven) generations to come.
The full report capturing our team's process and deliverables can be viewed below.