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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people
can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead
“The most important fact about Spaceship Earth: it didn't come
with an operating manual.”
—Buckminster Fuller
“The future is not to be predicted, it is to be
planned.”
—John Platt
The global problem solving challenge:
“How to make the world work for 100% if humanity,
in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation, without
ecological offense or the disadvantage of anyone.”
—Buckminster Fuller
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Global Solutions Lab— Where YOU develop solutions
to the world's problems!
The Global Solutions Lab is based on
the fact that 'ordinary' citizens can make, and have repeatedly made,
profound contributions toward solving our most pressing local and global
problems. In the Global Solutions Lab students develop
real-world solutions to global (or local) problems in areas such as
hunger, energy, education, health, security, the environment, and other
areas. (The Lab can be focused on the learning objectives of your school,
class or organization.)
The Global Solutions Lab utilizes an online, specially
designed workspace that fosters collaboration and synergy in a structured
learning environment. Students learn a powerful problem-solving methodology
as they develop solutions to real problems. Because of the online feature
of this program, the Lab can be done in a variety of time frames. It
can be a semester-long class, a week-long intensive, or even done over
a weekend.
The Lab starts off with a half-day presentation of a problem solving
methodology (based on the work of Buckminster
Fuller, BPSW Director Medard Gabel, and others). This is followed
by a demonstration and tutorial on how the online workspace is used
and then proceeds online over the selected time period. The workspace
functions as guide/mentor, organizing, communication, and collaboration
tool, data collection and synthesis site, and more. Online guidance
is provided throughout the program by expert BigPictureSmallWorld staff.
When the strategies are completed, they are published as a soft cover
book and .pdf. They are then distributed to various branches of the
UN and economic development organizations around the world. To see what
one group did last summer, download their report here.
Why a Global Solutions Lab?
Global and local problems are too important to be
left to politicians and experts.
The Global Solutions Lab takes as a core principle
that youth—and their creativity, imagination, passion, vision,
and values—are crucial to the development of viable solutions
to the world's problems. One of the Lab's purposes is to provide
youth with the tools and information they need to channel their energy,
insight, and sensibilities towards the construction of solutions to
the world's problems.
For more information and booking: or call toll free 1-866-820-8133 or schedule a program