CASC Futurist-in-Residence
Futurist-in-Residence Program 2026–2027
The future is not set in stone. By learning how to imagine possible futures together, we can design and work toward a better world for humans and all of our relations.
The Program
Deeper conversations about complex topics
CASC’s first of its kind Futurist-in-Residence Program offers a lively, hands-on learning space to enable member organizations to have deeper conversations about complex topics, such as:
- Exploring the needs of visitors in future generations
- Developing exhibitions with longevity
- Making decisions that affect communities, environments, and future challenges
- Investing in future(s) skills for staff
Futures Scenario Building
From signals of change to strong decision-making resources
This residency is developing three evidence-based future scenarios for science centres, museums, and science cultures in Canada. We’re excited to invite people from across the country to join a “transformative foresight” research process based in futures studies. We’ll use a framework and familiar tools that are easy to adapt for decisions about exhibitions, programming, and organizations. Our goal is to create strong, evidence-based scenarios using a framework that values diverse data, foresight, innovation, and social science analyses, and focuses on identifying important questions and making each scenario’s story relatable.
This initiative began in April 2026 at the CASC annual conference, with 120+ attendees, in a workshop titled “The futures of science cultures”. We will pilot those scenarios in the fall with a small group of leaders in the sector before releasing an open-source toolkit.
Data collection
Name weak signals and emerging issues relating to science communication.
Robust analysis
Interpret trends, tensions, trust factors, and future implications.
Problem framing
Ask what matters most for long-term issues when we make decisions.
Co-creating stories
Build relatable futures that enrich exhibitions, programming, and strategy.
Knowledge-based decision-making
Rely on the process, evidence, analysis, and framing to align your purpose in complex situations.
Example activities at each stage
Data collection: How might we name the weak signals and emerging issues you’re noticing?
Robust data analysis: What might these trends help us to understand about people, the impact of our work, or tensions that might affect our reputation and level of trust?
Problem framing: Are we making decisions based on what is best in the long term?
Knowledge-based stories: How might we come to similar understandings of a complex and uncertain situation?
Why attend?
- Find out what trends your peers across Canada are noticing
- Leave with practical tools you can try in your own work
- Be part of a bigger conversation about the future of science centres and museums in Canada
Participation, research, and consent
This residency is connected to Maggie Greyson’s PhD research on how museums and science centres talk about the future in a rigorous, professional way. Some activities, like office hours or the webinar, may also be research opportunities. If Maggie wants to use anything you share, such as quotes, stories, or examples, she will ask for your explicit consent, explain how your information will be used, and give you the option to decline or remain anonymous. You are welcome to take part in residency activities without joining the research, and your decision will not affect your access to the residency, office hours, or CASC programs.
The Futures Curious Program
Strengthen your future-focused thinking skills
We invite you to strengthen your future-focused thinking skills with CASC’s Futurist in Residence, Maggie Greyson. This series offers hands-on sessions to build skills in evidence-based futures research. You’ll use tools, theories, and frameworks from areas like participatory action research, futures studies, and systems thinking.
Throughout the year, you’ll have many chances to build your research skills, such as:
- Robust research methods for studying complexity and change
- Identifying trends and major drivers of change
- Generating evidence-based scenarios to explore abstract concepts
Maggie Greyson, MDes, APF
Maggie Greyson MDes APF, CEO of Futures Present, is an internationally recognized, award-winning futurist and designer. Greyson is an inspirational thought leader who has been using robust research methods and creativity to bring reality to future-oriented decision-making for over twenty-five years. She enhances critical thinking about alternative futures by creating transformative learning programs for museum staff and the public. Prior to adding foresight expertise to her career, she worked in set and costume design, with companies such as the International Shakespeare Globe, in London and the Stratford Theatre Festival.
Greyson is a member of FORMS (Futures-Oriented Museum Synergies network), and collaborates with cultural organizations in Singapore, Australia, Dubai, Colombia, UK, and across Europe. She has a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from the Ontario College of Art and Design University and is now pursuing a doctorate with a focus on futures-oriented museums at SMARTlab (University College Dublin).
Session Details
Futures residency kickoff webinar
Monday, September 28 · 2:00–3:00 PM Eastern
- We’ll look at case studies of futures-oriented museums from around the world, such as the Museum of the Future in Dubai, the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, and MOD. museum of discovery in Australia.
- Help shape the programming for the monthly Futures Curious online sessions.
- Sign up to collaborate on developing scenarios for the Futures of Science Cultures.
Futures Curious Drop-in Sessions
Monthly meet-ups to try out futures tools
Futures and foresight professionals have spent decades improving research methods and ways of thinking about the future. This field combines art and science to help people make stronger, evidence-based decisions in complex situations. We’ll use critical thinking to explore different approaches that can help build trust in your organization, look at the skills and frameworks you already use to tackle your biggest unknowns (like measuring impact), and find new insights by looking at your work from a fresh perspective.
Join peers from across Canada in monthly online meet-ups to try out tools and frameworks that can improve research, teamwork, and training. From September to March, this is a one-hour session where CASC members interested in the future can ask questions, share ideas, or talk about challenges facing their organizations and communities — leading conversations and simple activities that help teams explore future skills and new ideas for programming and public engagement, and trying out tools and frameworks for strategic thinking in a workshop setting.
This is for you! Share a few words about a challenge you’re facing, and we’ll shape each workshop around your questions. No question is too big or too small. For example:
- How might we reach 15-25-year-olds who don’t visit?
- How might we understand what life could be like if AI is controlling everything?
- How do we cut costs and build impact in our outreach?
| First Wednesday, Oct–Mar (Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2, Jan 6, Feb 3, Mar 3) | 12:30–1:30 PM Eastern · register in advance, all sessions recorded |
What are these drop-in sessions?
The Futures Curious drop-in sessions are monthly chances for CASC members to spend an hour thinking ahead and learning with Maggie. Each session is a lively space for quick futures exercises (e.g., prompts, scenarios, lenses), sharing what you’re seeing on the ground in your own community, and asking “what if…?” questions about programs, strategy, or partnerships. You don’t need any previous experience with futures work. All you need is curiosity.
Why attend?
- Access futures thinking tools tailored to science centres and museums
- Connect with colleagues who are planning for the long term, not just the next season
- Help shape how CASC understands and supports future-oriented practice