BIP Futures-ready Ulysseus Innovators: A Futures Lab for Life Sciences

Scientific and technological progress is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Innovations such as artificial intelligence in healthcare, synthetic biology, gene editing, precision medicine, digital health, and climate-responsive biotechnology are reshaping societies and creating opportunities alongside complex ethical, environmental, and social challenges. In this rapidly evolving context, technical expertise alone is no longer sufficient. Future scientists must also be capable of anticipating change, working across disciplines, and making informed decisions under conditions of uncertainty.

This Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) introduces Master’s students in Life Sciences to Futures Literacy as a competency for anticipating and shaping the future of health, biotechnology and environmental sustainability. This BIS is structured around the UNESCO Futures Literacy Laboratory (FLL) methodology, enabling participants to uncover and challenge their assumptions, explore alternative futures, and develop anticipatory competencies for responsible research and innovation in the Life Sciences.

Please be aware that your home university may set a different application deadline depending on their internal selection process.

Registration dates 24 September 2026 15 January 2027

Course dates 22 February 2027 26 February 2027

Registration is open

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General Course Information

The BIP will be centred around a Futures Literacy Lab (FLL) inspired by the UNESCO Futures Literacy method ology. Rather than teaching participants to predict the future, this programme will enable the participants to develop the anticipatory competencies required by futures Innovators to navigate uncertainty, address complex societal challenges, and contribute to responsible research and innovation.

Participants will work in international and multidisciplinary teams on Life Sciences challenge related to human health, biotechnology, environmental sustainability, food systems, or emerging biomedical technologies.

This programme combines the UNESCO Futures Lab methodology with interdisciplinary perspectives from the Life Sciences to develop anticipatory competencies for responsible research and innovation. Students will explore the following thematic areas:

Anticipation and Imagination
Systems Thinking
Value-Based Thinking
Reflexivity and Ex-novation
Participatory Thinking
Creativity and Future-Oriented Decision-Making
Communication for Futures
Integrating Anticipatory Competencies

Learning Outcomes

Following this course, students will be able to:

Apply Futures Literacy principles to explore multiple plausible futures and use anticipation as a resource for scientific inquiry and responsible decision-making.
Critically evaluate the ethical, social, environmental, and economic implications of emerging scientific and technological developments, recognising competing values and trade-offs.
Demonstrate reflexivity by questioning assumptions, challenging dominant narratives, and critically reflecting on existing scientific paradigms and professional practices.
Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams using participatory approaches that foster dialogue, inclusion, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation.
Integrate anticipation, systems thinking, value-based reasoning, reflexivity, participation, and creativity into responsible research and innovation practices.

Requirements

Students must be enrolled in a Master or PhD Programme in one of the Ulysseus partner university at the time of the BIP.
English knowledge is required (C1 level), since the programme will be taught in English.

Virtual Component

Practical Details Regarding the Virtual Component:

Virtual Seminar: 10/02/27
Topic: Why Futures Literacy matters in an increasingly dynamic and complex world?
Pre-lab reflection: Completing a self-assessment of invidual “Futures Consciousness” (online self-assessment tool to which students will get access to) – The purpose of this virtual seminar will introduce participants to Futures Literacy and its relevance for navigating uncertainty, complexity, and rapid change.
Participants will explore how assumptions and expectations about the future shape the way we understand the present and make decisions. – Pre-Lab Reflection – Futures Consciousness Self-Assessment Before the Futures Lab, participants will complete an online Futures Consciousness self-assessment.