Goals of the Global Solutions Lab 

  • Increase our understanding of global dynamics, world resources, human trends and needs, regenerative design, and options for humanity’s success

  • Learn design science and how to apply it to solving global and local problems— in multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural, international, and intergenerational Design Teams

  • Develop viable, regenerative strategies for improving the well being of humanity and achieving one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

  • Increase the public’s understanding of these issues through disseminating the strategies developed by Lab participants as widely as possible

  • Serve as an incubator and growing force for developing and disseminating regenerative design science techniques for complex problem solving and development of viable solutions to the worlds problems

  • Learn a methodology for changing the world— based on science, nature, and human values of justice, equity, compassion, resilience and environmental regeneration

Who should attend the Global Solutions Lab?

 People interested in:

  • Climate change, basic human needs and rights, and the state of the world and what can be done about it
  • Achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
  • Comprehensive problem solving, strategic planning, design, and leadership skills
  • The interconnections between local, regional and global issues
  • Sustainable and socially responsible business opportunities
  • Developing innovative uses for new technology for meeting the basic needs of the world
  • Renewable energy, energy conservation, and other environmentally sound technologies
  • Developing a strategic plan for getting clean, reliable, and affordable electricity for nearly the 600 million people in Africa and elsewhere in the world who do not have access
  • Experiential education
  • Social, environmental, and political science data visualization and analysis
  • Global citizenship, responsibility, and prerogatives

Past Participants include:

  • Undergraduate and graduate students
  • Advanced level high school students
  • Youth leaders, activist global citizens
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Educators
  • Governmental representatives
  • Business professionals
  • Non-profit organization staff and directors

What Previous Participants Say

“This program encouraged me, inspired me, and sparked my creative process. Before participating in the Global Solutions Lab, I had many hopes for the future of the world, but I did not have a vehicle to solve problems. By the end of this program, I learned how I can use the Design Science methodology to troubleshoot, and problem-solve the world’s largest issues.”

— 2005 GSL participant

 

“The world needs a new vision of what is possible, that can galvanize people around the world to achieve higher levels of cooperation in areas of common concern and shared destiny.”

—UN Commission on Global Governance