



Our community is built of lifelong learners so we want to offer bite-sized snackables to keep your learning fresh. This is a chance to upskil with the newest tricks and tools of the trade with mini-modules and micro-credentials. No matter when you came through the program, we want you to be always learning and always activating.
Whether you’re a student practicing your facilitation, wanting feedback on a new idea, or an alumni ready to offer some of your own expertise, we’d love to have you sharing with the community. Workshops, talks, and lectures will keep building our foresight ecosystem. Think of The Lab as salon, sandbox, or test kitchen to incubate your brightest ideas.
We want partnerships beyond our program. That looks like deepening relationships at the university but also with you and the work you’re doing in the world. So link up with us. Let us know how we can partner to activate the future together, or connect us to groups you know who are doing great work.
The Activation Lab website/app was officially launched at Spring Gathering 2024. Students and Alumni of the University of Houston graduate and certificate programs are invited to join the community discussion boards, sign up for workshops, or RSVP to an in-person meetup in your area.
Spring Gathering
The annual Houston Foresight Spring Gathering takes place each Spring and brings together futures students, faculty, alumni and friends learn, network, and build community. The Activation Lab hosts a Living Lab on Friday, followed by an evening dinner and networking/socializing. Saturday’s conference begins with a plenary session before lunch and breaks into workshops in the afternoon, followed by an evening celebration of the UH Foresight community.
Houston Foresight Awards
2026 Houston Foresight Awards
The UH Foresight Faculty selected three individual and three group projects for entrance into the Annual APF Student Recognition Competition. Good luck! We tapped our UH Foresight Advisory Board to judge the entries for the Houston Foresight Awards. It was great to see the number of entries way up this year.
[Winners are listed in alphabetical order]
Winner Group Project
Neoarcology: Building Beyond CapitalismNeoarcology: Building Beyond Capitalism
Winners: Helen Doukas, Bertram Jenkins, Autonnette McLaughlin, Damian Rainey, Ginna Maznik (not pictured)
Winner Group Project
What Social Change Theories Reveal about Shell’s Sky 1.5 ScenarioForesight, Conflict, and Cohesion: What Social Change Theories Reveal about Shell’s Sky 1.5 Scenario

Winners: Bernardo Garcia, Dexter Lam, Patricia Mugenzi, Jessica Robbins
Winner Individual
Dan EizansWinner Individual
Leah FischerWinner Individual
Alison RandWinner Individual
Stephanie ShookWinner Individual
Amanda Welsh2025 Houston Foresight Awards
A competition to recognize and reward student excellence in Foresight
Winner Group Project
Seattle Public Library Strategy 2035Seattle Public Library Strategy 2035

Steve Fisher, Lyric Metroplos, Fernando Gutierrez, Saima Burkie, Matthew Smith, and Mason Henderson
Winner Individual
Stephen DupontWinner Individual
Jess RobbinsEntangled Tomorrows: Harnessing Quantum Insight for Dynamic Foresight

Winner: Jess Robbins
Winner Individual
Autonnette McLaughlinStudent Recognition – Association of Professional Futurists Awards
Here are some examples of excellent student work that have been submitted to the APF Student Recognition program.







