Stress factor human activities

Activities of future humans can influence the safety of a closed repository. The German safety requirements for a final repository for high-level radioactive waste (EndlSiAnfV, 2020) therefore stipulate that developments induced by future human activities which may become relevant for the safety of the repository system must be taken into account when optimising the repository system and verifying its robustness. The focus here is on inadvertent human intrusion into the repository. Developments that can be induced by present human activities serve as reference developments. Dealing with future human activities is challenging. The uncertainties about anthropogenic developments taking place in the 1 million-year assessment period are overwhelming and can hardly be reduced. Moreover, knowledge about human activities in the future cannot be empirically verified, so that it becomes difficult to differentiate between knowledge and mere opinion (Grunwald, 2007, p. 57). Developments in future human activities are the subject of futures research. In the interdisciplinary experiment “Stress factor human activities”, it was therefore investigated whether findings can be derived from futurology sources that might be useful for optimising the repository system and verifying its robustness. Based on potential impacts on the sealed repository, drivers and trends, future narratives, findings and ideas from technical literature and science fiction as well as experiences in the field of radioactive waste management, 25 scenarios of future human activities that may influence the safety of a repository were derived. The spectrum of scenarios ranges from “drift into failure” in uses of the geological subsurface to attacks targeting the repository. It includes biological, chemical and physical impacts on the repository. In addition to direct impacts, those that occur slowly and possibly unnoticed are also addressed. From today's point of view, climate change and the endeavour to open up new reserves of raw materials and energy are important drivers. The distinction between intended and unintended activities is often not clear-cut. The experiment confirms that scenario development is ridden with prerequisites and is necessarily interdisciplinary. Different methodological approaches have to be combined, prerequisites and assumptions have to be clearly identified. Due to the limited time horizon of futures research, it is necessary to continually adapt and update scenarios of future human activities in the sense of a “learning process” with new findings and developments. Although many details remain speculative, scenarios provide a differentiated picture of human activities that may influence the safety of the final repository from the current perspective. Patterns are emerging that indicate how human activities could be incorporated into the optimisation of a repository and the verification of its robustness. The results of the interdisciplinary study “Stress factor human activities” therefore lead to the conclusion that futures research can contribute to optimising the long-term safety of a final repository (Eckhardt, 2021).

The Development of a Pre-Service Teachers Model in Educational Institutions for Students in the Field of Physical Education, Faculty of Education, a Four-Year Program

The purpose of this research was to develop a pre-service teachers model in educational institutions of students in the field of physical education, Faculty of Education, a four-year program, using EDFR (Ethnographic Delphi Futures Research) techniques and focus group teaching techniques conducted by 18 experts and 12 group discussion participants with knowledge and abilities and acting as supervisors, mentors, and heads of professional experience training. The research instruments consisted of a semi-structured interview, questionnaires and group discussion guides. The statistics used in the research were median, mode and interquartile range. The results showed that the development of pre-service teachers in a four-year physical education program consisted of four themes: (a) management of the Faculty of Education, significant in the four-year format, 25 management; (b) organizing the courses, significant in the four-year format and 38 course arrangements; (c) development of students’ competency, significant in the four-year format and development of the 22 competencies; and (d) assessment and feedback, significant in the four-year format and 22-character assessment and feedback.

Building Scenarios With the Three Tomorrows

Postnormal times, as a concept and as a theory, was conceived in a futures studies context by futurists, yet there have some doubts regarding its applicability when engaging in actual futures research. The arrival of Sardar and Sweeney’s article “The Three Tomorrows of Postnormal Times” seemed to provide the missing method. Yet, despite the authors’ claim, the three tomorrows is not a method, nor does their article explain how to develop the tomorrows. However, it is possible to build future scenario using the three tomorrows not as a method but as an approach. As an approach, the three tomorrows offer a general structure in which it is possible to undertake a futures research. To prove it, this article presents a three-stage process that can help any researcher construct scenarios following the tenets of postnormal times theory.

The use of using digital tools in developing branching narrative

As a lecturer in computing at Moray College UHI, and having recently rekindled my passion for branching narrative and particularly gamebooks, when an opportunity arose to conduct the ‘Digital Futures’ research project, I was able to merge my interest in software development with an exploration of digital tool use in writing branching narrative. The aim of the research is to enhance the employment opportunities of creative writing students by potentially developing pathways into authoring gamebooks, digital games, televisual media or theatre productions. I conducted a background study examining the historical and current state of branching narrative and conversed with gamebook authors about the software tools they used and their world-building and publishing experiences. Similar conversations were held with games writers/developers and an interactive theatre producer. This article presents the key elements of that background study and conversation highlights, along with an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of using digital tools to develop branching narrative.