Futures thinking and foresight

Beyond predicting trends, futures thinking and foresight explores ideas and builds the capabilities needed to shape more sustainable, just and resilient futures.

Research area overview

How can we make better decisions today in the face of uncertainty—and shape more sustainable, just and resilient futures?

Our world is defined by rapid, unpredictable change - from climate risk and technological disruption to shifting social and economic systems. While we cannot predict the future, we can explore possibilities, challenge assumptions, and make more informed choices about the paths we take.

Futures thinking and foresight helps people and organisations move beyond short-term decision-making. It brings together systems thinking, creativity and collaboration to understand emerging trends, challenge thinking, imagine alternative futures, and connect those possibilities to action today. Rather than forecasting a single outcome, this work builds future‑shaping capabilities to navigate uncertainty with clarity, responsibility and purpose.

At TD Research within the UTS Transdisciplinary School, we use transdisciplinary approaches to build and apply future‑shaping capabilities in real-world contexts - from sustainability transitions and policy innovation to organisational strategy and community resilience, in partnership with organisations across Australia and globally.

Why transdisciplinary foresight?

Addressing uncertainty requires more than traditional forecasting or strategy - it requires the capacity to explore and shape possible futures.

Our unique transdisciplinary approach:

• Integrates diverse expertise – combining design, social science, technology and policy.
• Works across sectors – engaging industry, government and communities directly.
• Connects insight to action – linking long-term thinking to decisions and pathways for change.
• Tackles complexity – addressing interconnected social, environmental and technological challenges.

This enables organisations to move beyond short-term thinking and respond to uncertainty with clarity, responsibility and purpose—while actively shaping better outcomes.

Project and theme highlights

• ‘Future focused capabilities for impact’ – Supporting graduates to innovate ethically while leading with integrity as industries and organisations face escalating environmental and social challenges. 
• ‘Making the future Australia wants’ – Helping overcome society’s inability to discuss and navigate complex topics to help Australia’s underperformance on the nation’s biggest issues. 
• ‘Fashion Futuring’ – using speculative design to explore more sustainable futures for the fashion industry.
• ‘Futures Thinking in government’ – building capability for long-term decision-making in public sector transformation.

Our research advances futures thinking as both a capability and a practice for navigating and shaping complex challenges.

Other research streams and topic areas in this theme include:

Futures capabilities and education

This research explores how individuals, students and organisations can build the skills needed to navigate uncertainty and shape change. It focuses on systems thinking, futures thinking, creativity and collaboration - embedding these capabilities into higher education and professional learning to support real-world impact.

Sustainable and just futures

This research applies futures thinking to sustainability challenges, including climate adaptation, circular economies and ecological resilience. It brings together social and environmental perspectives to shape transitions that are both sustainable and equitable.

Strategic foresight and decision-making

This research examines how organisations use structured foresight approaches - such as scenario development and trend analysis - to inform strategy and policy. It helps decision-makers understand uncertainty, test assumptions, and plan across a range of possible futures.

Participatory and experiential futures

This research explores creative and collaborative methods - such as storytelling, speculative design and immersive experiences that help people engage with the future in tangible ways. These approaches build shared understanding, spark new ideas and support collective action.

Enterprise Learning and Industry Collaboration

Alongside our research, we work with organisations to build futures thinking and future-shaping capability and apply it to real challenges.

This includes:

• Embedding foresight into organisational strategy and planning
• Building internal capability for future-focused leadership
• Applying futures methods to sector-specific challenges.

These engagements extend our research into practice, helping organisations translate future insight into meaningful action and empowering them to navigate uncertainty and make more informed long-term decisions.

Explore some examples of our impact in practice below: