SciFutures – Blending Futurology and Science Fiction

I am excited to have become a freelance writer contributing to SciFutures.

Most people know (or think they know) what science fiction is. But what is futurology and what on earth is SciFutures?

Usually, science fiction is about science gone wrong. This makes exciting adventures, and arguably posts warning signs for potholes in the road ahead. But don’t we also want a map for where the road is going? That is where futurology comes in, by considering what is likely, or possible and within our scope of control.

SciFutures is a company where freelance writers such as yours truly do their best to come up with desirable scenarios and stories for the future in a given industry (or direction on the map, to extend the analogy above.) We aren’t doing the hard work of figuring out where technology is going, but we are listening to the experts and turning their ideas into stories for general consumption.

Well, that’s my take on it anyway. SciFutures describes what they do as “science fiction prototyping.”  If you want to know more, you can check out their website here.