PLANET EATERS OR STAR MAKERS - ONE VIEW OF FUTURES STUDIES IN HIGHER-EDUCATION

For the author the avocation of futures studies has been a personal jo urney, which he describes in this article. He then posits a conundrum: the possibility of humanity's role in its own destruction, on one han d, or human transcendence, on the other hand (planet eaters or star ma kers). The roles of driving forces and theories of social change are e mphasized, especially the role of technology innovation in social chan ge. Other ''tsunamis of change'' are discussed including economic and environmental change and the status of women. The author's focus on al ternative futures methodologies is covered in some detail, in particul ar, popular societal images of the future. His preference for either a ''sane, humane, and ecological'' future or a high-tech future is desc ribed. The author concludes with a discussion of the changing nature o f higher education students and the challenges facing bath education a nd the human species.