A Collective Crystal Ball was selected for a crowdfunding programme for science

The crowdfunding campaign is to be organised by Mesenaatti with support from Kone Foundation. The campaign also aims at bringing science closer to people by giving the public at large the opportunity to give direct support to projects of their choosing.

A Collective Crystal Ball: The Year 2030

The purpose of the project is to create methods of handling shared issues combining open think tank scenario work and role-playing. University students are to be recruited through an internet-based user interface to three facilitated future workshops. Participants in tabletop roleplay-type workshops develop a shared story set in the future. The story is limited by the set topic: Studying in 2030. The story that emerges in this way is sent back for comment through the user interface. The project produces material for the use of research, allowing for a new kind of conversational culture.

Working group: Vesa Kantola, lecturer in visual communication, School of Science, Student Noora Pyörre, information networks/Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Master's Student, Lecturer Anne Pasanen, graphic design, Department of Media.

Further information: Vesa Kantola, tel. +358 50 556 2092, vesa.kantola@aalto.fi

The crowdfunding service is a forum open to all for presenting projects to the public at large and for seeking funding for them. In 2014 Mesenaatti implemented a crowdfunding campaign for the arts with the help of Kone Foundation. The result of this was that 15 projects out of 20 were successful in their minimum funding goals. In 2015 Mesenaatti will arrange a similar crowdfunding programme with the help of Kone Foundation, which will include 15 science projects. At the same time, players in the field of science will learn about crowdfunding. Further information from Mesenaatti`s website.