Future Shock 2025: Inquiring Into a New Path Forward for the Engineering Community (Exploring Impacts of Federal Disruption)
Virtual Preview – October 7, 2025 (Tentative)
In-Person Summit – November, 2025 (Tentative)
Austin, TX
The uncertainty driven by the disruption and change within the federal government, combined with the acceleration of artificial intelligence, distrust in institutions, and economic uncertainty, are presenting increased challenges and complexities to the work of the engineering community. As engineers, scientists, technicians, technologists, design and related professionals, we conceive of and execute activities that shape the natural and built environments. In 2025, many long-established conditions and societal expectations that shape our profession and work outcomes will have been stretched well past their point of elasticity. We cannot expect that they will ever snap back to their previous shape or assumed trajectory.
Consequently, it is imperative that the engineering community assess these changes systematically and begin to chart a new path forward into the future. The engineering community must choose to lead in the face of these changed conditions rather than playing victim to them or avoiding them by proceeding in a “business as usual” manner.
This summit will explore this changed landscape and imagine a positive new path forward for the engineering community as stewards of technology and the built and natural environment on behalf of society,
This inquiry will explore such questions as:
- How has the landscape changed? What are the most significant changes or disruptions that have occurred or are happening?
- What new opportunities have surfaced as government structures and institutions have been disrupted? What new potential has emerged?
- How can we use new constraints to spur creative thinking about new possibilities?
- How can we build the social infrastructure (care, trust, and relationships) needed to fulfill our commitment with respect to the Grand Challenges of the 21st Century despite our changed conditions?
- How can we avoid the trap of polarization that has so often frozen situations and prevented progress in the past?
- How can we help bring everyone “into the tent” to work together? What new coalitions for positive progress have emerged?
- What leadership lessons can we leverage and use to guide our path forward?
Registration fee: $750/person ($650/person for three or more registrants from the same organization)
Register nowAgenda & Reading List
Summit Agenda (coming soon)
Provocateurs
Summit Provocateurs (coming soon)
Please contact us with any questions.
