Foresight, forecast and futurology in reverse : towards cultural sustainability via STEAM

Istileulova, Yelena (author), Mukhamejanova, Larissa (author)

The overall focus of this discussion is the integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) approaches into futurethinking, structured around three key dimensions. First, it examines the conceptual distinctions between foresight, forecasting, and futurology, highlighting how each concept frames the anticipation of the future in different ways. Second, it introduces a reverse approach through the concept of “Retrosight” - a perspective in which alternative futures are not projected linearly but imagined creatively via art-based STEAM practices. It explores the SMS (Stories based on Music about Scientists) method(STEAM approach), which involves composing original music based on poems written by scientists (17th-20th centuries), poetry or musical compositions dedicated to them with digital images. SMS is a narrative method that integrates music and storytelling to humanize scientific futures and reconnect with enduring questions. Third, the discussion illustrates how creative methods can be applied in practice-through illustrated art experiments that map uncertainty and reframe how we approach complex future challenges. The role of science, education, and planetary health is central to this exploration, drawing on original SMS compositions using poetry by James Maxwell, Francis Bacon, and Alfred Nobel. These SMS songs offer a creative lens through which to explore questions still relevant today with philosophical and scientific concerns. As recognized by the WHO (World Health Organization) and the European Commission, Art is essential not only for health and homeostasis, but it serves as a key component of cultural sustainability. STEAM-based SMS experiments can be ideally applied to future studies from a management perspective grounded in frameworkof Retrosight.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cultural sustainability, management perspective, future studies, stories based on music about scientists, retrosight, STEAM
• Work type: Scientific work
• Typology: 1.08 - Published Scientific Conference Contribution
• Organization: ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 107-116
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-171448
• UDC: 001+78
• DOI: 10.55295/PSL.13.2025.13
• COBISS.SI-ID: 246678531
• Publication date in RUL: 26.08.2025

Record is a part of a monograph

• Title: Socratic Lectures : 13th international symposium, Ljubljana, June 6, 2025
• Editors: Veronika Kralj-Iglič, Yelena Istileulova, Anna Romolo
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: University of Ljubljana Press
• Year: 2025
• ISBN: 978-961-297-624-8
• COBISS.SI-ID: 245321219

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P3-0388-2022
• Name: Mehanizmi varovanja zdravja

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: 802-12/2024-5
• Name: Nanostructurome