Future Worlds Center

Future Worlds Center was founded in 1991 as Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute. In the late 1990s, it expanded its operations pioneering in a number of humanitarian, multicultural and peace related projects.{{Cite web |url=http://www.multiculturalcyprus.net/ |title=Building A Multi-Ethnic and Multi-National Cyprus to Promote European Values and Regional and International Peace |access-date=2011-08-25 |archive-date=2011-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022012749/http://www.multiculturalcyprus.net/ |url-status=dead }}[http://www.eucitizenship.net/ Extending EU Citizenship to the Eastern End of Europe] At the end of 2005, with a new Constitution, it evolved into a larger organization with a pure international orientation integrating all humanitarian, peace, and multicultural activities under one umbrella.

According to its new Constitution, Future Worlds Center is an incubator of ideas, projects, social entrepreneurs and organizations committed to socio-technical reforms.{{cite web|url=https://www.futureworlds.eu/wiki/Future_Worlds_Center_Vision_and_Mission|title=Future Worlds Center Vision and Mission - Future Worlds Center Wiki|website=www.futureworlds.eu}} Since its inception it has envisioned, designed and implemented more than 100 projects, employed more than 200 young scientists, and founded several organizations, including CYBER KIDS, Technology for peace, the Cyprus Safer Internet Center along with the Cyprus Safer Internet Hotline and Helpline, the Cyprus Community Media Centrehttp://www.cypruscommunitymedia.org Cyprus Community Media Centre Website funded by the United Nations, Youth Power,{{Cite web |url=http://youthpowercyprus.org/about-us/member-organizations |title=Member Organizations | Youth Power Cyprus |access-date=2018-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023032/http://youthpowercyprus.org/about-us/member-organizations |archive-date=2018-08-17 |url-status=dead }} Cyprus NGO Platform "Development", the Cyprus Refugee Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/cyrefugeecouncil/|title=Cyprus Refugee Council|website=www.facebook.com}}

The organization has developed the curriculum for CYBER KIDS, a chain of computer learning centers, that started in Cyprus and expanded in 7 countries in the early 90s. CYBER KIDS was a mass-scale experiment to achieve massive social change in a whole country.

Future Worlds Center also implements many EC-funded projects that conduct research and inform societies about the safer use of the Internet; Cyberethics,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberethics.info/|title=CyberEthics|website=www.cyberethics.info}} Cyprus’ Safer Internet Center, which includes a Hotline{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberethics.info/cyethics2/page.php?pageID=15|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731064153/http://www.cyberethics.info/cyethics2/page.php?pageID=15|url-status=dead|title=Cyprus' Safer Internet Hotline|archivedate=July 31, 2011}} and a Helpline.[http://www.helpline.cyberethics.info Cyprus’ Safer Internet Helpline] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120803204314/http://www.helpline.cyberethics.info/ |date=2012-08-03 }}

Future Worlds Center pioneers in envisioning, designing and implementing projects that promote the culture of peace and reconciliation in Cyprus, the region and the globe. The Technology for peace,Laouris, Y. (2004). Information technology in the service of peacebuilding: the case of Cyprus. World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution, 60(1-2), 67-79. Article in World Futures about the project.Laouris, Y., & Laouri, R. (2008). Can information and mobile technologies serve to close the economic, educational, digital, and social gaps and accelerate development?. World Futures, 64(4), 254-275. Includes a MAP of all groups supported initiative in 1997, founded by Yiannis Laouris and Harry Anastasiou members of the Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group aimed to capitalize on the proliferation of the Internet as a means to break the communication barriers between the northern and the southern parts of divided Cyprus. Other notable peace projects include the Youth promoting Peace,https://www.futureworlds.eu/wiki/Youth_Promoting_Peace Youth Promoting Peace; has organized >40 events in which thousands of people have participated. Civil Society Dialogue, the Act Beyond Borders, Everybody's song,{{Cite web |url=http://www.everybodys-song.net/ |title=IPage |access-date=2019-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926234217/http://everybodys-song.net/ |archive-date=2018-09-26 |url-status=dead }} and many projects funded by HasNa Inc.

Future Worlds Center is leading a number of pan-European efforts, which aim to promote the Millennium Development Goals within Europe and in Sub-Saharan countries. It was a founding member of the Cyprus Islandwide Development NGO Platform[http://www.trialog.or.at/start.asp?ID=102 List of national development platforms] and the Cyprus Community Media Centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.cypruscommunitymedia.org/|title=Cypruscommunitymedia.org|website=www.cypruscommunitymedia.org}} The Accessing Development Education project{{cite web|url=http://www.developmenteducation.info/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915000547/http://www.developmenteducation.info/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 15, 2008|title=Index of /|website=www.developmenteducation.info}} has collected teaching materials or guidance books on topics like Development Education,{{cite web|url=http://www.deeep.org/|title=Development Education initiative in Europe|access-date=2011-08-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415193346/http://www.deeep.org/|archive-date=2019-04-15|url-status=dead}} Global citizenship, Human Rights, Millennium Development Goals and many others from across Europe into one central depository. The Teach MDGs project{{Cite web |url=http://teachmdgs.net/ |title=www.teachmdgs.net |access-date=2011-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830140811/http://teachmdgs.net/ |archive-date=2011-08-30 |url-status=dead }} focuses on increasing awareness and public support for the Millennium Development Goals by actively engaging teacher training institutes, teachers and pupils in developing local oriented teaching resources promoting the MDGs with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and integrate these into the educational systems of countries across Europe.

The organization has implemented more than 120 Structured Democratic Dialogues in diverse contexts,https://futureworlds.eu/wiki/Chronological_List_of_SDDPs_by_Future_Worlds_Center_and_Associates Chronological List of SDDPs by Future Worlds Center and Associates including, peace and conflict resolution,Laouris, Y., Erel, A., Michaelides, M., Damdelen, M., Taraszow, T., Dagli, I., Laouri, R. & Christakis, A. (2009b). Exploring options for enhancement of social dialogue between the Turkish and Greek communities in Cyprus using the Structured Dialogic Design Process. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 22(5), 361-381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-009-9134-zLaouris, Y., Michaelides, M., Damdelen, M., Laouri, R., Beyatli, D., & Christakis, A. (2009a). A systemic evaluation of the state of affairs following the negative outcome of the referendum in Cyprus using the structured dialogic design process. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 22(1), 45-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-008-9111-y government and societal challenges (e.g., reforming the local authoritiesLaouris, Y., & Michaelides, M. (2018). Structured democratic dialogue: An application of a mathematical problem structuring method to facilitate reforms with local authorities in Cyprus. European Journal of Operational Research, 268(3), 918-931. or the Wine Villages of CyprusMichaelides, M., & Laouris, Y. (2024). A cascading model of stakeholder engagement for large-scale regional development using structured dialogical design. European Journal of Operational Research, 315(1), 307-323.), supporting pan-European groups of experts discover obstacles and design actions to improve access to broadband technologies for all but also for people facing accessibility challenges;Laouris, Y., & Michaelides, M. (2007). What obstacles prevent practical broadband applications from being produced and exploited. In P. R. W. Roe (Ed.), Towards an inclusive future: Impact and wider potential of information and communication technologies (pp. 281-299). EPFL Press.Laouris, Y., Michaelides, M., & Sapio, B. (2008). A systemic evaluation of obstacles preventing the wider public benefiting from and participating in the broadband society. Observatorio J, 5, 21-31. discovering and collectively agreeing on research agenda priorities, thus influencing European Commission funding;Roe, P., Gill, J., Allen, B., Boyle, B., Heck, H., Shitta, G., & Laouris, Y. (2011). Towards a technology transfer roadmap from the Coordination Action in R&D in Accessible and Assistive ICT (CARDIAC). Technology and Disability, 23(3), 171-181. reinventing democracy.Laouris, Y., & Romm, N. R. (2022). African youth’s visioning for re-inventing democracy in the digital era: A case of use of structured dialogical design. World Futures, 78(1), 18-61. Its scientists advanced the underlying science enabling virtual dialogues.Laouris, Y., & Dye, K. (2024). Multi‐stakeholder structured dialogues: Five generations of evolution of dialogic design. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 41(2), 368-389.Laouris, Y., & Metcalf, G. (2024). Assessing the viability of virtual structured democratic dialogue. Systems Research and Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.3006

Future Worlds Center is the implementing organization of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representation in Cyprus. Its Humanitarian Affairs Unit implements projects that aim strengthening asylum for refugees and asylum seekers on the island. This Unit has founded the Unit of Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. As of January 2018, a spin-off was created and the Cyprus Refugee Council was created.

• The Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies Medal in 2007 to Aleco Christakis for his role in founding the science of Structured dialogic design.
• The Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies Award in 2008 to Yiannis Laouris for his peace work within Future Worlds Center.
• Cyprus civil society award in the category of social inclusion in 2008.
• The 2011 Euro-Med Award for the Dialogue between Cultures{{cite web|url=https://www.futureworlds.eu/wiki/Anna_Lindh_Award_to_Future_Worlds_Center|title=Anna Lindh Award to Future Worlds Center - Future Worlds Center Wiki|website=www.futureworlds.eu}} Honorable Mention -ranked 2nd- for Future Worlds Center and Aleco Christakis, Yiannis Laouris, Harry Anastasiou, Kerstin Wittig and Romina Laouri.

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• [http://www.FutureWorldsCenter.org/ Future Worlds Center official website]
• [https://www.futureworlds.eu Future Worlds Center official wiki]

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Category:Research institutes in Cyprus

Category:Science and technology in Cyprus

Category:Systems science institutes

Category:Peace organisations based in Cyprus

Category:Ethics of science and technology