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This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Futures Thinking

  • Forecasting

    Problem set on forecasting from the course D-Lab: Supply Chains.

    Read more: Forecasting

  • Urban Plans (Assignment 2)

    The purpose of this exercise is to explore the nature of plans and their impact on the form and function of cities. We are interested in the motivations for creating plans, the processes by which they are prepared, the languages of urban design which underlay them, and the long-term effects of plans — or lack thereof — on the city. Having considered these issues, you are asked to answer the question: What makes a good plan?

    Read more: Urban Plans (Assignment 2)

  • Term Project

    Household to global scale term projects on water, climate change and health solutions will be developed in teams or individually. You and your team decide on the format—a model, a video, a website, an app, a proposal, an artistic expression, a research paper, a competition entry. This can take any form. 

    Read more: Term Project

  • Dream Project/Term Project Proposal

    The proposal describes your dream project. The proposal is your opportunity to detail the scope of your project, its context, what you need to make this happen, your timeline and milestones, who are your teammates if you have teammates, or if you are planning to proceed individually.

    In the first deliverable, it does not need to be a fully formed proposal but a rough first draft. There’s no specific page requirement, but 4 to 8 pages of text total, or perhaps 10+ PowerPoint slides might be a good length.

    Read more: Dream Project/Term Project Proposal

  • Dream Project Exercise

    Take an index card, and prepare a short summary.

    Step 1 (on side 1 of the index card): Describe your dream project (drawing from any combo of disciplines, any scale, however far-fetched or down-to-earth).

    • Dream project name/title
    • Dream project summary (50 words maximum)
    • What else do you need to make this dream a reality?

    If you don’t have a dream project yet, describe a sector or geographical area in which you would like to be focused.

    Step 2 (on side 2 of the index card): Get yourself recruited into a Dream Team! What are your special gifts?

    • Reason a team should want to recruit you—ie., your special skills and capabilities (50 words maximum)
    • Types of project sought
    • Does your dream project fit in the Drawdown and/or 2020 framework?
    Read more: Dream Project Exercise

Notice something that doesn’t seem right? Want to make a suggestion or provide feedback about how something is classified? 
Please reach out to esi [at] mit.edu and include SCALES Website in the subject of your email.
Feedback and any actions taken with regards to the feedback, will be shared as they are addressed.