Theory and practice in the field of foresight

Purpose – The paper aims to explore the gap between theory and practice in foresight and to give some suggestions on how to reduce it. Design/methodology/approach – Analysis of practical foresight activities and suggestions are based on a literature review, the author's own research and practice in the field of foresight and futures studies, and her participation in the work of a European project (COST A22). Findings – Two different types of practical foresight activities have developed. One of them, the practice of foresight of critical futures studies (FCFS) is an application of a theory of futures studies. The other, termed here as praxis foresight (PF), has no theoretical basis and responds directly to practical needs. At present a gap can be perceived between theory and practice. PF distinguishes itself from the practice and theory of FCFS and narrows the construction space of futures. Neither FCFS nor PF deals with content issues of the outer world. Reducing the gap depends on renewal of joint discourses and research about experience of different practical foresight activities and manageability of complex dynamics in foresight. Production and feedback of self-reflective and reflective foresight knowledge could improve theory and practice. Originality/value – Contemporary practical foresight activities are analysed and suggestions to reduce the gap are developed in the context of the linkage between theory and practice. This paper is thought provoking for futurists, foresight managers and university researchers

Developmental stage is an important factor that determines the antioxidant responses of young and old grapevine leaves under UV irradiation in a green-house.

The impact of UV irradiation was studied on photosynthesis, photosystem II photochemical yields and antioxidant responses using green-house grown grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay) leaves. Supplemental UV irradiation (290-400 nm) was centred in the UV-B region, and corresponded to 8.95 kJ m-2 d-1 global (280-400 nm) or 8.04 kJ m-2 d-1 UV-B (280-315 nm) biologically effective dose. UV irradiation was applied daily and its effects were evaluated after 4-days. Younger (1-3 weeksold) leaves (YL) and older (4-6 weeks-old) leaves (OL) were affected differently, UV irradiation decreased their photochemical yields to 78% and 56%, respectively. Unlike OL, YL responded by an increase in UV-B absorbing pigment, anthocyanin and total phenolics contents. UV irradiation increased total antioxidant capacities in YL but not in OL. YL were also different in their ability to increase speciıic hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen neutralizing capacities in response to the supplemental UV irradiation, which is reported here for the ıirst time. Our results suggest that the ability of maintaining photosynthesis under supplemental UV is not necessarily determined by base levels of antioxidants but rather by their inducibilities in response to the irradiation and emphasise the importance of comparing leaves of the same age in UV studies. Correlations between various antioxidant capacities, pigment contents and photosynthesis parameters were also examined. However, no single element of the defence system can be picked up as decisive factor of sensitivity to UV

Existing antioxidant levels are more important in acclimation to supplemental UV-B irradiation than inducible ones: Studies with high light pretreated tobacco leaves

Greenhouse grown tobacco plants were exposed to supplemental ultraviolet irradiation (280-400 nm, UV-B centered) for 6 days and changes in their photosynthesis (gas exchange and electron transport) and general and specific antioxidant activities were measured. UV irradiation corresponded to 8.95 kJ m-2 d-1 biologically effective dose and was supplemented to below ambient (200 μmol m-2 s-1 photon flux density) photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD, 400-700 nm). Two groups of plants, which were different in their leaf antioxidant capacities due to one of them having been acclimated to high irradiance (1000 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD) before the UV treatment, responded differently. High light pretreated leaves lost approximately 25% of photosynthetic activity during the UV exposure and showed no change either in the amounts of UV-absorbing pigments or antioxidant levels. On the other hand, leaves which were exposed to UV irradiation without the preceding high light acclimation had 60% lower photosynthesis by the end of the treatment, and increased antioxidant activities. Our results emphasize the importance of base antioxidant levels over inducible pools in leaf responses to low doses of UV irradiation and may also contribute to hypotheses on acclimation under field conditions

Developmental stage is an important factor that determines the antioxidant responses of young and old grapevine leaves under UV irradiation in a green-house.

The impact of UV irradiation was studied on photosynthesis, photosystem II photochemical yields and antioxidant responses using green-house grown grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay) leaves. Supplemental UV irradiation (290-400 nm) was centred in the UV-B region, and corresponded to 8.95 kJ m-2 d-1 global (280-400 nm) or 8.04 kJ m-2 d-1 UV-B (280-315 nm) biologically effective dose. UV irradiation was applied daily and its effects were evaluated after 4-days. Younger (1-3 weeksold) leaves (YL) and older (4-6 weeks-old) leaves (OL) were affected differently, UV irradiation decreased their photochemical yields to 78% and 56%, respectively. Unlike OL, YL responded by an increase in UV-B absorbing pigment, anthocyanin and total phenolics contents. UV irradiation increased total antioxidant capacities in YL but not in OL. YL were also different in their ability to increase speciıic hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen neutralizing capacities in response to the supplemental UV irradiation, which is reported here for the ıirst time. Our results suggest that the ability of maintaining photosynthesis under supplemental UV is not necessarily determined by base levels of antioxidants but rather by their inducibilities in response to the irradiation and emphasise the importance of comparing leaves of the same age in UV studies. Correlations between various antioxidant capacities, pigment contents and photosynthesis parameters were also examined. However, no single element of the defence system can be picked up as decisive factor of sensitivity to UV

Leendő vállalkozásfejlesztők hazai várakozásai 2050-ig előretekintve = The would-be development managers' expectations concerning Hungary for 2050

A tanulmány egy kérdőíves megkérdezés eredményeit mutatja be. A kérdőív az MTA Ökológiai Kutatóközpont 4944 sz. Környezeti jövőkutatás 2050 c. főigazgatói projektje keretében készült, amelyet a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem Vállalkozásfejlesztés MSc szakos hallgatói töltöttek ki egy próba felmérés keretében 2017 tavaszán. E felmérés eredménye azért is érdekes, mert a 20 és 30 év közötti, vállalkozásfejlesztőnek tanuló fiatal közgazdászok jövőre vonatkozó gondolkodásában enged bepillantani, akik majd életük elkövetkező bő 30 legaktívabb éve alatt hathatósan fogják formálni Magyarország jövőjét. A közgazdász stakeholderek tanulmányaik alatt megismerkednek a hazai jövőre vonatkozó különböző időtávú előrejelzéseivel és a foresight típusú előrejelzésekben, előretekintésekben a stakeholderi szerepkör gyakorlásával. Jövőorientált gondolkodásmódjuk mintázata és véleményformálásuk a válaszaikban is tetten érhetőek

Emergence in the Foresight

The aim of this paper to present some items of emergence in the foresight that should be meant and handled scientifically. It highlights three resources of social emergence. One of them is originated from the development of shared future views at a community level from the individual future shapes. The second one is originated from the relations among the foresight and its social environment and the outer conditions. The third one is originated from the double loop of discourse between subjective – inter-subjective and human – non-human world. The paper reasons that a meta-theory and an extended participatory approach should be needed to research, study and give meaning complex social emergence in the foresight

A regionalizálódás jelei és kérdőjelei a visegrádi országok foresight tevékenységében

A tanulmány azzal a céllal készült, hogy néhány témakörben feltárja a visegrádi országok (V4-ek) regionalizálódási törekvéseit. Ezt elsősorban az egyes országok foresight tevékenységének áttekintése, az üzleti szektorra vonatkozó vállalati foresight és más régiós közös foresight kutatások eredményei alapján kívánja megvalósítani miközben figyelembe veszi, hogy miként alakultak az egyes országok gazdasági teljesítményei