TEAM
Daniel Schimmelpfennig is an aporetic futurist with a master’s degree in futures studies from Finland and a bachelor’s degree in international business and management from the Netherlands. with a scholarship from the European Space Agency, he participated in the space study program at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. HE is the founder and SHOWRUNNER of THE NARRATIVE STUDIO MANYWORLDS. He Pioneered Between 2013-2016 Phenomenon-based learning in Finland (also known as thematic learning), which the country later officially adopted. Daniel has been participating at the 2024 Geneva Science Diplomacy Week, initiated by GESDA including the United Nations Headquarters in Switzerland, CERN and the emblematic Maison de la Paix. He has served as a referent at the Global Brain Institute Brussels, Institut Futur Berlin, the Finland Futures Research Center, the Post-Normal Science Network in Barcelona, the Asian Pacific Futures Network, and the Max-Planck Institute for Human Development, and is affiliated with UNESCO’s Futures Literacy Network.
“Daniel has demonstrated an excellent command of the different strands of research, theory and practice, that make up Futures Studies. He is widely read and has an admirable curiosity that pushes him to explore the immense diversity of intellectual highways and byways in today’s world. On many occasions Daniel has helped me to expand my own horizons and to consider new angles on old or on-going debates.”
Riel Miller
“Daniel’s curiosity is keen, as is his appetite for rigor. He is eager to go deeper, and to expLore the ideas in practice. His enthusiasm is integrated into his inquiry with both discernment and joy.”
Nora Bateson
“With Daniel’s deep insights into the cultural diversity and historical origins of Futures Studies, he is passionate about the plurality and accessibility of Futures Studies as well as its translation into everyday life. He has a mindful and high concern for quality, takes initiative, is goal-driven with resilient perseverance, and an ability to network outside of his comfort zone. Daniel has the motivation to continuously improve and learn and is capable of tackling difficult questions by outlining solutions that challenge conventional thinking.”
Lonny J Avi Brooks
Vitali Braun is a space debris engineer with a diploma in aerospace engineering and a Ph.D. in space surveillance and tracking from the TU Braunschweig. He works at the European Space Agency’s Space Debris Office to address the polluting effects of space flight activities. He is a member of standardization working groups, an organizer of participatory workshops on space debris mitigation, and is active in research, education, and outreach activities. In January 2025 he has been organizing the WORKSHOP ON SPACE DEBRIS AT esa/esoc darmstadt, Germany.
“Vitali embodies with elegance the infinite loop and virtuous circle between the art of learning and the art of teaching. A grandmaster of astute analysis, he navigates complex nuances and anticipates higher-order consequences that few can truly grasp. With grace, he welcomes us into his intellectual and emotional home, creating a space for profound and critical thought—an audacity that dares to reach ever further across time and space. In his communication, Vitali remains a true gentleman: a humble pioneer of planetary-scale scientific citizenship for the world of tomorrow.”
Daniel Schimmelpfennig