IF is reaching out beyond the English-speaking world to promote thoughtful public policy discussions—especially since many of our projects address areas of global concern that should be discussed beyond our borders. Several of our reports have been translated into foreign languages —and a significant number into Spanish.
In August, I spoke about IF at the University of Valparaiso, in Valparaiso, Chile, and facilitated an IF discussion there about the future of governance. I was kindly invited by Professor Carlos Verdugo Serna and graciously hosted by the University’s Science, Technology, and Society Center there.
The discussants were high school and university teachers who, among other things, told us about the many similar discussions that they organize themselves.
Later I learned, that people in Chile are professionals at this! The country is in the process of revising its constitution, and public discussions providing input to it have been going on at the grass roots level in many different towns and cities. It would be fascinating to learn more about the successes and failures of such impressive public engagement with important governance issues.
We look forward to continuing our friendship with the Technology Center and several other discussants I met there.