BACKGROUND :

This plenary is an interactive session that will introduce four core questions, based on the Futures approach, to shape the discourse of partnerships for greater biosecurity in the world. It will begin with an introduction of Futures thinking by Dr. Sohail Inayatullah, UNESCO Chair of Futures Studies and Professor at Tamkang University, Taiwan. Then, the plenary will involve a short discussion on the current state of partnerships or lack of in certain thematic areas, and challenges in forging effective partnerships. It will delve into exploring various futures for partnerships and what effective and inclusive partnerships can achieve to make the world a safer place for all. Attempting to jointly uncover the “unknown unknowns” within a Futures methodology will lead to an innovative approach in organizing an interactive plenary that would hopefully lead to new directions and interesting discussions within the parallel sessions.