Anticipate the future of science, prepare to act today

A 3-hour facilitated session using​ multi-stakeholder scenarios to compress weeks of negotiation into hours

Request a Game How it works

Use the future to build the present

GESDA starts with emerging science identified through the Science Breakthrough Radar® and explores what it could make possible for people, society and the planet. The Games turn these possibilities into plausible futures that can be experienced today.

The window of anticipation

The future is not predetermined. By exploring the wide range of possibilities ahead, we can make better decisions today that influence what happens tomorrow. Science anticipation enables us to identify emerging possibilities, create space for debate and action, and shape the conditions needed for more intentional futures.

3 h
Immersive anticipation experience, from preparation to debrief
16
Fictional roles across diplomacy, science, industry and civil society
3–4
Fictional countries
0
Expert knowledge required
3,000+
participants have engaged through GESDA Anticipatory Science Diplomacy experiences
50+
countries represented among participants
80+
games since its launch
A fictional role badge on a lanyard beside the printed Participant Guide, Governance of Revolutionary Technology. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, speaking at the ITU Learning Lab beside a screen showing GESDA's Introduction to Quantum Diplomacy. Participants listening around a table as a colleague speaks during the debrief.

    “Anticipatory leadership is no longer just a concept; it is a proven, globally demanded capability for governance”

    Enrico Letta, Former Prime Minister of Italy

    “The structure, content, and interactive format created space for real engagement in an area that often feels abstract.”

    Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General

    “Scientific discovery is advancing at a pace that is transforming societies faster than our institutions can adapt.”

    Brian Poe Llamanzares, Congressman in Philippines

    01

    Anticipate
    the future

    Recognise governance questions while technologies and their applications are still emerging — and the space for action remains open.

    02

    Build
    the present

    Understand how scientific, political, economic and societal interests interact — and where decisions in one part of the system reshape another.

    03

    Design
    your Roadmap

    Explore choices, alliances and safeguards without waiting for certainty about how a technology will develop.

    How to run the Game at your institution

    Run a Game
    yourself

    Access GESDA's ASD Games and organise a simulation with your own group.

    Who is it for?
    Individuals, educators, facilitators and organisations.
    What you get
    Game scenario, participant materials and facilitator guide.
    GESDA involvement
    Self-guided materials; subject to applicable licence terms.
    Request materials

    Become a certified facilitator

    Develop the skills to facilitate ASD Games and integrate anticipatory science diplomacy into your institution or network.

    Who is it for?
    Individuals, institutional trainers and learning professionals.
    What you get
    Structured training, practical facilitation experience and assessment towards certification.
    GESDA involvement
    Training and certification programme currently under development.
    Register interest

    Invite GESDA to facilitate

    Bring an ASD Game to your institution, leadership programme or event, facilitated by GESDA.

    Who is it for?
    Institutions, event organisers and leadership programmes.
    What you get
    Preparation, professional facilitation, participant materials and structured debriefing.
    GESDA involvement
    GESDA-led delivery, with options for scientific briefings and strategic dialogue.
    Request a game

    Partner with
    GESDA

    Explore opportunities to integrate ASD Games into institutional programmes, education and leadership development.

    Who is it for?
    Diplomatic academies, universities, international organisations, businesses and other partners.
    What you get
    Opportunities for recurring Game delivery, institutional capacity-building and longer-term collaboration.
    GESDA involvement
    Collaboration opportunities explored jointly, according to institutional interests and GESDA's capacity.
    Get in touch

    FAQ

    Still have
    questions?

    Who can take part?

    ASD Games bring together people from government, international organisations, science, business, civil society and academia.

    How many participants do we need?

    A Game typically brings together 16–30 participants.

    How long does it take?

    Three hours in one sitting: preparation, negotiation and debrief. Set-up is a briefing call two to three weeks before.

    What does it cost?

    Running it yourselves with the materials is free. Facilitator training has a fixed fee. GESDA facilitation is quoted for each group. See Ways to run a Game.

    Can my organisation host a Game?

    Yes. We work with public, private and international partners to explore suitable formats and audiences.

    What happens after we apply?

    Whether you want to participate, host or collaborate, tell us what you are interested in and we will explore the next step with you.