Summer 2022 Creative Co-op: Future Lab Information Session

Samuel Maddox and Faith Bade discuss what Future Lab is all about and how to apply. This Creative Co-op option (described below) is a full time, remote, unpaid co-op open to Summer 2022 mandatory co-ops only. It is open to all majors.

Description:

Students will conduct in-depth research around a variety of future scenarios ranging from transportation planning to healthcare services to the future of remote work, organize themselves into teams, and over the course of the semester—determine and develop one concrete project per team to address issues, opportunities, and gaps within future planning scenarios. In addition to these future scenarios, fellows may have the opportunity to work on the design and development of community-oriented projects in and around Boston. Such projects would be more aligned with the design professions; however, they rely upon collaboration with non-profits in our area. These potential community partnerships are still in development at this time and are not guaranteed.

Teams will utilize a variety of innovate tools and methodologies, including exploratory and inductive research, stakeholder and community outreach, human-centered design approaches, and data analysis and visualization to expand on and explore these topics. Each team will work regularly with a mentor and connect with faculty and external professionals from industry, neighborhoods, and government entities across diverse disciplines. A significant outcome of FutureLab will be concrete strategies and designs that may serve as contributions toward a future digital publication that can be shared with employers, alumni, and the greater Boston ecosystem.

In general, FutureLab Fellows would be required to be available, 9 am – 12 pm most weekdays, with additional group meetings and work hours agreed upon by each team. This is a full-time co-op and Fellow must be prepared to work a total of 30 hours/week.

Process: Apply as soon as possible, as FutureLab capacity is limited. The earlier an application is received, the earlier decisions on candidacy will be made. Students can only apply on WITworks. Offers will go out on a rolling basis starting by May 2, until add/drop on May 18. FutureLab capacity is limited and interdisciplinary teams need to be formed from a variety of majors. Given this, students are encouraged to continue to search for an external co-op. If a student receives an offer, they must be formally accept or reject the offer as soon as possible. Then, report on WITworks and register on Leopardweb no later than noon on Wednesday, May 18, the add/drop deadline. FutureLab work begins on May 23, the last day co-ops can start for Summer 2022.

If a Fellow secures an external, paid co-op that starts by June 20, they may follow established protocols and exit FutureLab. This proposed exit option must be approved by FutureLab supervisor and the CO-OP + CAREER Advisor.

Majors: Intended for all majors going out on mandatory co-op for Summer 2022.