Please read this document carefully before applying. There is a great deal of information here and in the application form itself that will answer your questions about the timing, activities, and terms of the fellowships.

The {Bao} China Futures Network of Berkshire Publishing Group announces its first “Call for China Futures Fellows.” These fellowships offer a unique opening to those who (1) wish to share their own work, (2) propose research challenges to a global community of futures specialists, and (3) shape a futures dialogue for and in China. Berkshire Publishing is developing the {Bao} China Futures Network as a platform and gathering place for those involved in China futures research, a field in its early stages and with great potential for growth. China Futures will provide opportunities for scholars and specialists who have begun to do rigorous futures thinking, and will encourage other researchers to apply their work to the challenges of the future. Anyone is free to sign up at the site, too, which will give you access to the evolving work of the Fellows and to a considerable body of China-related content: http://www.shapingtomorrow.com/partner/china/welcome.cfm. (We’ll be very glad to stay in touch about other Berkshire China projects, too – including the China Business Center.)

“Study the past if you would divine the future” –Confucius

Fellows will promote the study of China’s history and culture, crucial to anyone who intends to build scenarios for the future. The site will contain extensive resources on Chinese history and culture from Berkshire’s renowned China publications. By creating a China futures “community center,” we will demonstrate new approaches, new tools, and new methodologies that can help policymakers and businesses. Any visitor will come away with a more nuanced understanding of China’s role in the twenty-first century. Our efforts will enrich dialogue in Chinese studies and encourage practitioners and scholars to think ahead in new ways. {Bao} China Futures Network is hosted by Berkshire’s partner, Shaping Tomorrow (ST), the leading, open global portal for strategic foresight, where members can explore emerging trends, patterns, opportunities (and the risks they entail) in wide-ranging fields, applications, and locations. By collaborating with trends researchers on six continents, ST and {Bao} China Futures offers online access to a community of over 12,000 people, 6,000 organizations, and a Foresight Network of more than 2,800 experts, through which early predictions and warnings of change allow for better-considered, timely decisions, directives, and innovations. Berkshire Publishing has worked with futurists and future studies organizations for over five years in the development of its award-winning titles focus on international relations, cross-cultural communication, business and economics, and environmental sustainability. The ST / Berkshire partner site – http://www.shapingtomorrow.com/partner/china/welcome.cfm – will to help non-Chinese organizations better understand the future of the country, and will promote strategic foresight to Chinese companies. {Bao} China Futures will be recruiting up to 100 Chinese and foreign experts as China Futures Fellows, who will help to provide comprehensive information about and analysis of political, economic, social, and technological trends. What is expected of China Futures Fellows:

  • Post at least one essay or article per month from your own work on China futures
  • Link to articles and other sources you are reading with a short critical comment
  • Suggest people, organizations, resources, and publications we should recommend, list, or involve
  • Read and comment on material uploaded by other fellows and site members
  • Participate in at least three conference calls (scheduled monthly around certain themes) with other fellows

Who should apply for a China Futures Fellowship: We invite individuals studying or doing research on subjects that will shape the global and the Chinese future – we believe the two are inextricably entwined and interdependent – to apply for a two-year fellowship. We welcome those we have worked with before and look forward to meeting many new people whose expertise will help foster the goals of the {Bao} China Futures Network. We seek the participation of scholars, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and creative researchers who share our commitment to advancing the global public interest. This annual call for fellows is our way of charting new paths and setting new priorities as we expand and enrich our community. While fellowships are extremely competitive and our review of applications rigorous, we do not have fixed requirements and we welcome applications from a diverse pool of individuals.

Fellowship benefits:

Feature profile on the China Futures site, as well as on Berkshire Publishing Group’s website
Access to private resources and discussions only available to Fellows, Editorial Board members, subscribing companies, and selected China experts (note: the site will provide free content and services as well)
Priority consideration for referrals to companies seeking China expertise
Priority consideration for publication in Berkshire {Bao} books and journals

Discount on Berkshire publications (including discount on institutional subscriptions for your university or organization)

This is a “virtual” online fellowship that can be held by experts anywhere in the world. China Futures Fellows will continue to engage in their usual professional and academic duties. If fellows can obtain funding – or time in lieu – through institutions or other sources, we will be glad to confirm their selection and provide details of the fellowship. No travel is required to participate. There is no financial stipend and no residency requirement. People of any nationality are welcome to apply. About {Bao}: Bao means both treasure and hug in Chinese. The character b?o ?  means “treasure” and bào ?  means hug.” The curly brackets {} used around {Bao} in this prospective have relevant meanings, too. In Internet chatspeak, curly brackets means “hug,” and in computer programming they are used to group code statements. {Bao} is part of the Berkshire Publishing Group. Required Application Materials include: •           Current résumé or CV •           Personal statement of 450–500 words •           Concise outline of your proposed contributions to the {Bao} China Futures Network (no more than 1,000 words (supplementary multimedia material is welcome) •           Copy of a recent publication (blog post, book chapter, or article, in English) related to China futures research •           Two letters of reference (not required for applicants who have published with Berkshire Publishing Group) Download application form here: https://www.berkshirepublishing.com/ChinaFutures/China_Futures_Fellowship_Application.doc. The application should be returned to tom@berkshirepublishing.com. Questions to Tom Christensen: tom@berkshirepublishing.com. Information about Tom’s role as the {Bao} Beijing representative is available at http://www.shapingtomorrow.com/content.cfm?webtext=251.

Deadline: 21 April 2011 (interviews may be held in Beijing/Shanghai/Nanjing 6-16 April, so Chinese applicants are urged to make their submissions by 4 April)

Karen CHRISTENSEN, CEO Berkshire Publishing Group LLC – February News http://ow.ly/3REcW

Request Berkshire titles for your library: http://ow.ly/3o9QI

+1 413 528 0206 | Fax +1 413 541 0076 | Skype: karen_christensen aren@berkshirepublishing.com Blog: www.berkshirepublishing.com/blog Twitter: www.twitter.com/karenchristenze — Bill Gates has this to say about Berkshire’s This Fleeting World: “I first became an avid student of David Christian by watching his course, Big History, on DVD, and so I am very happy to see his enlightening presentation of the world’s history captured in these essays. I hope it will introduce a wider audience to this gifted scientist and teacher.” — This Is China: The first 5,000 years ????? is a 120-page paperback distilled from the Berkshire Encyclopedia of China, which, in 2,754 pages and 5 lavishly illustrated volumes, provides a complete education about China past, present, and future. Read Jeffrey Wasserstrom’s review at Forbes.com: http://blogs.forbes.com/china/2010/05/24/this-is-china-the-first-5000-years/. — Going paperless isn’t necessarily green! Please print appropriately, delete unneeded electronic files, and choose computers and mobile devices based on eco-impact. BERKSHIRE PUBLISHING GROUP | BAO MEDIA 122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Massachusetts 01230-1506 U.S.A. Tel +1 413 528 0206  | Fax +1 413 541 0076 | www.berkshirepublishing.com