Sandia National Laboratory in Livermore, CA, sponsored a conference on February 6, 1998, for approximately 100 high school students to share their visions of the nation’s future and to learn more about national security issues. The conference was part of the 2020 Vision project, in which teams of students developed a series of stories or scenarios about the future of the United States national security.

The conference was highlighted with students from Livermore High School and Concord-based Contra Costa Christian School presenting futuristic scenarios they wrote during the fall semester. Also featured was a Sandia-led panel discussion, in which students took the opportunity to ask Sandia scientists questions related to their areas of expertise. Panel topics included: regional issues (focusing on the former Soviet Union, China, and NATO), nuclear weapons capabilities, national security/terrorism, and computer technology.

“Not only does this conference give Sandia an opportunity to hear the students’ scenarios.” said Karen Scott, manager of Sandia’s Science Education and Out reach Department which administers the 2020 Vision project, “but it also allows us to share with the students our expertise and give them some ideas of what’s plausible in a scenario. The 2020 vision project offers students strategic thinking skills that they will be able to use throughout their lives.”

Currently, there are plans to transition the project into an Internet-based course that will allow national and even international teams to explore these issues. The project currently has an existing Web site, where the public can get more information about the project and students can use resources to help in their research. It is located at: http://www.ca.sandia.gov/outreach/2020.html

Sandia is a multiprogram Department of Energy laboratory, operated by a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp. with main facilities in Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA. Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national defense, energy, environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.

Information provided by Nancy García, Sandia Public Affairs (510) 294-2932.