The ability to predict future outcomes is a cornerstone of science. However, in the social sciences, such predictions are rarely made. This may be due to the complexity of social phenomena, as well as the lack of common frameworks for the systematic testing and evaluation of predictions.

Our mission

This research initiative aims to develop principles and methods for a more future-oriented social science. It’s an international, cross-disciplinary collaboration where we aim to encourage researchers in social science to take on the prediction tasks that would be of the greatest value to people and policymakers if they could be predicted.

We are currently constructing a framework for formulating, testing, and publicly sharing social predictions.

• May 22, 2026: A draft framework will be presented at an international symposium in Stockholm and online.

• Fall 2026: Publication of the finalised framework.

If you’d like to join the international symposium online or on-site in Stockholm, please reach out to our coordinator.

Who are we?

This research initiative is funded by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond) and hosted by the Institute for Futures Studies (IFFS) in Stockholm, Sweden.

The project leaders are Pontus Strimling, Kimmo Eriksson and Christofer Edling.

Pontus Strimling
Research leader at IFFS and professor at the Institute for Analytical Sociology (IAS) at Linköping University.

Participating researchers

Anna Dreber, Professor of Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics

Armita Törngren Golkar, Associate Professor of Psychology at Stockholm University

Carina Mood, Professor of Sociology at Stockholm Uniervsity and Research leader at the Institute for Futures Studies

Christina Garsten, Professor of Social Anthropology at Uppsala University and Principal and Permanent Fellow at SCAS

Fredrik Liljeros, Professor of Sociology at Stockholm University

Hernan Mondani, Associate Professor of Criminology and researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies

Irina Vartanova, Associate Professor of Psychology at Uppsala University and researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies

Martin Kolk, Associate Professor of Demography at Stockholm University and researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies

Moa Bursell, Associate Professor of Sociology at Mälardalen University and Research leader at the Institute for Futures Studies

Olle Hammar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics and Statistics at Linnaeus University and researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies

Staffan I. Lindberg, Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg

Project coordinator: Corrie Hammar, the Institute for Futures Studies