Peter C. Bishop
Encyclopedia
Peter C. Bishop is a professional futurist (futurologist), an associate professor of strategic foresight
, and coordinator of the graduate program in futures studies
at the University of Houston
.
on an Army Air Corp Base of what is now Orlando International Airport. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri
and following high school, he entered the Society of Jesus
(Jesuits); staying with them for seven years. In 1968, Bishop received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Louis University where he also studied mathematics and physics. From Michigan State University
, he received an M.A. (sociology) in 1971 and a Ph.D. (sociology) in 1974. Dr. Bishop started teaching at Georgia Southern College (now Georgia Southern University
) in 1973 where he specialized in social problems and political sociology.
in 2005, after having taught futures studies at the University of Houston–Clear Lake
since 1982. Specializing in techniques for long term forecasting and planning, he has published a book on the subject, Thinking about the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight, with co-author Andy Hines. He delivers keynote addresses and conducts seminars on the future for business, government and not-for-profit organizations. He also facilitates groups in developing scenarios, visions and strategic plans for the future. Dr. Bishop's clients include IBM, the NASA Johnson Space Center, Nestle USA, Tetra Pak, the Shell Pipeline Corporation, the Defense and Central Intelligence Agencies, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Texas Department of Transportation, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the Center for Houston’s Future. He is a founding board member of the Association of Professional Futurists
, and is President of his own firm, Strategic Foresight and Development, which offers education and training in futures thinking and techniques to the corporate market.
University teaching,
Strategic foresight
Strategic foresight is a fairly recent attempt to differentiate "futurology" from "futures studies". It arises from the premise that:*The future is not predictable;*The future is not predetermined; and...
, and coordinator of the graduate program in futures studies
Futurology
Futures studies is the study of postulating possible, probable, and preferable futures and the worldviews and myths that underlie them. There is a debate as to whether this discipline is an art or science. In general, it can be considered as a branch under the more general scope of the field of...
at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
Early life
Peter Bishop was born in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
on an Army Air Corp Base of what is now Orlando International Airport. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and following high school, he entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(Jesuits); staying with them for seven years. In 1968, Bishop received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Louis University where he also studied mathematics and physics. From Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, he received an M.A. (sociology) in 1971 and a Ph.D. (sociology) in 1974. Dr. Bishop started teaching at Georgia Southern College (now Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
) in 1973 where he specialized in social problems and political sociology.
Professional career
Dr. Bishop came to the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in 2005, after having taught futures studies at the University of Houston–Clear Lake
University of Houston–Clear Lake
The University of Houston–Clear Lake is a state university, and is a component institution of the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 524-acre in Pasadena, with a satellite campus in Pearland. Founded in 1971, UHCL has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students...
since 1982. Specializing in techniques for long term forecasting and planning, he has published a book on the subject, Thinking about the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight, with co-author Andy Hines. He delivers keynote addresses and conducts seminars on the future for business, government and not-for-profit organizations. He also facilitates groups in developing scenarios, visions and strategic plans for the future. Dr. Bishop's clients include IBM, the NASA Johnson Space Center, Nestle USA, Tetra Pak, the Shell Pipeline Corporation, the Defense and Central Intelligence Agencies, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Texas Department of Transportation, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the Center for Houston’s Future. He is a founding board member of the Association of Professional Futurists
Association of Professional Futurists
The Association of Professional Futurists is an organization that promotes futurists as valuable professionals through networking, conferences, and other activities involving its members.-See also:* List of futures scholars* Global Business Network...
, and is President of his own firm, Strategic Foresight and Development, which offers education and training in futures thinking and techniques to the corporate market.
Professional Activities
University teaching,
- Futures education and consulting
- Team and network facilitation (scenario development, visioning and strategic planning)
- Applied futures research
University Teaching
- Quantitative Futures Research, Using Systems Approaches, World Futures
- Social Change, Theories of Society
- Our Future in Space
- Philosophy of Science, Research Methods and Statistics
Application Areas
- Public Education (K-12 and Higher Education)
- Chaos and Complexity Theory
- Technology Transfer and Commercialization
- Space Commercialization
- Performance Measures for Information Systems
- Electronic Group Decision Support Systems
- Industrial Specialties: Computers, Communication, Energy, and Banking
Professional Experience
- Coordinator, Graduate Program in Futures Studies, University of HoustonUniversity of HoustonThe University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, 2005–present - Chair, Graduate Program in Studies of the Future, University of Houston–Clear LakeUniversity of Houston–Clear LakeThe University of Houston–Clear Lake is a state university, and is a component institution of the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 524-acre in Pasadena, with a satellite campus in Pearland. Founded in 1971, UHCL has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students...
, 1983–1996, 1998–2005 - Executive Director, Institute for Futures Research, University of Houston–Clear Lake, 1990–2005
- President, Strategic Foresight and Development, 2001–present
- Founding Board Member, Association of Professional Futurists, 2001–present
- Planning officer, NASA Mid-Continent Technology Transfer Center, 1992–1996
- Founder and Director, Space Business Research Center, 1986–1990
- Founding member, UHCL Research Institute for Computing and Information Sciences, 1985–1992
- Founder and First President, TX Council of Faculty Governance Organizations, 1978–1981