Table 1. Questions asked in the MA Interviews (from Bennett et al. 2005) What words would you use to describe the current state of the Earth’s natural and human systems? What words would you use to describe the ideal state of the Earth’s natural and human systems in 2050? What obstacles do you envision to achieving this ideal world? If you could talk to someone who visited the world in 2050, what would you need to know to understand what the world really looks like in 2050? Who or what will be most influential in determining the pathway of change into the future? What is the biggest change you expect between 2003 and 2050? What surprises might you envision between now and 2050? What gives you the most hope for the future?