Dr. Arthur B. Shostak

DREXEL UNIVERSITY EXPERT FILE

ARTHUR B. SHOSTAK, Ph.D.

   -- Expert on futurism
   -- Expert on the history and future of the American work force and organized labor
   -- Professor of sociology o Director, Drexel University Center for Employment Futures

An applied sociologist since earning his Ph.D. in 1961 at Princeton University, Shostak has taught at Drexel since 1967. Previously he was on the faculty of the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania (1961-67). He has introduced courses at Drexel in futurism, race and ethnic relations, social implications of 20th century technology, and urban sociology.

A longtime member of the World Future Society, and co-organizer of its Philadelphia chapter which he heads, Shostak has been a futurist consultant for Johnson & Johnson, Monsanto, Proctor & Gamble, various levels of Federal, state, and local government, and major labor unions. As well, he regularly assists k-12 school systems and colleges and universities. His forecasts have appeared in FAST COMPANY (May, '99),Ê The Futurist,Ê The New York Times,Ê The Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere. He is the creator and moderator of a local Cable TV series, "Future Now!."

In keeping with his B.S. degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University (1958), Shostak has served since 1975 as an Adjunct Sociologist with the National Labor College degree program at the AFL-CIO George Meany Center for Labor Studies (Silver Spring, Md.). He has assisted the American Federation of Government Employees, the Steelworkers Union, the Postal Workers Union, the IBEW, and many others.

Shostak is the author, co-author or editor of over 150 articles and 30 books, including:

Futuristics: Looking Ahead. (2004)- A collection of fourteen original essays about ideas and tools in long-range forecasting that can help a teenager better understand key choices ahead in both personal and public policy matters.Ê Part of a series (see below) I am editor of entitled Tackling Tomorrow Today.
America: Moving Ahead. (2004) - A collection of twelve original essays about the next 10 years in work and careers on the domestic front, and globalization, foreign policy, and war and peace issues on the overseas front.
Getting Personal: Staying Ahead . (2004) - A collection of thirteen original essays that explore choices teenagers should know about where friendship, fashion, family, schooling, religion, ethnic and racial identity, sports, recreation, entertainment, travel, and personal mastery are concerned.
Moving On: Far Ahead . (2004) - A collection of fifteen original essays about likely developments in information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, space technology, and the major domestic challenges to making any progress in these critical matters (ie, crime and punishment; income redistribution; social experiments; and a New Vision).
Turning Point: The Rocky Road to Peace and Reconstruction. (2004). A collection of 12 original essays about the aftermath of the Coalition victory in the Second Gulf War. Part of a series Series (see below) I am editor of entitled Defeating Terrorism/ Developing Dreams: Beyond 9/11 and the Iraq War.
Mopping Up/ Making Up. (2004). A collection of nine original essays about the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq war.
Making War/Making Peace. (2004). A collection of 10 original essays about the impact of 9/11 and the Iraq war.
Trade Towers/War Clouds. (2004). A collection of 12 original essays about 9/11 and the threat of an Iraq war.
Culture Clash/ Media Demons. (2004). A collection of 12 original essays about the sources of 9/11 and the Iraq war.
Viable Utopian Ideas: Shaping a Better World. (2003)
The CyberUnion Handbook: Transforming Labor through Computer Technology (2002)
Utopian Thinking in Sociology: Creating the Good Society (2001)
CyberUnion: Empowering Labor through Computer Technology (1999)
Private Sociology: Unsparing Reflections, Uncommon Gains (1996)
Impacts of Changing Employment: If the Good Jobs Go Away (1996)
For Labor's Sake: Labor Gains and Pains as Told by 28 Creative Inside Reformers (1994)
Guidelines from Gomberg: No-Nonsense Advice for Labor and Management (1992)
Robust Unionism: Innovations in the Labor Movement (1991)
The Air Controllers' Controversy: Lessons from the PATCO Strike (1986)
Men and Abortion: Lessons, Losses, and Love (1984)
Blue-Collar Stress (1980)

A longtime member of the World Future Society, and co-organizer of its Philadelphia chapter, Shostak has been a futurist consultant for Johnson & Johnson, Monsanto, Proctor & Gamble, and various levels of Federal, state, and local government. As well, he regularly assists k-12 school systems and colleges and universities. His forecasts have appeared in FAST COMPANY (May, '99), The Futurist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere. He is the creator and moderator of the local Cable TV series, "Future Now!."

Awards & Honors:
1997 -- Appointed director, Drexel University Center for Employment Futures (DCEF*) .
1995 -- Guest editor, March 1996, The Annals, "Impacts of Changing Employment: If the
             Good Jobs Go Away."
1994 -- President of the Philadelphia Chapter of Industrial Relations Research Association.
1991 -- Awarded study grant by the Swedish-American Bicentennial Fund.
1990 -- Lester F. Ward Distinguished Sociologist, Sociological Practice Association.
1987 -- Distinguished Scholarship Award, Pennsylvania Sociological Society; Distinguished
             Practitioner Award, Section on Sociological Practice, American Sociological Association;
             Outstanding Practitioner Award, Clinical Sociological Society.