Co-design a better future with

Margaret

Atwood

Practical Utopias:

An Exploration of the Possible

While the live learning experience is over, we invite you to join the Practical Utopias learning community to explore the possible futures co-created by the program's Founding Fellows.
It's free to join!
Live 8-week Virtual Experience
Join the learning community

Play a part in designing a better future.

We've heard about problems. How about solutions?

Don’t miss your chance to collectively design the possible with Margaret Atwood, special guests, and a global community in this virtual live learning experience.

What would you like the future to look like?

“There isn't ‘the future’ that we're doomed to enact. There are all kinds of possible futures. And which one we're going to get is going to depend on what we do now.”  — Margaret Atwood

If we want to make a change or create something new so we can bring about a better future for all, we have to be able to imagine what’s possible. Not sci-fi epics or fantasies, but real, better living plans that could actually work.

That’s just what we’ll be doing together in Practical Utopias led by the legendary Margaret Atwood!

As society grapples with many complex challenges — the climate crisis and social inequalities being foremost — we need creative and collaborative people like YOU to inspire action and catalyze needed change.

Join Margaret, an all-star lineup of special guests, and a global, virtual learning community for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collectively design the possible.

You'll collaborate within the world's most creative virtual classroom to unlock practical solutions to some of humanity's greatest challenges while developing crucial skills to be a more creative, innovative, and effective change agent today. You'll also receive a commemorative, exclusive, eco-friendly NFT of your co-created practical utopia.

Practical Utopias: An Exploration of the Possible
Start Date
September 20, 2022
Course Length
8 weeks
Format
Live, collaborative, virtual course
Early application deadline is May 16, 2022.
Scholarships are available.
Practical Utopias: An Exploration of the Possible
Enrollment
Closed
Time Commitment
8 Weeks, 5-8 hours per week
Format
Virtual, collaborative, live learning
experience
Join the learning community


While the live learning experience is over, we invite you to join the Practical Utopias learning community to explore the possible futures co-created by the program's Founding Fellows.
It's free to join!

Check Icon

Join Margaret Atwood for a free LIVE virtual event to learn more about Practical Utopias

Practical Utopias:
Co-creating a future that works

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 12:00 pm EDT

Join us live for a free, virtual event where Roger and Disco Co-founder, Candice Faktor, have a conversation about the real risk of sticking with the status quo and how to use strategy to create new winning possibilities.

Attend Event

While the live learning experience is over, we invite you to join the Practical Utopias learning community to explore the possible futures co-created by the program's Founding Fellows.

Are you up for the challenge?

Join the learning community


This collaborative, virtual learning experience is for:

Visionaries & Change Makers

You see the world as it could be, not as it is, and you take action to make that happen. You champion the causes that need to be grappled with; you are a thinker, an entrepreneur, an NGO leader, an ESG advocate, a leader, and a learner. You are any age, any gender, and living anywhere.

Specialists & Trailblazers

You're a leader in your field, and have exceptional expertise. You're ready to apply that skillset in a whole new arena. You might be a scientist, a materials engineer, a technologist, a food expert, a clothing designer, an architect.

Artists, Creatives &
Designers

Artists, creatives, designers, and change-makers who love designing the future and creating materials, art, experiences and solutions that can make this world better.

Join the Practical Utopias learning community to explore possible futures collectively imagined by a global community of trailblazers.


Spots are limited with rolling admission.
Scholarships are available.

Join the learning community
Photo: Margaret Atwood

Called the “Prophet of Dystopia,” Margaret Atwood is one of the most creative minds of our generation.

Margaret has an extraordinary ability to imagine the possible and a deep hope that the future isn't all doom and gloom.

Margaret’s work has been published in more than forty five countries. She is the award-winning author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry, critical essays, and graphic novels. Her latest novel, The Testaments, is the long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, now an award-winning television series. Margaret's latest book of essays, Burning Questions, was released in March, 2022. She is also the inventor of the Long Pen, now Syngraffi, a virtual signing technology.

This is your chance to contribute your unique perspective and learn how to create a future we all want to live in alongside Margaret, an all-star line-up of special guests, and a global community.

Register Now

Featuring special guests, including...

A picture of Dr.David Suzuki

Dr. David Suzuki

Award-Winning Scientist, Author

Award-winning geneticist and broadcaster David Suzuki co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990. He has 29 honorary degrees from universities in Canada, the US and Australia.

A picture of Suzanne Nossel

Suzanne Nossel

CEO, Pen America, Author

Suzanne Nossel currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of PEN America, the leading human rights and free expression organization, and she is author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All

A picture of Yasmeen Hasaan

Yasmeen Hassan

Global Executive Director, Equality Now

Yasmeen Hassan has spent her career eradicating gender discrimination in the law and advocating for the rights of women and girls. Driven by her experiences as a girl growing up in Pakistan, Yasmeen Hassan has become a leading legal voice in the global women’s rights movement.

A picture of Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben

Co-Founder, 350.org, Author, Educator, Environmentalist

Bill McKibben is an author, environmentalist, and activist.  In 1988 he wrote The End of Nature, the first book for a common audience about global warming.  He is a co-founder and Senior Advisor at 350.org, an international climate campaign that works in 188 countries around the world.

A picture of Nelson Julie Hanna

Julie Hanna

Executive Board Chair at Kiva, Venture Partner at Obvious Ventures, Senior Advisor at X

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Nelson Ole Reiyia

Nelson Ole Reiyia

Cofounder, Nashulai Maasai Conservancy

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Margaret Koshal Reiyia

Margaret Koshal Reiyia

Nashulai Director of Family, Gender & Education, Nashulai Maasai Conservancy

“I was lucky to have a father who believed in education and the capacity and dignity of the girl child and all women. This has been my life’s work. Children need education and equality to thrive. It is a guiding principle for Nashulai.

A picture of Raj Patel

Raj Patel

Author, filmmaker, and academic

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor

President of Sojourners and author

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Senator Yvonne Boyer

Member, Senate of Canada and member of the Métis Nation of Ontario

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Sam White

Founder, Shakespeare in Detroit

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Dave Eggers

Author, editor, publisher 

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Nicole Rycroft

Founder and Executive Director, Canopy

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

More special guests being announced soon!

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Ajay Agrawal

Founder, Creative Destruction Lab and Professor, Rotman School of Management

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Kathleen Breitman

Co-Founder of the Tezos Blockchain

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

Featuring special guests, including...

A picture of Dr.David Suzuki

Dr. David Suzuki

Award-Winning Scientist, Author

Award-winning geneticist and broadcaster David Suzuki co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990. He has 29 honorary degrees from universities in Canada, the US and Australia.

A picture of Yasmeen Hasaan

Yasmeen Hassan

Global Executive Director, Equality Now

Yasmeen Hassan has spent her career eradicating gender discrimination in the law and advocating for the rights of women and girls. Driven by her experiences as a girl growing up in Pakistan, Yasmeen Hassan has become a leading legal voice in the global women’s rights movement.

A picture of Nelson Ole Reiyia

Nelson Ole Reiyia

Cofounder, Nashulai Maasai Conservancy

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Margaret Koshal Reiyia

Margaret Koshal Reiyia

Director of Family, Gender & Education, Nashulai Maasai Conservancy

“I was lucky to have a father who believed in education and the capacity and dignity of the girl child and all women. This has been my life’s work. Children need education and equality to thrive. It is a guiding principle for Nashulai.

A picture of Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben

Co-Founder, 350.org, Author, Educator, Environmentalist

Bill McKibben is an author, environmentalist, and activist.  In 1988 he wrote The End of Nature, the first book for a common audience about global warming.  He is a co-founder and Senior Advisor at 350.org, an international climate campaign that works in 188 countries around the world.

A picture of Suzanne Nossel

Suzanne Nossel

CEO, Pen America, Author

Suzanne Nossel currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of PEN America, the leading human rights and free expression organization, and she is author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All

A picture of Nelson Julie Hanna

Julie Hanna

Executive Board Chair at Kiva, Venture Partner at Obvious Ventures, Senior Advisor at X

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Raj Patel

Author, filmmaker, and academic

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Senator Yvonne Boyer

Member, Senate of Canada and member of the Métis Nation of Ontario

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor

President of Sojourners and author

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Sam White

Founder, Shakespeare in Detroit

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Dave Eggers

Author, editor, publisher 

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Nicole Rycroft

Founder and Executive Director, Canopy

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Ajay Agrawal

Founder, Creative Destruction Lab and Professor, Rotman School of Management

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Dr. Jane McGonigal

Director of Games R&D at the Institute for the Future and 2x New York Times bestselling author

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Dr. Jonathan Foley

Executive Director, Project Drawdown

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

Lalit Gautam

CEO of Sensegrass

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

A picture of Raj Patel

More special guests being announced soon!

“This is the land of my boyhood.  The land of my people. And the land of my children.  It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever.  Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come."

And participants from around the globe...

Don't miss your chance to co-create the possible:
spots are limited and filling fast!
Scholarships are available.

Apply before June 9, 2022 for priority application review.

Apply Now

"To create a future that works, we must work together." - Margaret Atwood

Laptop showing Margaret Atwood teaching a live class

Explore

Engage in a series of collaborative and guided explorations into what is possible around food, energy, fashion, politics, technology, medicine, community, education, traditional knowledge, and the role of women and children.

Showcase

In the final weeks, a visual artist will join your team to illustrate your shared vision. Together, you will present your co-created practical utopia to Margaret and a panel of special guest evaluators for feedback.

Collect & Contribute

Receive a limited edition copy of your own utopia as a clean NFT on the eco-friendly Tezos blockchain. Your co-created work will also be included in a special 1-of-1 NFT to be auctioned off with a portion of proceeds going towards projects actively focused on building a better world.

Co-create

Join a small group of global participants led by an expert facilitator and be invited to generate and propose concepts for your practical utopia - not a sci-fi epic or fantasy, but a possible future that really be brought to life.

Through this experience, you’ll:

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Gain skills and tools to imagine bold possibilities, make a meaningful difference, and be more creative, innovative, and collaborative today
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Connect and collaborate with a global community of changemakers, innovators, and trailblazers
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Acquire insights into the most transformative big ideas, new technologies, and drivers of change that are already unlocking the possible and shaping the future
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Play with possibilities and actively co-design future that belongs to everyone instead of being on the sidelines watching the future unfold
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Develop viable strategies and solutions to solve the big problems we face today by thinking about tomorrow
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Leave a legacy for a better world by co-designing plans that can catalyze change-makers and doers to take action and help transform your explored possibilities into reality

Join the learning community

Your collaborative vision will become an NFT auctioned for charity.

You’ll walk away from this unique 8-week live learning experience having contributed to a global conversation of the possible and co-created an anthology of practical utopia designs, with an NFT to prove it!

How It Works

1

Explore the possible in weekly live sessions with Margaret Atwood and special guests.

2

Co-design your practical utopia with your team in weekly facilitated live sessions.

3

Bring your co-designed solutions to life with the support of a visual artist.

4

Share your co-created utopia with Margaret and special guest evaluators during showcase days.

5

Contribute to solving complex climate problems and other intractable challenges through the work we do together.

6

Receive a green, clean NFT minted on the Tezos blockchain to commemorate the experience.

Schedule

8 Weeks

Start: February 15, 2022
End: April 7, 2022

Start Date:

September 20, 2022

End Date:

November 10, 2022

7 interactive live virtual sessions with Margaret Atwood and special guests

Tuesdays at 12 pm ET in addition to one session in the last week of the course on Thursday at 12 pm ET

(for those unable to attend live, recordings will be posted within 24 hours of the event)

10 facilitated live virtual sessions in small teams to co-design utopias

Thursdays at 6 pm cohort time zone with additional sessions on Mondays at 6 pm cohort time zone for the last 3 weeks of the course

Join the learning community

While the live learning experience is over, we invite you to join the Practical Utopias learning community to explore the possible futures co-created by the program's Founding Fellows. It's free to join!

Weekly Overview

Receive a clean, green NFT of your co-created work.

You’ll work together with other amazing changemakers, a skilled facilitator, and talented illustrator to co-create a vision of the future - a practical utopia complete with a set of illustrations to help bring your concepts to life.

Not only will you receive a copy of your own utopia as a clean, green NFT on the eco-friendly Tezos blockchain

Register Now

Don't miss your chance to be part of a global community exploring the most pressing challenges of our time.


Don't wait: spots are limited and filling fast!
Scholarships are available.

Apply before June 9, 2022 for priority application review.

Apply Now

ENROLLMENT IS CLOSED


Scholarships are available.

While the live learning experience is over, we invite you to join the Practical Utopias learning community to explore the possible futures co-created by the program's Founding Fellows. It's free to join!


Two ways to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience:


Two ways to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience:

Apply to be a Fellow

Spots are limited to join the fully guided experience


$999 USD
Fellow Applications Closed
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Enrolment as 1 of only 200 Fellows with full access to an 8-week, interactive, collaborative, virtual learning experience

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Full access to the 7 live learning sessions with Margaret and special guests, including participation in Q&As

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Access to all recordings from Margaret’s live sessions with special guests within 24 hours of the events

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Assignment to a small team supported by a facilitator and visual artist to co-design a practical utopia

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Participation in 10 virtual, live, facilitated collaboration sessions with your small team

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Opportunity to present your team’s co-designed utopia concept to Margaret and a panel of special guest evaluators

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Access to all virtual course materials

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Access to a global learning community of creatives, innovators, and changemakers

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Take home a clean, green NFT of the utopia you've co-designed

Join as a Participant

Follow along independently or self-organize a group to co-design your own practical utopia

$99 USD
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Stream 7 live sessions with Margaret and special guests

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Access to all recordings from Margaret's live sessions with special guests

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Access to all virtual course materials, so you can work on your own or self-organize a small group to build a practical utopia

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No assignment to a small team to co-design a practical utopia

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No participation in the small working group sessions

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No opportunity to present your concept for utopia to Margaret and a panel of special guest evaluators

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No clean, green NFT of the utopias

Apply for a Scholarship
We are serious about building a diverse and inclusive global learning community driven by principles of equity. That is why we are awarding scholarships to Fellows who wouldn't be able to otherwise register without financial assistance.

To apply for financial support, please complete the following application:
Apply for a Scholarship
Join the learning community

Patrons of our scholarship program

We are grateful to our generous partners for making the scholarship program possible.
To inquire about how you can get involved, contact us at hello@disco.co

Content Partner

We're grateful to the team at Project Drawdown, the world's leading resource for climate solutions, and their incredible work. Project Drawdown's trusted resources have informed the Practical Utopias curriculum development.lo@disco.co

Community Partners

Our Community partners are integral to igniting discovery, expanding reach, and enriching our global learning community. We appreciate our in-kind partners for their collaboration in sharing this opportunity worldwide.

To inquire about how you can join as a Community Partner, contact us at hello@disco.co

Blockchain Partner

Practical Utopia NFTs will be minted on the energy-efficient Tezos blockchain. On this blockchain, NFT minting
uses up energy similar to that of a tweet. Learn more about Tezos’ energy footprint here.

Sign up to get a bit of utopia in your inbox.

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Photo: Luis Mora

Get Margaret’s latest book

How can we live on our planet?
Is it true? And is it fair?
What do zombies have to do with authoritarianism?

Find answers to these questions and more in Margaret's new collection of essays, Burning Questions.

Order Today

FAQ

Don't miss your chance to be part of a global community exploring the most pressing challenges of our time.


Don't wait to apply: spots are limited and filling fast!
Scholarships are available.

Apply before June 9 for priority application review.

Apply Now