The interpretation of interpersonal gaze behavior requires the use of complex cognitive processes and guides social interactions. Among a variety of different gaze characteristics, gaze direction and gaze duration modulate crucially the meaning of the "social gaze". Nevertheless, prior neuroimaging studies disregarded the relevance of gaze duration by focusing on gaze direction only. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study focused on the differentiation of these two gaze parameters. Therefore direct gaze displayed by virtual characters was contrasted with averted gaze and, additionally, systematically varied with respect to gaze duration (i.e., 1, 2.5 or 4 s). Consistent with prior findings, behavioral data showed that likeability was higher for direct than for averted gaze and increased linearly with increasing direct gaze duration. On the neural level, distinct brain regions were associated with the processing of gaze direction and gaze duration: (i) the comparison between direct and averted gaze revealed activations in bilateral occipito-temporal regions including the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS); (ii) whereas increasing duration of direct gaze evoked differential neural responses in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) including orbitofrontal and paracingulate regions. The results suggest two complementary cognitive processes related to different gaze parameters. On the one hand, the recruitment of multimodal sensory regions in the pSTS indicates detection of gaze direction via complex visual analysis. On the other hand, the involvement of the MPFC associated with outcome monitoring and mentalizing indicates higher-order social cognitive processes related to evaluation of the ongoing communicational input conveyed by direct gaze duration.

Purpose – This paper asks “Why is the future in futures studies plural?” The attitude toward inquiry,
based on post-actor-network theory (ANT) literature, positions philosophical questions about the
ontological character of the future within the context of “planning” for it (i.e. in practice). Multiplicity, as
a post-ANT sensibility, helps one make sense of the empirical materials. This paper examines the
possibility that rather than being alternatives to one another, plural futures and the singular future might
co-exist in practice, and, thus, constitute a multiplicity.
Design/methodology/approach – In this case study, “planning” is narrative scenario planning. The
second author facilitates dialogue-based long-term strategic scenario planning processes, primarily in
Scandinavia and Northern Europe, and contributes a wealth of professional experience to the project.
The first author, an academic, shadows the second author. This paper examines experiential and
observational data for evidence of the ontological character of the future. Elements of a typical scenario
planning process, in this case, about the possibility of crewless (i.e. unmanned) shipping vessels are
demonstrated – although, insight into the crewless ship is submerged by our analytical attentiveness to
the ontology of the future.
Findings – The findings bear on what sort of “object” the future is. Practices associated with planning
for the future appear to transform it so that one future becomes many, and, without irony, managing the
growing number of futures seems to be a core function of planning for the future. The implication is that
neither plural futures nor the singular future is – individually – satisfactory to capture what is found in
practice. It is both plural and singular; ontologically, it is the future multiple.
Originality/value – The original contribution is in demonstrating how plural futures and the singular
future co-exist in practice. Thus, an eclipse of the future by futures can only ever be partial. For “futures”
to be conceptually potent, “the future” must be at least provisionally believable and occasionally useful.
Otherwise, if “the future” were so preposterous an idea, then “futures” would cease to be a critical
alternative to it. Futures needs the future; they are relationally bound together in a multiplicity. This paper
considers what such a logical reality implies for a field that distances itself from the future and
self-identifies with futures.
Keywords Ontology, Scenario planning, Actor-network theory, Maritime industry, Multiplicity,
Science and technology studies

Resumo: O campo de estudos em ensino de ciências no Brasil, apesar do tradicionalismo resistente, tem se desenvolvido através de centros acadêmicos e de uma rede de profissionais que compartilham e priorizam a cultura CTS como um diferencial na formação de cidadãos mais conscientes e críticos. Realizou-se um estudo no material pedagógico, denominados Cadernos Pedagógicos de Ciências, do Ensino Fundamental II, produzidos pela prefeitura da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a fim de se apurar a conformidade do seu conteúdo com os pressupostos do CTS-Brasileiro. Constatou-se que a interdisciplinaridade e a construção de temas que possam atrair o interesse dos alunos, estimulando uma participação mais ativa, necessitam de maior adequação. Os problemas sociais e éticos, ainda carecem de maior destaque no material analisado. Apesar das dificuldades encontradas, a iniciativa demonstra preocupação em despertar o pensamento crítico e reflexivo e contribuir para uma alfabetização científica humanizada e preocupada com os problemas sociais, políticos e econômicos do século XXI. Resumen: El campo de estudios de la educación científica en Brasil, a pesar del tradicionalismo resistente, se ha desarrollado a través de los centros académicos y de una red de profesionales que comparten y dan prioridad a la cultura CTS como revulsivo para la formación de ciudadanos más conscientes y críticos. Hemos llevado a cabo un estudio sobre los materiales de enseñanza, llamados Cuadernos Pedagógicos de Ciencias, de Educación Primaria II, producidos por la prefectura de La ciudad de Río de Janeiro, con el fin de comprobar la conformidad de su contenido con los supuestos CTS-brasileños. Se encontró que las cuestiones de interdisciplinariedad y de construcción que podrían atraer el interés de los estudiantes, fomentando la participación más activa, necesitan más ajustes. Cuestiones sociales y éticas todavía requieren aún más énfasis en el material analizado. A pesar de las dificultades encontradas, la iniciativa demuestra la preocupación por despertar el pensamiento crítico y reflexivo y contribuir a la formación científica humanizada y preocupada por los problemas Análise crítica do material pedagógico de ciências produzido pela Secretaria Municipal de Educação do Rio de Janeiro – Brasil Critical analysis of sciences pedagogical material produced by the Municipal Office of Education of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

This article proposes the idea of the trickster figure as a way to account for the shifting material, and cultural properties of carbon in the cultural politics of climate change. Combining scientific understandings of allotropy in chemistry – describing the property of certain elements to manifest in various highly diverse forms – and the insights of Caribbean trickster stories, trickster carbon enables novel understandings of the multiple workings and effects of carbon as a material and cultural element. Rather than granting 'carbon' a singular seemingly-scientific meaning or reducing carbon to a singular problem that master human agents can ever definitively trap or sequester, this notion allows us to view carbon's unique ability to shape-shift in a variety of contexts and for myriad agendas. Understanding carbon in this way provides more than simply a theoretical or imaginative 'romp'; rather, this lens enables both a critique of the ways in which carbon is mobilized in practice as a profit-generating tool of colonial capture and also a generative opening for understanding carbon's potential as a connector to more transformative associations and postcolonial politics. As an ambivalent and paradoxical figure, trickster carbon offers a powerful method of cultural way-finding through the urgent concern of climate change.

Cet article propose l'idée du personnage du trickster comme un moyen de rendre compte du changement matériel et de propriétés culturelles du carbone, dans la politique culturelle du changement climatique. Combinant la compréhension scientifique de l'allotropie dans la chimie-décrivant la propriété de certains éléments de se manifester sous diverses formes-et la contribution des histoires de trickster caribéennes, le «carbone trickster» permet de nouvelles compréhensions des multiples travaux et effets du carbone en tant qu'élément matériel et culturel. Plutôt que d'accorder au «carbone» un sens singulier semblable à la science ou de réduire le carbone à un problème singulier que les humains peuvent définitivement piéger ou séquestrer, cette notion nous permet de voir la capacité unique du carbone à changer de forme dans divers contextes et pour une myriade d'agendas. Appréhender le carbone de cette manière fournit plus qu'une simple «farce» théorique ou imaginative. Au contraire, cet angle d'approche permet de critiquer la façon dont le carbone est mobilisé en pratique en tant qu'outil générateur de la capture coloniale, et de s'ouvrir à la compréhension de son potentiel en tant que connecteur aux associations transformatrices et à la politique postcoloniale. En tant que figure ambivalente et paradoxale, le «carbone trickster» offre une méthode solide pour lutter contre le changement climatique.

Este artículo propone la idea de la figura del trickster como una forma de representación de las cambiantes propiedades materiales y culturales del carbón en las políticas culturales del cambio climático. Combinando visiones científicas de alotropía en química - describiendo las propiedad de ciertos elementos para manifestarse en diversas formas - y las nociones de historias caribeñas de tricksters, el carbón trickster permite una novedosa manera de entender los múltiples mecanismos y efectos del carbón como material y como elemento cultural. Más que conceder al "carbón" un significado singular aparentemente científico, o reducirlo a un problema único que puede ser atrapado o dominado por los agentes humanos con autoridad, esta noción nos permite ver la habilidad única del carbón para cambiar de forma en una variedad de contextos para innumerables agendas. Entender el carbón de esta manera provee más que una "comedia" imaginativa y teórica; más allá, con este lente se permiten ambos, una crítica a las formas en que el carbón es movilizado en la práctica como una herramienta generadora de utilidades de una captura colonial, pero también un prolífico principio para entender el potencial del carbón como un enlace para asociaciones más transformativas y políticas poscoloniales. Como una figura ambivalente y paradójica, el carbón trickster ofrece un poderoso método de búsqueda cultural a través de la urgente preocupación del cambio climático.