The parent is obviously a "social scientist whose specialty is to attempt to systematically explore predictions and possibilities about the future and how they

The parent is obviously a "social scientist whose specialty is to attempt to systematically explore predictions and possibilities about the future and how they can emerge from the present, whether that of human society in particular or of life on earth in general." Obviously. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurist