HOW TO CHANGE THE FUTURE:
Lessons from Ireland on Revolutionizing
Scientific Innovation and Economic Prosperity
Part history and all how-to, How to Change the Future: Lessons from Ireland on Revolutionizing Scientific Innovation and Economic Prosperity offers a behind-the-scenes look at 20 strategic steps that Ireland applied to connect universities, government, and business and become a global leader in innovation and economic growth.
Based on Pete Mackey’s experience as the first Director of Communications at Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and senior strategic counsel to American higher education and non-profit organizations, and co-authored with SFI’s founding Director General, Bill Harris, the book provides a user’s manual for elected officials, policymakers, university presidents, and industry leaders interested in creating strategic partnerships to turn academic research into transformative economic impact.
“”A rare how-to on building transformative partnerships that matter.””
“”A brilliant road map for every aspirational and emerging place.””
“”Essential guidance in enhancing economic strength.””
Global Praise for How to Change the Future
““In an elegant and direct way, Bill Harris and Pete Mackey have told a story of dramatic change, a big Irish bet, and the power of cross-sector cooperation. Far more than that, they have provided practically a blueprint for how other governments, businesses, universities, and leaders can capitalize on the lessons Ireland learned along the way.””
““Bill Harris and Pete Mackey have chronicled here the story of Ireland’s emergence and recognition as a force to be reckoned with in science and innovation. Their account is a scientific labor of love that underlines the importance of embedding science and innovation in the political, academic, and industrial culture within that of any nation or state.””
““As the saying goes, liberty is the parent of science and industry. And the experience of the quick evolution of the newish Irish Republic into a major science-driven economy is proof of the notion that futures can be changed through stimulating science-based innovation. ‘How to Change the Future’ is a brilliant road map for every aspirational and emerging place and should be used around the world.””
““This historical account of Science Foundation Ireland and Science Foundation Arizona is a strategic leadership and management formula for any country or US state working to further advance its scientific and economic development in this increasingly technological world. This book offers a concise and encompassing list of positives and lessons learned building those two important organizations that directly expanded their STEM-capable workforce which, frankly, made them even more competitive globally.” ”
““If America is to renew the forces of progress that expanded opportunity and put innovation in service of economic growth and human potential, leaders in government, industry, and academia should read this book. Bill Harris and Pete Mackey have created a rare how-to on building transformative partnerships that matter, and we need these lessons now more than ever.””
““’How to Change the Future’ is a marvelous condensation of Science Foundation Ireland’s impact and a clear call to action, including all the essential guidance for getting the work done. Drawing on how SFI transformed the Irish research landscape, Bill Harris and Pete Mackey show how to create broad awareness of the highest international research standards, drive universities to be ambitious, invest in and attract world-class talent, and help universities improve their support functions for research success. I highly commend it to academic leaders everywhere.””
““The appointment of Bill Harris as the first director general of Science Foundation Ireland provided us with an individual of academic achievement, a high-level career, and sapiential leadership qualities who showed the capacity to take on board suggestions from all quarters while forming a definitive opinion on the direction SFI should travel. In this multifaceted situation, he had by his side his valued colleague, Pete Mackey, who played an outstanding role in communicating expertly how SFI was evolving. This happy combination has produced an indispensable handbook for any entity planning to radically focus on research, development, and innovation as a mainspring in successfully driving the economic future.””
““In 2005, having studied the world’s most innovative economies, the state of Arizona decided that investing in the model that Science Foundation Ireland had built promised to support our universities and economy in strategic areas to inspire them to become even more competitive. Despite many budget challenges, the investment in Science Foundation Arizona did help inspire Arizona’s innovation culture, including a dynamic startup culture, that complemented a major expansion of Intel’s Arizona computer chip operations, helped attract a massive Taiwan Semiconductor commitment to Arizona, and championed STEM education across the state. ‘How to Change the Future’ provides essential guidance for other states and countries interested in enhancing their economic strength.””
““In offering their detailed and instructive book, Bill Harris and Pete Mackey present a highly readable, must-read study for modern leaders desiring to connect the skills within universities to the research challenges required for maintaining a robust, dynamic society. With every country or state facing unique opportunities for developing new technologies, they aptly discuss essential and definitive practices for successfully recruiting the talent necessary to both create new and enhance existing research and development entities at all levels of society.””
About the Authors
Pete Mackey
Peter F. Mackey, Ph.D., is president and executive strategist for Mackey Strategies, a national communications, marketing, and public-relations firm he founded in 2016 and which serves colleges, universities, and nonprofit educational foundations across the US. He is also senior investment partner in EdTech Connect, America’s leading source for educational technologies.
Pete served as Science Foundation Ireland’s founding communications leader, helping Bill Harris drive the communications, marketing, and media outreach to establish SFI’s mission, ambitions, and reputation.
Across his decades of leadership in the field, Pete had previously served as head of communications for such institutions as the University of South Carolina, Bucknell University, Amherst College, and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. A James Joyce scholar, he is the author of Chaos Theory and James Joyce’s Everyman (University Press of Florida, 1999) and numerous published essays and articles. Pete earned his BA and MA degrees from Case Western University and his PhD from the University of South Carolina.
Bill Harris
William C. Harris, Ph.D., served as Science Foundation Ireland’s founding director general and was responsible for leading it in its early years and for developing the eventual legislation to formally establish an independent SFI. He subsequently was founding president and CEO of Science Foundation Arizona.
Prior to his work at SFI, Bill served as vice president of Research for the University of South Carolina. He served in significant leadership roles at the US National Science Foundation, including developing NSF’s 25 initial Science and Technology centers and leading the Mathematical and Physical Sciences directorate. He served as deputy director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute and led development of Biosphere 2 as a western campus of Columbia.
Bill is the co-author, with Stephen Beschloss, of Adrift: Charting Our Course Back to a Great Nation (Prometheus, 2011). A former chemistry professor at Furman University, he earned his BS degree from William and Mary and his PhD from USC. Bill holds honorary doctorates from the University of Ireland and Northern Arizona University. He is co-founder and director of Innovation Advisory Partners.
Also by Pete Mackey
Chaos Theory and James Joyce’s Everyman
What does this academic interest have to do with my passion for strategic communications?
I think it comes down to this: Chaos physics and Ulysses propose an underlying order to human experience and natural events. In a similar way, strategic communications strive to bring clarity and organization (plus creativity) to the presentation of complex ideas. I have also always felt this academic background deepened my respect for faculty, and for the importance of presenting their work soundly and well.
“”...remarkably intelligent, full of a deep understanding of ‘Ulysses’ and reflecting a passion for both scientific and humanistic inquiry.””