ASU Center for Science and the Imagination

What ASU Center for Science and the Imagination does

The ASU Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI) is an academic research center founded in 2012 within Arizona State University's School for the Future of Innovation in Society, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. The center's mission is to bridge the humanities and sciences by bringing together science fiction writers, artists, and creative thinkers with working scientists, engineers, and technologists to produce grounded speculative visions of the future, counter dystopian narratives, and support public engagement with emerging technologies.

CSI's product surface consists of free publications (books and anthologies such as Project Hieroglyph, Climate Imagination, Us in Flux, Future Tense Fiction, Our Radioactive Neighbors, and Forge Ahead), the Imagination Desk podcast, futures-thinking tools (Futures by Choice/Futures by Chance, The Imagination Sketchbook), and educational resources (e.g., Solar Tomorrows teaching materials, Making Your Monster DIY electronics). The center does not develop proprietary software or AI products; its core "technology" is futures-thinking methodologies, narrative frameworks, and collaborative imagination exercises.

The business model is a nonprofit academic one. CSI is funded through Arizona State University's institutional budget, federal research grants (notably NSF and NGA), and private foundation support (Spencer Foundation, philanthropic gifts via the ASU Foundation). All books, podcasts, and tools are provided free to the public; there is no commercial pricing. The center reported approximately 9 employees, with Ed Finn serving as founding director and Brian David Johnson as Futurist in Residence. CSI serves scientists/engineers, writers/artists, educators/students, and the general public, and reaches audiences through the Future Tense partnership with Slate magazine and New America Foundation, public events, its website, and major podcast platforms.

Name

ASU Center for Science and the Imagination

Legal name

Arizona State University - Center for Science and the Imagination

Website

https://csi.asu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The ASU Center for Science and the Imagination is a university research center that connects science fiction authors, artists, and scientists to publish free books, podcasts, and futures-thinking tools, funded by ASU and federal/private research grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research and Futures Thinking Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Other Publishers (51319)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interdisciplinary/General Education & Study Skills (EDAGABAN), Creative Nonfiction & Memoir Workshops (EDAMAMAC)

Keywords

• Futures thinking tools
• Speculative fiction publishing
• Imagination research
• Interdisciplinary science communication
• Climate fiction anthologies

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. University Research Funding: As a research center within Arizona State University, CSI is funded through university budgets, research grants from federal agencies (NSF, NGA), and private foundation support (Spencer Foundation). The center also receives support through ASU Foundation donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Center for Science and the Imagination brings together writers, artists, and creative thinkers with scientists, engineers, and technologists to produce publications, futures-thinking tools, and collaborative programs. Its portfolio includes book anthologies (Hieroglyph, Climate Imagination, Weight of Light, Cities of Light), the Imagination Desk podcast, the Future Tense Fiction partnership with Slate and New America, Imagination Salons, the Us in Flux project, and free educational resources for teachers. All outputs are made freely available to the public, with no commercial pricing model.

Product overview

The Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University operates as a research and creative hub that connects writers, artists, and creative thinkers with scientists and technologists. Rather than a unified software product, the center's offerings consist of publications (books, anthologies, podcasts), futures-thinking tools (exercises, sketchbooks), and programs (Imagination Salons, Us in Flux). Key products include the Imagination Desk Podcast, Future Tense Fiction partnership with Slate, Climate Imagination book series, and Project Hieroglyph anthology. The center also provides educational resources like Making Your Monster (DIY electronics) and Solar Tomorrows teaching materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Intel CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Intel partnered with CSI on the Tomorrow Project and the 'Future - Powered by Fiction' competition challenging young people ages 13-25 to share visions for possible futures inspired by real science and technology. Brian David Johnson joined as Futurist in Residence after leaving Intel.
• Society for Science & the PublicminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnered with CSI and Intel on the 'Future - Powered by Fiction' competition for young people to envision possible futures.
• World BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013CSI partnered with the World Bank to create stories and artwork for the EVOKE online game designed to get young people in the developing world involved in social innovation and civic engagement.
• New America FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Future Tense is a partnership between ASU, the New America Foundation, and Slate magazine to explore emerging technologies and their effects on society and public policy. The partnership hosts events, publishes original content from policymakers, scientists, humanists, and journalists.
• Slate MagazineflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012Slate magazine hosts the Future Tense channel featuring original science fiction stories and essays from the Center for Science and the Imagination, reaching millions of readers with content about technology, science fiction, and future-shaping.
• Chabot Space and Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnered with CSI and National Novel Writing Month for the Frankenstein Bicentennial writing dares to inspire new stories about science and creation.
• Creative Nonfiction MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnered with CSI for the Frankenstein Bicentennial writing contest, combining fiction and creative nonfiction approaches.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Future of Life Institute: Nonprofit focused on reducing existential risk from advanced technologies, particularly AI. Comparable to CSI in producing accessible publications and events that bridge technical research with public narrative.
• Long Now Foundation: Nonprofit that fosters long-term thinking through the Rosetta Project, Long Bets, the 10,000-year Clock, and the Interval bar/venue. Highly comparable to CSI in combining cultural programming, publishing, and civilization-scale futures thinking.
• Institute for the Future: Independent nonprofit futures research organization based in Palo Alto that produces forecasts, research, and events on emerging technologies and societal change. Directly comparable to CSI in mission, non-profit status, and focus on translating futures research for public and institutional audiences.
• AI Now Institute: NYU-based research institute studying the social implications of artificial intelligence through reports, events, and policy engagement. Comparable to CSI as an academic-affiliated center producing publicly accessible futures and technology research.
• World Futures Studies Federation: Global professional organization linking futures researchers and educators across academia and policy. Comparable to CSI in publishing futures-oriented thought and convening interdisciplinary networks.

Broad incumbents

• XPRIZE Foundation: Nonprofit organization running large incentive competitions to drive radical breakthroughs in domains like space, climate, and longevity. Comparable to CSI's 'moonshot' framing and convening of cross-disciplinary collaborations toward audacious futures.
• MIT Press: University press publishing academic and intellectual books across science, technology, design, and humanities. Comparable to CSI's publishing role, though operating at much larger scale with a broad catalog rather than a single thematic focus.
• Tor Books: Major science fiction and fantasy publisher publishing novels and short fiction from authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson. Comparable to CSI in publishing science fiction, though operating as a commercial publisher rather than an academic center.

Emerging players

• Center for Humane Technology: Nonprofit researching and advocating for technology that serves human flourishing. Comparable to CSI in producing public-facing narratives and educational resources that reframe how society relates to emerging technologies.

Regional players

• Nesta: UK-based innovation foundation funding research and publishing reports on future economies, health, and society. Comparable to CSI in producing futures-oriented publications and education, though primarily serving a UK/European audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubepodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-imagination-desk/id1495395756
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imagination-asu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ASU Center for Science and the Imagination