50+20 Benches and Collaboratories

Jacqueline le Bleu Bench for RIO+20

Emerging Benchmarks is a mobile exhibit and prototyping platform where management education FOR the world can be prototyped, demonstrated and shared during RIO+20.  The exhibit consists of artistically designed and decorated two-seater benches, constructed from reclaimed material, and arranged in a learning circle. Symbolic of a commitment to reclaim and repurpose management education FOR the world, this exhibit is also a physical metaphor for the collaboratory, a concept that is central to the 50+20 vision. A limited number of benches are available for sponsorship.

The benchmark installation is being directed by artist Claudius Bensch.

The benches and sponsorship

 Each bench has a different theme (or “benchmark”) communicating aspects of the 50+20 vision in a style unique to the geographical area where the bench was built. The benches are built and decorated by artists from around the globe and commissioned or sponsored by organisations (business schools, companies, NGOs etc.) that have a stake in management education FOR the world. We aim to have roughly 12 benches at RIO+20 to use in the collaboratory prototype sessions.

A limited number of the benches are still available for sponsorship. 

After RIO+20 sponsored benches will go on display in the lobbies of sponsoring organisations indicating that particular organisation’s participation in the Rio+20 circle of learning and its commitment to support management education FOR the world. View all the benches and contact us about sponsoring one of these artworks.

The collaboratory prototypes and documentary

During RIO+20 the 50+20 project will host several collaboratory prototyping sessions on the benches. Collaboratory prototypes are typically facilitated sessions convened in a public or exhibition space, and are designed to involve bystanders and interested parties in real-time learning experiences centered around complex and messy real-world issues. The sessions are a live demonstration of the future we aim to create. 50+20 will bring leading academics, opinion makers and thought leaders together in the collaboratory space for real time real-life processes that visitors to RIO+20 can both observe and participate in.

As part of our effort to document the changing role of management education within the RIO+20 context we are also producing a 30 min documentary (in parts) that include:

  • Approx 7 minutes on key messages from the 50+20 Agenda
  • Approx 7 minutes on the discussions at the PRME Global forum and CSF meeting
  • Remaining 16 minutes or so on collaboratory prototypes held at the People’s Summit or elsewhere in Rio

By documenting the collaboratory sessions we can communicate beyond Rio+20 the significance of this exhibit and vision. The documentary is directed by renowned German documentary filmmaker Ilka Franzmann.

See all the 50+20 events and meetings at RIO+20 for an opportunity to meet up during the Summit.