In summer 1990, the conference "Education 2000: A Visionary Odyssey" was held at the University of Oregon, in Eugene. The conference aimed to provide information vital to education's future and promote collaboration among people representing all levels of education, business, the local community, and state government. This article summarizes major speakers' observations, addressing first the challenges facing us globally, on the societal level, and in education. Following a discussion of new information and possibilities for gaining insights and making necessary changes, the article suggests implications for action affecting education. Robert Ornstein, underscoring recent population growth and large-scale environmental deterioration over recent decades, faulted the human nervous system for perpetuating old-mind consciousness in a new, ever-changing world. Dee Dickinson observed that the major social, cultural, ecological, and economic problems we have helped create are difficult for old-mind beings to confront, because they are not sudden, dramatic changes. Shirley McCune envisioned the next 5 years as the most chaotic, stressful, and opportunistic ever experienced. These and other conference speakers stressed the critical need for change, the importance of vision, and the necessity of making major value shifts. Each expressed specific ideas for change and encouraged cooperation of the whole community in the educational change process. A sidebar summarizes local participants' responses. Information about next year's conference in provided. (4 references) (MLH)