Digital Democracy: Engagement and Parliament
Seminar in May 2019 on how the Scottish Parliament can best engage with citizens in a digital age. Features podcast and presentations.
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Creative reflection | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Creative Reflections | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
In An Enlightened Future by Susie Maguire
A reflection by Susie Maguire on the potential effect of a citizen’s income. Written in 2019, “In An Enlightened Future” charts the dream of someone living in a world with a citizen’s income.
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Economy | Environment | Events and Resources | Housing | Local Government | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Environment | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: A Sustainable Future for Rural Scotland
Scotland’s sparsely-populated areas are predicted to lose a quarter of their population by 2046, with the working age population likely to shrink by 33%. At the same time, the challenge of enabling the development that is needed to sustain rural communities is delicately balanced with the environmental imperatives of conserving our environment and protecting its…
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Events and Resources | Health | Leaders in Sport & Physical Activity: Seminar Series | Major Projects | Session 5 | Society
Leaders in Sport & Physical Activity: Shelley Kerr
On Wednesday 8 May 2019, the Head Coach of the Scotland Women’s National Team, Shelley Kerr, spoke at the Parliament in a seminar chaired by the Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh MSP. Podcast Listen to a podcast of Shelley’s presentation here: Shelley spoke about how she had to battle to play football as a girl growing…
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Climate Change with the IPCC
Seminar in April 2019 with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) looking at science, policy and solutions on a global scale. Features a podcast.
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Economy | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: A Citizen’s Income?
Panel discussion at the Scottish Parliament in 2019 on a citizen’s income or universal basic income. How attractive – and affordable – is it as a policy?
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The Future of Feminism with Helen Lewis
Short report of event from March 2019 with Helen Lewis on the Future of Feminism with Monica Lennon MSP.
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Scotland 2030: Leadership in Education
On Tuesday 12 March 2019, the Futures Forum and the Goodison Group in Scotland continued their exploration of schooling and learning in the future. Bringing together representatives from business, government and education, this event focused on leadership in education and featured a contribution from Professor Graham Donaldson. The seminar built on previous events from which…
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Blog to the Future | Economy | Health | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Health | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Can Scotland be a world leader in wellbeing?
Jennifer Wallace, Carnegie UK Trust, @Jen_CarnegieUK Earlier this month I attended a Scotland’s Futures Forum seminar on a wellbeing economy at the Scottish Parliament. The event, a collaboration between the Futures Forum, the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee and the newly formed Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll), heard from a range of thinkers and doers…
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Economy | Events and Resources | Health | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Health | Session 5
Scotland 2030: A Wellbeing Economy?
Report of a seminar in February 2019 with the Wellbeing Economy Alliance on Scotland as a wellbeing economy.
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Events and Resources | Health | Housing | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Health | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: Housing and Ageing
How can housing meet the needs of older people in the future? This seminar in January 2019 explored the future for housing with an ageing population. Features podcast of presentation.
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Events and Resources | Health | Leaders in Sport & Physical Activity: Seminar Series | Major Projects | News | Scotland 2030: Health | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5
Leaders in Sport & Physical Activity: Seminar Series
In 2019, the Futures Forum and the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) hosted a series of seminars hearing from leaders in sport and physical activity. Each was asked to share the lessons they’ve learned in their journey through sport, along with their thoughts about the future. The seminars were for MSPs, MSP staff and Parliament…
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Spring 2019: Events Programme
Scotland’s Futures Forum is delighted to announce our Spring 2019 Programme of Events. As part of our Scotland 2030 Programme, we’ll be hosting discussions looking at the future for housing with an ageing population, and the future for further and higher education in 2030 and beyond. We’ll also consider the question of whether a citizen’s…
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International Perspectives on Drug Policy
This seminar in December 2018 brought together experts from Denmark and Norway to share good practice on drugs policy.
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Events and Resources | Health | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Health | Scotland 2030: Our Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: A Sustainable Future for Social Care for Older People
16 November 2018, at the Scottish Parliament In conjunction with the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee, the Futures Forum brought together a diverse range of people to consider the future for social care for older people in Scotland. The seminar was chaired by the convener of the Health and Sport Committee, Lewis Macdonald MSP….
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Education | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Education and Learning | Session 5
Scotland 2030: Secondary Education
Future Schooling, Education and Learning: Goodison Group in Scotland Forum Debate Tuesday 13 November 2018, at the Scottish Parliament The Goodison Group in Scotland and the Futures Forum continued their exploration of schooling and learning in the future, with a focus on secondary education in 2030. Read the event report here: Future Education: Secondary Schools…
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Events and Resources | Health | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: Death and Dying
Tuesday 6 November 2018, at the Scottish Parliament The Futures Forum concluded its investigation into life in the future with a discussion on death and dying in 2030 and beyond. Chaired by the Parliament’s Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Ken Macintosh MSP, this session considered our approach to death and dying in Scotland, now and in the…
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Post-Brexit Common Frameworks
Half day conference in November 2018 with the Finance and Constitution Committee on governance in the UK after Brexit. Features event report.
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Events and Resources | Health | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Health | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: Growing Older in Future Scotland
Wednesday 3 October 2018, at the Scottish Parliament The Futures Forum continued its investigation into life in the future with a discussion on growing older in 2030 and beyond. Chaired by Ross Greer MSP, this session focused on the role of older people in our society and the aspirations we have for our later years….
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Arts&Culture | Creative reflection | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Creative Reflections | Scotland 2030: Our Future Scotland | Session 5
Our Future Scotland: Artwork
Artworks commissioned in 2018 by the Futures Forum from Fiona J MacLellan as part of a paid internship. The pieces represented the growing body of work in our Scotland 2030 Programme.
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Smart Justice: Lessons from New York
This seminar in September 2018 featured a presentation by Greg Berman, Director of the Center for Court Innovation in New York, on its approach to smart justice.
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Futures Forum Bulletin: Autumn 2018
Hello and welcome to the Futures Forum’s bulletin for autumn 2018! With the Scottish Parliament having returned from the summer recess, we look back on a busy summer for us and forward to an exciting autumn of events in our Scotland 2030 Programme. Autumn Programme of Events Read more about Scotland 2030: Growing Older, Wednesday 3…
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Environment | Events and Resources | Health | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Environment | Scotland 2030: Health | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: Our Food Future
This seminar in September 2018 used Nourish Scotland’s vision of a sustainable food system in 2030 to prompt a discussion on food in Scotland. Features video of presentations and report.
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Environment | Events and Resources | Major Projects | News | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Mobility | Scotland 2030: Technology | Session 5 | Technology | Transport
Scotland 2030: Autonomous Vehicles
Are autonomous vehicles the future? How well developed are they already, what is likely to happen next, and how can Scotland exploit the opportunities they present? Scotland’s Futures Forum was delighted to work with Ivan McKee MSP and various partners including Jacobs to explore the potential presented by the development of autonomous vehicles and the…
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Environment | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Environment | Scotland 2030: Mobility | Scotland 2030: Society | Scotland 2030: Technology | Session 5 | Society | Technology | Transport
Autonomous Vehicles: Opportunities for Glasgow
On 4 July 2018, the Futures Forum held a seminar on the opportunities for Glasgow from the development of autonomous vehicles. Hosted by Glasgow City Council and produced in conjunction with Jacobs and Glasgow Chambers of Commerce, the event was chaired by Councillor Jen Layden and featured a keynote introduction from Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for…
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Environment | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Environment | Scotland 2030: Mobility | Scotland 2030: Technology | Session 5 | Technology
Autonomous Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future
On 21 June 2018, Scotland’s Futures Forum hosted a seminar on the opportunities and challenges presented by the development of autonomous vehicles. A panel discussion chaired by Gail Ross MSP, Deputy Convener of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, saw contributions from four industry experts: Sarah McCartney and Kate Carpenter from Jacobs Ltd Iain Forbes,…
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Education | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Education and Learning | Session 5
Scotland 2030: Primary School
Future Schooling, Education and Learning: Goodison Group in Scotland Forum Debate On Tuesday 19 June 2018, the Goodison Group in Scotland and the Futures Forum continued their exploration of schooling and learning in the future, with a focus on primary education in 2030. Dylan and Alexander from the Children’s Parliament outlining the vision of a…
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A Sustainable Future for Scotland’s Public Finances
On Friday 15 June 2018, the Futures Forum, the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee and the Royal Society of Edinburgh brought together a group of experts from throughout Scotland to consider the long-term sustainability of Scotland’s public finances. Read A Sustainable Future for Scotland’s Public Finances Event Report The seminar took place on the…
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Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: Work in a Gender Equal Country
Tuesday 5 June 2018 at the Scottish Parliament The Futures Forum’s investigation into Scotland’s culture and society in the future continued with a discussion of our working lives in 2030. Read Scotland 2030 – Work in a Gender Equal Country Event Report Participants heard a presentation from Jo Salter, a director at PwC (and the…
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Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Our Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Our Future Scotland: Aberdeen and the North East
In partnership with the University of Aberdeen, on 25 May 2018, the Futures Forum held an event on the aspirations for our future in Aberdeen and the North East. Using the Our Future Scotland video as a prompt, an expert panel provided their perspective on the opportunities for the North East in particular and Scotland in…
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Arts&Culture | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Our Future Scotland | Session 5
Our Future Scotland: Film Premiere
“Our Future Scotland” challenges everyone – from the First Minister and other party leaders, to leading business and technology figures, and award-winning authors and artists – to share their aspirations for the kind of country they want Scotland to be in the future. The film was screened at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 16 May…
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Spring 2018 Bulletin
Find out what we’ve been up to – and what’s coming next!
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Drugs in Scotland: Seminar
Seminar in May 2018 on drugs policy in Scotland now and in the future. With NHS Health Scotland, Scottish Drugs Forum and Step Together.
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Summer 2018: Events Programme
Scotland’s Futures Forum is delighted to announce our Summer Programme of Events. In the Scottish Parliament, we’ll be hosting a panel discussion including author Christopher Brookmyre and robotics expert Professor Sethu Vijayakumar on our aspirations for 2030 and #OurFutureScotland, along with a challenge on the future world of work: what would Scotland in 2030 look…
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Drugs in Scotland: MSPs Request Review
NEWS: Following a request from a cross-party group of MSPs, the Futures Forum will consider the landscape for drug use in Scotland.
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Education | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Education and Learning | Session 5
Scotland 2030: the Early Years
Future Schooling, Education and Learning: Goodison Group in Scotland Forum Debate On 14 March 2018, the Goodison Group in association with Scotland’s Futures Form held the first debate of the year as part of its future schooling, education and learning project. The debate focused on early years education, with presentations from Juliet Hancock, Director of…
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Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Scotland 2030: Growing Up In Future Scotland
In 2018, Scotland’s Futures Forum’s Scotland 2030 Programme is looking at different stages of life in future Scotland. The first event in the series considered what growing up in Scotland in 2030 could and should be like. Read the full event report here: “Life in Future Scotland: Growing Up” Event Report The Futures Forum heard from…
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An Action Plan for Homelessness
Reception in January 2018 to showcase Heriot-Watt University’s academic research behind Social Bite’s ambitious plan to tackle homelessness.
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Education | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Education and Learning | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Session 5 | Society
Future Schooling, Learning and Education: Future Skills and Qualifications
Scotland 2030: Goodison Group in Scotland Forum Debate The Goodison Group in Scotland continued its on-going investigation into education and learning in the future with a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 14 November 2017. Bringing together representatives from education, academia and business, GGiS considered how Scotland will change by 2030 and what that…
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Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Society | Scotland 2030: Technology | Session 5 | Society | Technology
Scotland 2030: Technology and Society
On Friday 10 November, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Futures Forum held a Scotland 2030 Programme discussion on technology and society in Inverness. Chaired by the Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh MSP, the panel for this event comprised Dr Chris Van Der Kuyl FRSE, owner of 4G, the Minecraft game developers; Futures…
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Events and Resources | Health | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Health | Session 5
Scotland 2030: Fitter or Fatter?
Seminar in October 2017 exploring policy responses to obesity and their potential effect on people’s health and lives.
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Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Society | Scotland 2030: Technology | Session 5 | Society | Technology
Scotland 2030: Young People and Technology
On 27 October 2017, the Futures Forum held a joint consultation event with the Scottish Youth Parliament on the question of technology. Chaired by Maree Todd MSP as a Futures Forum director, the debate covered young people’s hopes and fears about the role of technology in their lives, and their thoughts about how to make…
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The Drugs Don’t Work: Reducing Drugs Damage in Scotland 10 Years On
Ten years after the Futures Forum report on reducing harm from drugs in Scotland, this 2017 Festival of Politics explored how much has changed.
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Economy | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Session 5
Scotland 2030: Our Economy
Having explored the challenges provided by the technological revolution and climate change in its first two events in 2017, the Futures Forum heard from Dr Jamie Coleman, chair and co-founder of Codebase, and Dr Katherine Trebeck, senior researcher at Oxfam, on how we could and should make our living in 2030, as individuals and as…
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Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: A Civilised Nation? | Session 5 | Society
A Civilised Nation? Project Overview
The French philosopher Voltaire is quoted as saying in the 1760s that “We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation”. What did that mean then, and what might it mean today and in the future? What makes up a civilised nation and is Scotland one? And, looking forward, what words or descriptions might we…
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Creative reflection | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Creative Reflections | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Session 5 | Society
The Future and Me: Living in Tomorrow’s World
What does the future hold for young people? What do they think will happen? This video from 2017 explores what inventions we might see by 2030.
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Fit Home: the Future of Housing and Health
This informal reception introduced guests to the main concepts behind Fit Home, a unique partnership between housing, NHS Highland and social enterprise, which, supported by academic research, showcases a collaborative solution to wellness in the digital age. Developed through co-design with partners, potential tenants and health and care professionals, this ground-breaking approach combines modular home…
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Economy | Education | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Education and Learning | Session 5
Future Schooling, Education and Learning: The Economic Context
Scotland 2030: Goodison Group in Scotland Forum Debate On 5 September 2017, the Goodison Group in Scotland and the Futures Forum continued their on-going investigation into education and learning in the future with a debate in the Scottish Parliament on how the economy might influence, enhance or disrupt schooling, education and learning in 2030 and beyond….
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Blog to the Future | Environment | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Environment | Session 5
Bananas, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Scotland’s Environment
By Dr Steph Smith, Scotland’s Rural College and @ScienceSeaweed Humans are curious creatures. Not in the sense that we are random assemblages of cells which share about 50% of our DNA with a banana; but curious in our desire to learn. The Scottish’s Parliament’s own future ‘think tank’, Scotland’s Futures Forum, and the Scottish Environment, Food…
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Environment | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Environment | Session 5
Our Environment in 2030
A healthy society and culture depends on a healthy environment. This project explores how Scotland’s environment might change over the coming years and how our relationship with it will and should change at the same time. It also asks what our societal and cultural relationship with our surroundings should be in 2030 to ensure a…
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Data and Politics: Comparative Agendas Project 10th Anniversary Conference
This reception marked the 10th anniversary of the Comparative Agendas Project, a worldwide network of political and data scientists working to investigate trends in government, parliamentary and legal activity over time.
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Education | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Education and Learning | Session 5
Future Schooling, Education and Learning: Our Aspirations [2]
Scotland 2030: Goodison Group in Scotland Forum Debate Read the Education in 2030 – Our Aspirations Event Report The Goodison Group in Scotland continued its on-going investigation into education and learning in the future with a debate in the Scottish Parliament on 13 June 2017. Building on the thoughts and aspirations identified at the debate…
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Blog to the Future | Economy | Environment | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: A Civilised Nation? | Scotland 2030: Environment | Session 5 | Society
Economy, ecology, aesthetics: competing interests in the land
By Eleanore Widger, University of Dundee and @Nell Widger Earlier this year the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) and Mountaineering Scotland made an unlikely alliance in opposition to government plans to plant thousands of new trees. According to the Guardian, the Scottish Government intends to increase woodland cover from 17% to 25% by 2050 as part of its Draft…
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Environment | Events and Resources | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Environment | Session 5
How resilient and well-functioning will Scotland’s environment be?
As part of the Scotland 2030 Programme, and on the basis that a strong society and economy can exist in the long term only if the environment – land, air and water – are functioning well, the Futures Forum supported an investigation into what Scotland’s environment might look like in 2030. Asking the question “How…
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Blog to the Future | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: A Civilised Nation? | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Enlightenment Scotland: a “civilised nation”?
By Nicola Martin, @NicolaMartin14 “We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation.” This summary of a quotation from French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire is commonly used by commentators who wish to present Scotland as a beacon of civilisation and enlightenment in both the past and the present. [1] However, such a phrase and interpretation…
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Blog to the Future | Environment | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: A Civilised Nation? | Scotland 2030: Environment | Session 5
Rugged, remote, rocky: Scotland and the Romantic imagination
By Eleanore Widger, University of Dundee and @NellWidger A curious thing happened in Scotland during the Romantic period: vast numbers of tourists from Britain, Europe and elsewhere used new road networks and steam packet routes to access the landscapes they valued as wild and remote. According to John and Margaret Gold, those tourists had two main objectives when…
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Blog to the Future | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: A Civilised Nation? | Scotland 2030: Society | Scotland 2030: Technology | Session 5 | Society | Technology
Technology: the driving force of human civilisation?
The first line of an article I read this morning proclaimed that: “Technology has driven human civilisation for thousands of years.” [1] Businessman Mukesh Ambani was discussing the opportunities for India to become a world leader in technology as humanity sits on the cusp of a fourth Industrial Revolution that looks set to blur the…
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Blog to the Future | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: A Civilised Nation? | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society
Civilisation: a question of terminology
By Nicola Martin, University of Stirling and @NicolaMartin14 5 April 2017 Before we consider what various stakeholders understand by the notion of a civilised nation or civilisation in the present, and even before we consider the various past perspectives of these notions, it is useful to understand the definitions of the words themselves, where the…
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Blog to the Future | Environment | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: A Civilised Nation? | Scotland 2030: Environment | Session 5
Scotland’s landscapes: natural or naturalised
By Eleanore Widger, University of Dundee and @NellWidger 13 April 2017 Something has troubled me as I’ve progressed through my internship thinking about Scotland’s relationship to landscape. My research background in the Environmental Humanities has taught me to be sceptical of the term ‘nature’ – what can it really mean, and does it really exist, in the context of millennia…
