The SPCB has agreed to dissolve Scotland’s Futures Forum as a company and establish a new futures thinking service within the Scottish Parliament. This is about strengthening futures thinking in Parliament, not removing it. Read the full announcement: futuresforum.scot/update-on-sc...
Scottish Parliament Futures Team
@spfuturesteam.bsky.social
The Futures Team helps MSPs think more clearly about possible futures, so they can make better decisions today.
New blog! Professor Jen Ross explores how knowledge institutions help create the conditions for democratic deliberation - and the growing pressure they face in this role. ➡️Read it here: substack.com/home/post/p-...
Last month we held an event exploring what a prevention first Scotland would look like for the nation's wellbeing. ➡️Read more about the event's key themes and discussions here: futuresforum.scot/event-recap-...
We’re now onto the final workshop, where attendees are being asked to work backwards from their desired 2050, identifying the actions needed in year 25, 5 and 1. What do you think the key priorities are?
In our first session with @innovationunit.bsky.social, participants are being asked to reflect on today’s central question: What would Scotland look like in 2050, if everyone had what they need when they need it?
Today we’re hosting an exciting event on the infrastructures of wellbeing and why preventative policy-making matters, in partnership with @SFT_Scotland, Innovation Unit and Social Impact Scotland. Follow along for live updates. #PublicPolicy #FuturesThinking
What does the future of food in Scotland look like? 🍽️ At the end of last year we held an event exploring the forces and uncertainties shaping Scotland's food future, as well as the opportunities for change. Read more here: futuresforum.scot/event-recap-...
New blog! What is foresight and why should Parliament's care? 📖 Read here: futuresforum.scot 📬Also on Substack: substack.com/@scotlandsfu... #FuturesThinking #LookingBeyond #Policy
New blog! Short Horizons: How Political Incentives Skew the Future Our latest blog examines the problem of short-termism in policy making and what can be done to strengthen long-term thinking. 📖 Read here: futuresforum.scot/short-horizo... 📬 Also on Substack! #FuturesThinking #LookingBeyond
New blog - Collapse: an introduction Our latest blog explores why human societies are at risk of collapse and what learnings we can use to navigate our present and work towards a kinder future. 📖Read the full blog: futuresforum.scot/collapse-an-... 📬Also available on Substack!
Collapse: an introduction | Scotland's Futures Forum
A colleague recently reminded me that to know our future, we must first understand our past, so I’ll start with the Earth system, out of which we evolved. This astonishing collection of matter and ene...
futuresforum.scot
New Blog: Culture, Democracy and the Future 🩰 Our latest blog explores the relationship between culture and democracy in Scotland, looking towards the future of both. 📖 Read: futuresforum.scot/culture-demo... 📬 Also on Substack! #ArtsAndCulture #Culture #Democracy #FuturesThinking #LookingBeyond
Culture, Democracy and the Future | Scotland's Futures Forum
This blog explores the current and future value of arts and culture in Scotland. While the economic, social, health and wellbeing benefits are well established, culture also plays a key role in suppor...
futuresforum.scot
🌿New Blog: Scottish Biodiversity Policy for the Future 🌿 Our latest blog explores biodiversity policy in Scotland and the future. This is part of our Looking Beyond series. 📖 Read here: futuresforum.scot/blog-scottis... 📬 Also on Substack! #Biodiversity #ClimateAction #Policy #LookingBeyond
Scottish Biodiversity Policy for the Future | Scotland's Futures Forum
Across the world mass biodiversity loss is being driven by human activities, including climate change, pollution and changing land and sea use. While international agreements and frameworks have been ...
futuresforum.scot
Following the recent 7 Questions Workshop, hosted by Scotland's Futures Forum and The Goodison Group in Scotland, we’re excited to share these questions for wider discussion. How can education in Scotland evolve to meet the needs of learners, communities, and society in a rapidly changing world?
🎉 Celebrating 20 Years of Scotland’s Futures Forum! Exploring bold ideas for two decades. Looking to our shared horizon and asking "What’s next for Scotland?". 🌐Explore our reports and articles - futuresforum.scot/explore-our-... 🗣️ Be part of the conversation #ScotFutures20 #FutureThinking
This year we are celebrating 20 years of Scotland's Futures Forum 🎉 🏘️ Housing has been a popular topic in our work. As MSPs debate the Housing Bill in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament you can browse through our archives on our website futuresforum.scot/our-work-on-...
Our work on Housing | Scotland's Futures Forum
A page with all of the work that Scotland's Futures Forum has done on Housing.
futuresforum.scot
Should AI generated content have to link to the source of the information? Are those sources correct and reliable? and who decides? These questions explored at our "Vote Chatbot at the Ballot" event You can watch the full recording here youtu.be/4pMwevJnSVQ?... #AI #FestivalofPolitics #FOP25
Festival of Politics 2025: Vote Chatbot at the Ballot - 20 August 2025
Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body. www.parliament.scot // We do not facilitate discussions on our YouTube page but encourage you to share and comment on our videos on your own…
youtu.be
🎥 Available now: “The Future of Health” from #FoP2025! From postcode predictions to policy solutions — this session dives deep into Scotland’s health inequalities and what we can do about them. 📺 Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=33QN... #FestivalOfPolitics #ScotParl #PublicHealth
Festival of Politics 2025: The future of health - 20 August 2025
YouTube video by The Scottish Parliament
youtube.com
🔚 Wrapping up with a challenge from Dorling: “You can change things. But you have to be angry, and you have to be bothered” A call to action for policymakers, communities, and citizens alike. #FoP2025
🙋 Questions from the audience on statistical literacy, universal basic income, and climate change management through a reduction in fossil fuel use. The chamber of the Scottish Parliament is captured by Dorling's inciteful and engaging storytelling. #FoP2025
🙋 Time for questions from the audience. First is about what has caused violent crime to fall in the last 20 or so years. Dorling puts this down to the increased role and power of women, specifically mothers in our society and in how children are raised. #FoP2025
🌍 On global comparisons: Danny Dorling puts Scotland in context of our Nordic neighbours — how do we compare to other nations on equity and opportunity? 🗣️ Be part of the conversation 👇 tell us your thoughts in the thread below 👇 #FoP2025
📉 On economic justice: Danny Dorling reminds us that inequality isn’t inevitable — it’s a policy choice. What policies are most important to tackle inequalities? #FoP2025
🩺 On inequalities in health: “I can predict on a map who is likely to die in their 90s and who will die in their 70s” Dorling points to the stark reality that healthy life expectancy can be predicted based on what area people grow up and live in. #FoP2025
Live now at #FestivalOfPolitics 🎉 🗣️ In conversation with Danny Dorling — geographer, author, and provocateur on inequality, housing, and the future of fairness in Britain. In partnership with @DavidHumeInst
Just wrapping up #VoteChatbot 🤖 at the Scottish Parliament. A recording will be available in the coming weeks. 👇 Keep the conversation alive 👇 Can AI make democracy more accessible? What ethical frameworks do we need to build protect it? #FestivalOfPolitics #FoP2025
The panel at Vote Chatbot at the Ballot now discusses "shitification" 💩 Does technology and AI make everything worse? or does it give humans more freedom to be artistic, creative, idiosyncratic and personable? #FoP2025
AI-generated avatars, false biographies, campaign bots — the future of politics is already here. Is regulation of technology always playing catchup? and do the large tech companies deserve a say in how that regulation functions? #VoteChatbot. #FestivalOfPolitics #FoP2025
At #FestivalOfPolitics - Prof. Cristian Vaccari discusses that we are in a pandemic of lack of trust. Technology can both help or hinder trust... it can make our institutions more transparent, or it can spread misinformation. #VoteChatbot 🗣️ Join the conversation, can we trust AI?
The discussion has begun around large language models. @maggiechapman.bsky.social kicks off with a crucial question: "What are the democratic risks of using a biased system, or at least a system that doesn't have all the information?" #AIandDemocracy #FestivalOfPolitics #FoP2025
🤖 Politics meets algorithms - We are live at Vote Chatbot at the Ballot! #FestivalofPolitics Can AI support civic engagement without undermining trust? Join the discussion #FoP2025 #ScotlandsFuturesForum