The Scottish Parliament's think-tank
Tuesday March 19 2024 This event continued our critical conversation on the policies, strategies and practices shaping artificial intelligence’s future in Scottish schools. It brought together educators, academics and other experts and provoked discussions on…
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22 April 2024 Scotland aims to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2045, but the Scottish Government announced, in April, that the interim 2030 target is unreachable highlighting the significant challenges ahead. By bringing together MSPs and…
How are parliaments changing to respond to the climate and biodiversity emergencies? How are they supporting their elected members to deal with the issues..
Malini Mehra, chief executive of GLOBE International, joins parliamentarians in the COP pavilion to provide an update on how conference negotiations are going.
This seminar in November 2023 explored the levers that we can use in education and learning to make the best use of artificial intelligence.
This event in October 2023 explored how we can use our land to underpin food security, maintain sustainable communities, & meet climate & biodiversity targets
This blog by David Waite, Richard Crisp and Anne Green reflects on different ideas of economic change and where they’ve come from.
An update from the Scottish Parliament’s think-tank on its work in autumn 2023. This includes information about a public debate in October.
This panel discussion in October 2023 explored how fair Scotland is as a country. Complete equality of outcome is impossible – so what does success look like?
What can be done to tackle the giants of 21st century poverty? This seminar in August 2023 with the David Hume Institute and Professor Danny Dorling explored whether Scotland is providing some answers.
If all political parties in Scotland are committed to tackling poverty, why has more progress not been made? This Festival of Politics debate in August 2023 explored Scotland’s poverty problem.
Post-pandemic and in a cost-of-living crisis, how can new economic ideas help us shape the future? This Festival of Politics debate in August 2023 explored how our economy could and should work.
How can Scotland create fair and sustainable communities? This Festival of Politics debate in August 2023 explored the role of and future for our land in Scotland.
With Scotland facing the challenges of a climate emergency and rising inequality, this seminar in June 2023 explored business purpose and making a good living.
This seminar in June 2023 explored the disruptive effect of artificial intelligence on education and skills. How could & should AI influence learning?
A half-day conference in May 2023 with the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on the relationship between local and central government.
With Scotland facing the challenges of a climate and ecological emergency, rising inequality and an ageing population, this seminar in April 2023 explored the idea of a just transition.
With Scotland facing the challenges of a climate and ecological emergency, rising inequality and an ageing population, this seminar in February 2023 explored the idea of a wellbeing economy
A toolkit with seven key questions to scrutinise the design and use of artificial intelligence – for parliaments and others.
A contribution to the National Discussion on Scottish education from the Futures Forum and Goodison Group in Scotland.
Event in November 2022 with the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee on taxation in Scotland.
A forum debate in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 8 November 2022 on Scottish education as part of the National Discussion on Education.
Podcast of “Data Vultures Destroying Democracy” debate, from the 2022 Festival of Politics, on the increasing role of data in our society and the implications for democracy.
A Futures Forum debate at the Festival of Politics on 11 August 2022 on disinformation, new media and democracy. In partnership with the CPG on Tibet.
A summary of the Futures Forum’s work on the future of democracy from 2021 and 2022: Environment, Technology and Participation.
This report uses events at COP26 to identify a pathway for Parliaments in tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
This seminar in June 2022 focused on what happens when decisions made by algorithm don’t work as intended: who is accountable and how are they held accountable?
A short review of the responses of Parliaments around the world to the development of artificial intelligence [AI].
A discussion on 7 June 2022 with the Goodison Group in Scotland on building a compelling vision for Scottish education.
To mark Seachdain na Gàidhlig in 2022, the Futures Forum asked several Gaelic speakers to share their views of the future. These are their blogs.
If a week is a long time in politics, how can Parliaments and Governments take decisions for our long-term future? This seminar in March 2022 explored what Scotland can learn from Wales.
Round-table discussion in March 2022 with Scottish Parliament Education Committee: How will and should the learning experience in schools continue to change alongside developments in society and technology?
Round-table discussion in February 2022 with Scottish Parliament Education Committee: In a time of change, who should run Scotland’s schools?
This COP26 event asked parliamentarians, advisers, citizens & academics to explore how Parliaments must evolve in the context of a Code Red for humanity.
After taking part in a 2021 Festival of Politics event on Scotland as a sustainable society in 2045, writer James Robertson shares his reflections on our future
Online discussion from September 2021: What does a sustainable Scotland look like? How can we build a society that works for all our citizens? What changes do we need to make as individuals?
18 August 2021 – Online seminar with Scotland’s Climate Assembly: How should Scotland change to tackle the climate emergency in an effective and fair way?
Can we do politics differently? This seminar in January 2021 explored what the Scottish Parliament can learn from the work of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland.
Conference asking participants to take a step back from the day-to-day challenges of Covid-19 and consider the future: where next for education in Scotland?
As part of our conference with the Goodison Group in Scotland “What’s next for education in Scotland?” , we were keen to highlight the great work and innovation already possible in Scottish education and learning,…
The Scotland 2030 Programme has been an investigation into the kind of country we want Scotland to be in 2030 and beyond. Through it, Scotland’s Futures Forum has explored how Scottish culture and society is…
Throughout the Scotland 2030 Programme, our event participants shared their thoughts and ideas on how to approach the future. These are 10 ideas for the Scottish Parliament to consider – with some background information to…
Stories, artwork and other creative reflections on Scotland’s future produced during the Futures Forum’s Scotland 2030 Programme
Scotland’s Futures Forum, the Scottish Parliament’s think-tank, is today publishing the findings of its Scotland 2030 Programme, looking at what sort of country we might become, and what our response might be to the great…
Tha Prògram Alba 2030 air a bhith na rannsachadh air an t-seòrsa dùthaich a tha sinn a’ miannachadh a bhios ann an Alba ann an 2030 agus nas fhaide air adhart. Troimhe, tha Fòram Alba…
Thursday 19 November 2020, 7pm to 8.30pm, online and free As Scotland’s Futures Forum publishes its report into Scotland in 2030 and beyond, join an expert panel at the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics to…
After her participation in a 2020 Festival of Politics event on Scotland in 2030, chaired by Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh MSP, writer and presenter Tomiwa Folorunso shares her reflections on the next 10 years. Open the…
Land-use analysis of three sites in two Scottish cities shows that private cars are taking more than their fair share of the available space. The research was conducted by Marli de Jongh, a PhD student…
What could schooling, education and learning look like in 2030 and beyond? Starting with this question, the Goodison Group in Scotland and Scotland’s Futures Forum have been exploring education, schooling and learning in 2030 and…
Tuesday 10 March 2020, at the Scottish Parliament To mark the publication of the Futures Forum and Goodison Group in Scotland report exploring the future of education in Scotland, leading figures from Scottish education joined…
Wednesday 4 March 2020, at the Scottish Parliament In conjunction with the David Hume Institute, Scotland’s Futures Forum held a seminar in March 2020 with Olli-Pekka Heinonen, the Director General at the Finnish National Agency…
Wednesday 5 February 2020, at the Scottish Parliament What jobs will there be in a net zero Scotland? With a climate emergency to respond to while new technology pushes at boundaries and disrupts our lives,…
Tuesday 10 September and Thursday 30 January 2020, at the Scottish Parliament Open the Scotland 2030 Leadership in Education report Scotland’s Futures Forum and the Goodison Group in Scotland continued their exploration of education in…
With the Goodison Group in Scotland, the Futures Forum has been investigating the future for schooling, education and learning in Scotland, looking to 2030 and beyond. In a series of interactive seminars, participants from a…
What would success look like in for Gaelic in Scotland by 2030? This half-day conference in December 2019 explored the future for one of Scotland’s official languages. Features videos and event report
A’ Ghàidhlig – cò ris a bhiodh soirbheachadh coltach? Dè a bu chòir a bhith an dàn don Ghàidhlig ann an Alba? Cò ris a bhiodh soirbheachadh coltach ann an 2030? Aithisg na co-labhairt Leugh…
This seminar in 2019 with writer Tom Chivers explored how artificial intelligence [AI] is developing and changing our lives. Includes report and podcast.
#OurFutureScotland 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…
Saturday 29 June 2019, at the Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament opened its doors to the people of Scotland for an afternoon of celebration to mark its 20th birthday. As part of the celebrations the…
Wednesday 26 June 2019, at the Scottish Parliament Life in Scotland’s towns and cities is forecast to change significantly in the coming decades. Cities are set to continue to grow, facing the challenge of providing…
Thursday 20 June 2019, at the Scottish Parliament Since 2010, Nordic Horizons has brought six Nordic experts a year to Scotland to share their experience and expertise from some of the world’s most successful countries….
Tuesday 11 June 2019, at the Scottish Parliament This seminar, chaired by Sir Andrew Cubie, was the second in a series of debates focusing on leadership in education, particularly leadership of change. It featured a…
On Wednesday 5 June 2019, former Fed Cup Captain Judy Murray spoke at the Scottish Parliament as part of the seminar series with Leaders in Sport and Physical Activity hosted by the Futures Forum and…
On Wednesday 29 May 2019, the founder and chief executive of Street Soccer, David Duke, spoke at the Scottish Parliament about his journey through sport and the lessons he has learned along the way. Organised…
Seminar in May 2019 on how the Scottish Parliament can best engage with citizens in a digital age. Features podcast and presentations.
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…
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…
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.
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?
Short report of event from March 2019 with Helen Lewis on the Future of Feminism with Monica Lennon MSP.
View the Leadership in Education report 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,…
Report of a seminar in February 2019 with the Wellbeing Economy Alliance on Scotland as a wellbeing economy.
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.
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…
This seminar in December 2018 brought together experts from Denmark and Norway to share good practice on drugs policy.
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…
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…
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,…
Half day conference in November 2018 with the Finance and Constitution Committee on governance in the UK after Brexit. Features event report.
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…
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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 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…
“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…