The Scottish Parliament's think-tank

Our work on Technology


  • Technology: the driving force of human civilisation?

    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…


  • News from 2030 by Karine Polwart

    News from 2030 by Karine Polwart

    As part of the launch of our Scotland 2030 Programme in March 2017, we asked award-winning folk singer, songwriter and essayist Karine Polwart (@IAMKP) to reflect on the cultural implications for our society from technological change. In…


  • Scotland 2030: The Technological Context

    Scotland 2030: The Technological Context

    This debate with Karine Polwart and Chris van der Kuyl in March 2017 explored the effect technological innovation would have on life in Scotland.


  • Betty Bags a Booker by Karine Polwart

    Betty Bags a Booker by Karine Polwart

    An imagined news story from 2030 by Karine Polwart. Written in 2017, “Betty Bags a Booker” reflects on the effect of automation on our society and culture.


  • A Digital Haven by Karine Polwart

    A Digital Haven by Karine Polwart

    An imagined news story from 2030 by Karine Polwart. Written in 2017, “A Digital Haven” reflects on the mixed effect of technology on Scotland’s rural areas.


  • Karmic Payback by Karine Polwart

    Karmic Payback by Karine Polwart

    An imagined news story from 2030 by Karine Polwart. Written in 2017, “Karmic Payback” reflects on the role of apps and personal data in our health and wellbeing.


  • Digital Democracy: Opportunities and Challenges for Scotland

    Digital Democracy: Opportunities and Challenges for Scotland

    Seminar with Nesta Scotland in February 2017 on what Scotland can learn from digital democracy pioneers throughout Europe.


  • Automation in the Scottish Economy

    Automation in the Scottish Economy

    The growing level of automation in Scotland’s economy and the implications for our workforce was the subject of a Scotland’s Futures Forum’s Breakfast Seminar in 2017. Hosted by Richard Leonard MSP on behalf of the…


  • Technology as a learning environment

    Technology as a learning environment

    This forum debate with the Goodison Group in Scotland in March 2015 explored learning environments, with a focus on technology.