Scotland's Futures Forum

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

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...

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!

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...

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

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 ...

🌿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

young children interact with a museum exhibit. Text: A New Social Contract. Learning happens in libraries, museums and communities. Is formal schooling still the best model? Is the current social contract for education fit to deliver education for the future?

A bored young adult sits by a pile of books. Text: Rethinking What We Teach. Is our education system truly serving learners, or is it falling short? What’s working, what’s failing, and is deeper transformation is needed? What is the purpose of education, and is what we teach failing learners?

Reimagining Education in Scotland’s Future. From co-creation and global citizenship, to lifelong learning and sustainability. The way we learn and teach must evolve to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Reply below, share this post, be part of the conversation.

We’re grateful to all who contributed to the workshop and looking forward to continuing the conversation at our next workshop in November

Image of a globe. Text: Learning to Live Together. How can we incorporate the creative ideas of peoples beyond Scotland, and engage in global discussions and mutual learning? Can education be open to thinking, ideas and world-views from elsewhere?

Photo of people comparing graphs. Text: Protecting Education. As pressures from market forces and political cycles grow, how do we ensure education is sustainably resourced while being safeguarded from the short-termism of politics and profit? How can we ensure education is free of politics and commodification?

An illustrated image shows a classroom of the future, teacher using an oversized interactive screen while children sit at desks with laptops. Text: The Role of Teachers. How should teacher education be structured to foster interdisciplinary learning for the future?

Key themes from the workshop included:
– Co-creation
– Governance
– Global citizenship
– Lifelong learning
– The future of the social contract for education
#EducationScotland #FutureOfLearning

A group of children and adults sit behind forms in a classroom while a teacher uses an interactive whiteboard to present the lesson. Text reads: Reimagining Education in Scotland’s Future, Scotland’s Future of Education: Insights from our 7 Questions Workshop

Speech bubbles read: AI. Climate Crisis. Global inequality. Text: Why rethink Education? The world is changing, education must too. Education must prepare learners to face the challenges of an uncertain future. What should education look like in 2040 and beyond?

Image of hands moulding clay at a pottery class. Text: Co-creation, Power, Voice. What will be the role of learners, educators, communities and the State? Should we place more value on local, indigenous, and experiential knowledge? Who should education be for, and who should it be shaped by ?

Collage showing: overflowing communal bin, large protest, bomb damaged building, forest fire, land experiencing drought. Text: What is Education For? How do we instil knowledge and skills to help societies to tackle undesirable futures?

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

Our work on Housing | Scotland's Futures Forum A page with all of the work that Scotland's Futures Forum has done on Housing.

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-...

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… Festival of Politics 2025: Vote Chatbot at the Ballot - 20 August 2025

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

YouTube video by The Scottish Parliament Festival of Politics 2025: The future of health - 20 August 2025

🎥 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

🔚 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

🗣️ From the suffrage generation to now, has women's increased power benefited society?

🙋 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

🔚 That’s a wrap on “The Future of Health”! Innovation isn’t just tech—it’s communities, third sector, economic policy and more. Thanks to all speakers and attendees!
🎟️ Our next event is on AI and Democracy join us in person or across socials: tikt.link/votechatbot
#FoP2025

💬 Audience Q&A underway!
"Socio-economic impact has the highest impact on health inequalities. What do the panel think of initiatives like a Universal Basic Income?"

Should it be means tested?, does it drive inflation?,
🗣️ Be part of the conversation
#FestivalOfPolitics #FoP2025

John Cassidy, Chair of Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing, highlights the challenges charities face fundraising, alongside the positive power of the voluntary sector to change lives.