History, literature, language and a sustainable Scotland
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
Articles by Futures Forum Staff
Autumn 2021 update
An update from the Scottish Parliament’s think-tank from autumn 2021. It includes information on the Festival of Politics and new directors.
Annual Reports
Published annual reports of Scotland’s Futures Forum, the Scottish Parliament’s think-tank.
Scotland 2045: A Sustainable Society
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?
Scotland 2045: A Sustainable Society – Privacy Notice
This privacy statement explains how we collect and use personal information as a data controller for the following process: Data provided during the Scotland’s Futures Forum online panel session “Scotland 2045: A Sustainable Society”.
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Scotland’s Futures Forum has been holding events and supporting research since 2005. Over the next year we’ll be adding more and more resources to our website. Search
Scotland’s Climate Assembly: A call to action
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?
Vacancy: external directors
UPDATE 11 AUGUST 2021: The deadline for this vacancy has passed. Thanks to all those who have been in touch. We will communicate with applicants directly. The positions Scotland’s Futures Forum, the Scottish Parliament’s think-tank,…
Summer 2021 Update
Update on board changes and plans from Scotland’s Futures Forum from summer 2021.
Review of Session 5
Scotland’s Futures Forum is the Scottish Parliament’s futures think-tank. Our work is designed to inform MSPs and enable them to consider the effects of decisions taken today on Scotland’s long-term future. In the fifth session…
Future Schooling, Education and Learning: Where next for education in 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?
Where next for education in Scotland? Videos and additional material
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,…
Review of the year: 2020
2020 has been a year like no other. Often, it has been hard for many of us to look beyond the end of the week, let alone into the long-term future. At Scotland’s Futures Forum,…
Scotland 2030 Programme
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…
Scotland 2030: 10 for 2030
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…
Scotland 2030: Creative Reflections
Throughout the Scotland 2030 Programme, we sought to bring creativity to our discussions, both by asking writers and others to share their thoughts on the issues at hand and by sharing their creative reflections on…
‘Positive view’ needed to tackle Scotland’s challenges of the next decade
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…
Alba 2030 Sealladh Brosnachail air an Àm ri Thighinn
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…
Scotland 2030: What do we want, and how can we get there?
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…
Scotland 2030: Empathetic, Equitable and Joyful
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. Scotland’s Futures…
Scotland 2030: Children’s rights must be at the heart of all that we do
Ahead of his participation in a Festival of Politics panel discussion on Scotland in 2030, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland Bruce Adamson shares his reflections on the next 10 years. Planning ahead would…
Festival of Politics 2020 – looking forward to 2030
Scotland’s Futures Forum is delighted to partner with the Scottish Parliament on its first virtual Festival of Politics, which takes place from Thursday 19 November to Saturday 21 November 2020. With events moving online as…
RESEARCH REPORT: “Stealing Our Cities” – City space being overwhelmingly used for private cars
The Scottish Parliament’s think tank, Scotland’s Futures Forum, has today published analysis which shows the large amount of space private cars take up in Scotland’s cities. The aim of the project was to look creatively…
Stealing our cities: land-use analysis
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…
Chrysalis by Laura Scotland
As part of our Scotland 2030 Programme, we joined with Cymera, Scotland’s science fiction festival, and Shoreline of Infinity, Scotland’s award-winning science fiction magazine, to run a speculative fiction competition on the theme of Scotland…
Saplings by Sophie Charlotte Baumert
As part of our Scotland 2030 Programme, we joined with Cymera, Scotland’s science fiction festival, and Shoreline of Infinity, Scotland’s award-winning science fiction magazine, to run a speculative fiction competition on the theme of Scotland…
The Thief and the Watchdog by Katya Bacica
As part of our Scotland 2030 Programme, we joined with Cymera, Scotland’s science fiction festival, and Shoreline of Infinity, Scotland’s award-winning science fiction magazine, to run a speculative fiction competition on the theme of Scotland…
Scotland 2030 Programme: Short Story Competition
As part of the Futures Forum’s Scotland 2030 Programme – our aspirational exploration of Scotland’s culture and society in 2030 and beyond – we were delighted to support a short story competition to help us…
Scotland 2030: Future Schooling, Education and Learning
What could schooling, education and learning look like in 2030 and beyond? Click the image to read the report Starting with this question, the Goodison Group in Scotland and Scotland’s Futures Forum have been exploring…
Scotland 2030: Future Schooling, Education & Learning – Report & Film
Tuesday 10 March 2020, at the Scottish Parliament Click the image to read the report To mark the publication of the Futures Forum and Goodison Group in Scotland report exploring the future of education in…
Finnish Lessons: Olli-Pekka Heinonen
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…
Scotland 2030: Carbon Positive Jobs
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,…
Leadership in Education
Tuesday 10 September and Thursday 30 January 2020, at the Scottish Parliament Click the image to read the report Scotland’s Futures Forum and the Goodison Group in Scotland continued their exploration of education in the…
Spring 2020: Upcoming Events
Scotland’s Futures Forum continues its exploration of our future with a series of events in spring 2020. Covering the future of education, the impact of innovation and sustainability on the jobs we do, and the…
Scotland 2030: Future Education Scenario
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…
Review of the year: 2019
2019 has been a busy year for Scotland’s Futures Forum. We’ve explored our shared future in urban and rural communities, hosted discussions on transformative ideas like a citizen’s income and a wellbeing economy, and welcomed…
Scotland 2030: Gaelic – what would success look like?
Alba 2030: A’ Ghàidhlig – Buaidh is Piseach Friday 6 December 2019, at the Scottish Parliament READ THIS PAGE IN GAELIC What should the future be for Gaelic in Scotland? What would success look like…
Alba 2030: A’ Ghàidhlig – Buaidh is Piseach
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…
Mu dheidhinn Fòram Alba air Thoiseach
Is e Fòram Alba air Thoiseach a’ bhuidheann-bheachdachaidh mun àm ri teachd aig Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Tha sinn ag obair air bunait nach eil a’ bualadh air pàrtaidhean gus rannsachadh a chur air adhart agus…
EVENT POSTPONED: Our Future Scotland – South-West Scotland
We hope to run this event in 2020. What hopes and aspirations do we have for the future? In conjunction with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Futures Forum is hosting a debate in Dumfries…
Artificial Intelligence: A Misunderstood Revolution
Wednesday 11 September 2019, at the Scottish Parliament In conjunction with Reform Scotland, the Futures Forum held a seminar with writer and journalist Tom Chivers on artificial intelligence. The seminar covered how AI is developing…
Our Future Scotland
#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…
Our Future Scotland @ the Scottish Parliament’s 20th Birthday Party
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…
Scotland 2030: A Sustainable Future for Urban Scotland
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…
Scotland’s cities: retrofitting or new urban developments?
Scotland’s Futures Forum hosted Felix Esche, a fourth year student at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh, for work experience in June 2019. After his time with us, and ahead of our Scotland 2030 event on…
A Nordic Rethink: Where Next for Nordic Horizons?
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….
Scotland 2030: Leadership in Education
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…
Leaders in Sport & Physical Activity: Judy Murray
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…
Leaders in Sport & Physical Activity: David Duke
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…
Digital Democracy: Engagement and Parliament
In conjunction with the Scottish Parliament’s Digital Engagement Tools Team, the Futures Forum held a seminar on 22 May 2019 to explore how the Scottish Parliament can best engage with citizens in a digital age….
A Citizen’s Income: A Creative Response
Susie Maguire, the writer and performer, was unable to take part as planned in the Futures Forum’s event on “Scotland 2030: A Citizen’s Income?” on Tuesday 2 April 2019. We therefore asked her to contribute…
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…
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…
Climate Change with the IPCC
On Wednesday 3 April 2019, the Futures Forum and the Scottish Parliament Information Centre hosted a breakfast seminar with speakers from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on science, policy and solutions on a…
Scotland 2030: A Citizen’s Income?
Tuesday 2 April at the Scottish Parliament With predictions of social and economic upheaval brought about by technological and environmental changes, could a citizen’s income reduce poverty and increase people’s control over their lives? How…
Scotland 2030 Programme: Upcoming Events
Scotland’s Futures Forum continues its exploration of life, society and culture in Scotland in the future through a series of events tackling subjects from the potential for a citizen’s income, the future for rural Scotland…
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…
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…
Scotland 2030: A Wellbeing Economy?
Tuesday 5 February 2019, at the Scottish Parliament In conjunction with the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, the Futures Forum held a seminar on the idea of Scotland as a wellbeing economy….
Scotland 2030: Housing and Ageing
Wednesday 23 January 2019, at the Scottish Parliament How can housing meet the needs of older people in the future? In conjunction with the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Groups on Housing and on Older People, Age…
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…
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…
*** Winter Bulletin and Review of the Year 2018 ***
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…
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…
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,…
Post-Brexit Common Frameworks
In November 2018, the Futures Forum collaborated with the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee and the Royal Society of Edinburgh to consider the arrangements for governing the United Kingdom after the UK leaves the…
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…
Our Future Scotland: Artwork
During the month of January through to August 2018, Fiona J MacLellan worked as part of Scotland’s Futures Forum team on a paid internship through the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities. Bringing a…
Smart Justice: The Center for Court Innovation
Wednesday 26 September 2018, at the Scottish Parliament Hosted jointly with Community Justice Scotland and the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee, this Futures Forum seminar featured a presentation by Greg Berman, Director of the Center for…
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…
Scotland 2030: Our Food Future
Food is central to our lives in Scotland – from what we eat and drink as individuals, to the number of jobs in the growing food and drink sector, and the links between its production and…
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…
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…
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…
Scotland 2030: Primary School
Future Schooling, Education and Learning: Goodison Group in Scotland Forum Debate Click the image to read the event report On Tuesday 19 June 2018, the Goodison Group in Scotland and the Futures Forum continued their…
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…
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 the full event report…
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…
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…
Spring 2018 Bulletin
Click below to find out what we’ve been up to – and what’s coming next!
Drugs in Scotland: Seminar
Ten years on from its ground-breaking report into reducing harm caused by alcohol and drugs, Scotland’s Futures Forum returned to the subject with an event to consider drug use in Scotland. Following a request from…
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…
Drugs in Scotland: MSPs Request Review
Ten years on from its ground-breaking report into reducing harm caused by alcohol and drugs, Scotland’s Futures Forum will return to the subject with an event to consider drug use in Scotland. Following a request…
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…
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…
An Action Plan for Homelessness – Briefing and Reception
On 31 January 2018, the Futures Forum held a reception to showcase Heriot-Watt University’s academic research behind Social Bite’s ambitious plan to tackle homelessness, along with the social enterprise’s work with others to tackle this…
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…
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,…
Scotland 2030: Fitter or Fatter?
On Monday 30 October 2017, Scotland’s Futures Forum and the Scottish Parliament Information Centre brought together MSPs, academics and other stakeholders to look to 2030 and beyond and explore the policies that will make the…