Hello and welcome to the Scotland's Futures Forum Winter bulletin and review of the year.
In this edition we have a look back over some of the work we've done in 2018, and look forward to 2019.
Life in Future Scotland
This year our Scotland 2030 Programme considered different stages of life in the future - growing up, working, growing older and dying. We've also looked at autonomous vehicles and our food future.
Our Future Scotland
In May, we hosted a wide-ranging discussion around a film produced by our partners at the RSE's Young Academy of Scotland. Featuring contributions from all the Scottish political party leaders and other leading thinkers such as author Christopher Brookmyre, poet Jackie Kaye and actor Brian Cox, the "Our Future Scotland" film challenges us all to consider our aspirations for 2030 and beyond.
Future education and learning
With our partners the Goodison Group in Scotland, we've been continuing our project to look at the future for different stages of education and learning. From the project, we've put together some straw scenarios of what education in 2030 and beyond could and should look like.
For all the events and discussions, we aim to produce event reports, along with videos of the contributions where possible. We're in the process of updating our website, so check out our Scotland 2030 Programme webpages for all the details.
Other projects
The Futures Forum also undertook a series of short projects this year, working with cross-party groups of MSPs both in committees and separately, and bringing innovative projects to a parliamentary audience.
An action plan for homelessness
At the start of the year, the Futures Forum hosted an event with Social Bite on its plans to eradicate homelessness in Scotland.
Drugs in Scotland
In May, we held a discussion on the future of drugs policy in Scotland. Chaired by Adam Tomkins MSP and Clare Haughey MSP, the seminar heard from experts and families affected by harmful drug use. Read the report here.
Financial and Constitutional Futures
Finally, with the Finance and Constitution Committee, we looked at both the long-term sustainability of Scotland's public finances and potential post-Brexit constitutional arrangements based on common frameworks.
2019: What's next?
The theme for the Scotland 2030 Programme in 2019 will be wellbeing, looking at building healthy society and communities, the potential role of a citizen's basic income, and the morals and ethics of future Scotland.
As ever, we'll also look to take opportunities to open up discussion on Scotland's long-term future.
We'll provide more details about our plans early in the new year. In the meantime, everyone at Scotland's Futures Forum wishes you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year.
JOIN THE MAILING LIST!
We have a mailing list to email occasionally about events or work that might be of interest to you, including this bulletin. We keep only your name, email address and (if applicable) organisation, and we do not share your information with anyone else. If you would like to join the Scotland's Futures Forum mailing list, click below.
Credits:
Photos: (C) Scotland's Futures Forum/Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body