For three days in June, a diverse group of students, staff and external organisations gathered to take part in an experimental workshop, exploring new ideas around our relationship with technology.
The Edinburgh Futures Institute Utopia Lab pilot brought together artists, scientists, writers and the Head of Futures Literacy at UNESCO, Riel Miller.
Sparking new connections
The interdisciplinary project was created and delivered by Jennifer Williams, a writer and coordinator at the University’s Institute for Academic Development.
The group were asked to consider the question: “how can technology help the world to heal?”, and also discuss what the word utopia meant to them.
EFI Utopia Lab Blog
Read Jennifer’s blog describing the idea behind the project and the thought-provoking outcomes:
Public event
On the final day of the project, the group held an event for the public to join and share in some of their thoughts and work that was born out of the discussions.
As the EFI Utopia Lab was an experimental pilot, it was not possible to predict what the group would create, or what direction the work would take.
Works included a collaboration to create a comic strip, a large-scale projects and poetry.
Read about all of the creative reflections following the EFI Utopia Lab pilot:
Concept continued
The concept of the EFI Utopia Lab will continue during the Edinburgh International Festival.
The Edinburgh Futures Institute is working in partnership with the Festival to curate the You Are Here strand of its programme.
A creative team from EFI will host in a Breaking Bread meal on 15 August, when members of the public are invited to join the team to think and talk together.
The event will begin with a short performance or provocation, followed by free-form discussions.
