BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Edinburgh Futures Institute - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Edinburgh Futures Institute
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/London
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20240331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20241027T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20250330T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20251026T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20260329T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20261025T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20270328T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20271031T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260402T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260402T180000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20260305T112626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T122601Z
UID:10000339-1775127600-1775152800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Day of Co-Creation
DESCRIPTION:The Binks Hub invites you to celebrate creative and participatory research practices. Join for one event\, or for the whole day!  \n\n\n\nThe Day of Co-Creation is co-badged with The School of Scottish Studies Archives\, Poverty Truth Community\, Outwith at the University of Edinburgh Library\, and the Binks Hub.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/day-of-co-creation/
LOCATION:Research Suite – 6th Floor\, University of Edinburgh Main Library\, 30 George Square\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9LJ
CATEGORIES:Book launch,Community Event,Talk/Discussion,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Day-of-Co-Creation-screens_Kirstin-Lamb-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="The Binks Hub":MAILTO:binks@ed.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260401T153000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260401T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20260309T155243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T155245Z
UID:10000344-1775057400-1775062800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Amelia Acker - Book Talk: "Archiving Machines: A Material History of Data Storage"
DESCRIPTION:Imagine a punch card you can hold in your hand. A reel of magnetic tape spinning in a basement. A Palm Pilot collecting dust in a drawer. Your smartphone pinging a cell tower every few seconds. These data storage formats are evidence of how archiving became something machines do for us\, rather than something we do for ourselves. This interactive book talk uses early mobile computing artifacts to tell the hidden history of how we lost control of our data. Each object marks a shift in who structures\, stores\, and can access the digital archives we generate with every click\, swipe\, and search. \n\n\n\nArchiving Machines: From Punch Cards to Platforms examines how ‘archive’ became a verb in computing cultures\, and how this shift enabled a political one. Today\, corporations\, not individuals or institutions\, largely control access to our data archives. By tracing moments of technological transition through material objects\, this work offers both a critical genealogy of asymmetric access and grounds for imagining alternative futures for digital cultural memory. \n\n\n\nBio: \n\n\n\nAmelia Acker is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication & Information at Rutgers\, The State University of New Jersey. Her research on data management and digital preservation has been supported with funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services\, the National Science Foundation\, the Sloan Foundation\, the Ford Foundation\, and the ACM History and Archiving Fellowship. Acker’s projects address the representation and loss of digital traces\, the history of data management\, and the transmission of information through time. She investigates how infrastructure and organizational practices shape the preservation\, accessibility\, and governance of data\, with a particular focus on the impact of platforms\, software\, and AI on archives and digital memory. Acker is the author of Archiving Machines: From Punch Cards to Platforms (MIT\, 2025).
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/amelia-acker-book-talk-archiving-machines-a-material-history-of-data-storage/
LOCATION:Room 1.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Amelia-Acker-book-talk_Heather-McCartney.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260327T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260327T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20260309T154823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T154825Z
UID:10000343-1774623600-1774630800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:CDS Seminar Series: Jonathan Gray
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a book talk on Public Data Cultures by Jonathan Gray.  \n\n\n\n​The book nurtures critical and creative engagements with public data as cultural material\, medium of participation and as site of transnational politics. It explores how activists\, journalists\, artists and others work with public data as well as looking at how critical perspectives can make a difference in practice. \n\n\n\n​After a short book talk\, there will be a collective discussion moment and time to catch up with others with overlapping curiosities. \n\n\n\n​”In an era when ‘data’ seems so often a tool of oppression and control\, this book provides a marvellous\, salutary exploration of its deployment for social change. This is a core optimistic message for our times; Gray is the ideal guide.” – Geoffrey C. Bowker\, UC Irvine \n\n\n\n​”This is an enchanting guide to a defining phenomenon of digital culture\, which shows how different worlds may come about through practising data otherwise.” – Noortje Marres\, author of Digital Sociology \n\n\n\n​From the book blurb: \n\n\n\n\n​Public data shapes what we know and how we live together. It is often digital\, freely available and related to matters of shared concern\, from global warming graphs to collaborative spreadsheets documenting mass layoffs. It circulates via maps and apps which enable us to discover\, report and rate what is around us. \n\n\n\n​Public Data Cultures explores the practices and cultures of how data is made public in the age of the Internet. Looking beyond familiar narratives of data as a resource to be liberated or protected\, this book offers new perspectives on public data as networked cultural material\, as medium of participation and as site of transnational politics. To better account for how data makes a difference\, the book argues for a more expansive conception of what is involved in making data public. In doing so\, it focuses not just on removing restrictions but also on caring for arrangements involved in making data public in ways that grow shared understanding and solidarity in responding to the many intersecting troubles of our times. \n\n\n\n\n\n​Nurturing critical and creative engagements with data\, this book is essential reading for students and scholars of media\, communications\, Internet studies\, science and technology studies and digital humanities\, as well as artists\, designers\, engineers\, reporters\, public sector workers\, community organisers and activists working with data. \n\n\n\n\n​About the author: \n\n\n\n​Jonathan W. Y. Gray (@jwyg) explores the roles digital data\, methods and infrastructures in shaping how we know and live together. He is the author of Public Data Cultures (Polity\, 2025). At King’s College London\, he is Reader in Critical Infrastructure Studies at the Department of Digital Humanities and co-director of the Centre for Digital Culture. He is also co-founder of the Public Data Lab; research associate at the Digital Methods Initiative (University of Amsterdam) and the médialab (Sciences Po\, Paris); and has taught with the School for Poetic Computation in NYC. More about his work can be found at jonathangray.org.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/cds-seminar-series-jonathan-gray/
LOCATION:Room 1.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/publicdatacultures_16x9.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260327T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260327T110000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20260203T114951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260218T151804Z
UID:10000328-1774605600-1774609200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Epistemic Injustice and Mental Health System Survivor Knowledge
DESCRIPTION:A seminar on epistemic injustice and mental health\, led by Tamsin Oudney Walker and Sarah Golightley \n\n\n\nThis session will draw on theories of epistemic injustice and Tamsin’s PhD research to outline some of the difficulties survivors of the mental health system can face when trying to articulate their experiences and/or to share this with others. \n\n\n\nTamsin will then cover some of the ways survivors have responded to these challenges\, identifying the resources survivors use to make sense of and communicate experience and how those can vary in relation to neurological or psychological differences. \n\n\n\nThe session will conclude by thinking about what can build or diminish survivors’ confidence in their ability to make sense of experience and how we can create supportive contexts for the sharing of survivor knowledge and experience. \n\n\n\nTamsin and Sarah will then be available for questions and discussion. \n\n\n\n\n\nTamsin Oudney Walker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTamsin Oudney Walker recently completed her PhD about survivors of the mental health system\, epistemic injustice and zines\, at the University of Lancashire. This work was part of a wider project exploring mental health related zines: madzines.org funded by Wellcome Trust.Prior to this she worked in voluntary sector mental health services for over twenty years\, providing direct support\, developing and managing services and doing a lot of work around involvement and survivor voice. She also has experience of using services and of working as a freelance illustrator and author (Not My Shame\, Singing Dragon; Otis Doesn’t scratch\, PCCS books; Not ready Yet\, Only Women Press). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSarah Golightley\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSarah Golightley’s research\, teaching\, and social work practice have focused on supporting marginalised people who have experienced violence. She is passionate about uplifting the perspectives of service users/survivors/lived experience experts and challenging the power inequalities in who is listened to in social research and social work practice. Her present research focus is on institutional violence and the pathologisation of youth in the USA ‘troubled teen industry’. \n\n\n\nPrior to moving into academia\, Sarah worked with LGBTQ+ victims/survivors of domestic abuse and LGBTQ+ homeless youth. She is currently conducting the Canadian Therapeutic Boarding School Research Study.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/epistemic-injustice-and-mental-health-system-survivor-knowledge/
LOCATION:Room 2.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pexels-tara-winstead-8378723_Kirstin-Lamb-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260211T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260211T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20260116T100239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T090155Z
UID:10000326-1770832800-1770838200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Technomoral Conversations: What’s the Story with AI? AI Narratives and Counter-narratives
DESCRIPTION:The Technomoral Conversations series brings together leaders\, creators and innovators from academia\, technology\, business and the third sector in a ‘fireside chat’ format to discuss futures that are worth wanting. \n\n\n\nJoin us for the latest event in our Technomoral Conversations series: What’s the Story with AI? Exploring AI Narratives and Counter-Narratives. \n\n\n\nDuring this fireside chat\, we will hear critical insights from experts across academia and industry on the dominant narratives surrounding AI\, and what alternative stories can be and are being told about AI and its place in our futures. \n\n\n\nChaired by Dr Alex Taylor (University of Edinburgh)\, this Technomoral Conversation will feature Dr Abeba Birhane (Trinity College Dublin)\, Steph Wright\, (co-founder and managing director of Our AI Collective CIC)\, and John Thornhill (Financial Times)! \n\n\n\nThis event is a collaboration between the Centre for Technomoral Futures\, the Bridging Responsible AI Divides (BRAID) Programme and Edinburgh Futures Institute. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nDr Alex Taylor (Chair)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr Alex Taylor is a sociologist with a fascination for the relations between machines and social life\, and what possibilities technoscientific entanglements might create for fundamental transformations in society. He’s currently a Reader in Design Informatics at the University of Edinburgh\, and an AHRC BRAID fellow focusing on the operationalising of responsibility. He is also a fellow of the RSA\, and holds visiting roles at the University of Sweden and City\, University of London. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr Abeba Birhane\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr Abeba Birhane founded and leads the TCD AI Accountability Lab (AIAL). She is an assistant professor of AI at the School of Computer Science and Statistics in Trinity College Dublin. Dr Birhane researches AI accountability with a particular focus on audits of AI models and training datasets – work for which she was featured in Wired UK and TIME on the TIME100 Most Influential People in AI list in 2023. Dr Birhane also served on the United Nations Secretary-General’s AI Advisory Body and currently serves at the AI Advisory Council in Ireland. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSteph Wright\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSteph Wright has a diverse background ranging from astrophysics to genomics in academia and film & TV to dance in the arts and the third sector. A project and programme management professional\, she loves to develop and build collaborations across organisations to help people with their data/AI journey. She is co-founder and managing director of Our AI Collective CIC\, which works to empower communities to shape AI’s future and strengthen civic power in the age of AI. Steph was recognised as one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics in 2023\, one of the Top 10 Women in Tech in Scotland in 2023 and recently named in the 2025 Digital Leaders AI 100 UK list. She was also awarded the 2024 DataIQ Award for Data & AI For Good Champion. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Thornhill\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Thornhill is the Innovation Editor and Tech Columnist at the Financial Times where he writes a weekly award-winning column on the impact of technology with a particular focus on AI. He is also the founder and editorial director of Sifted\, the FT-backed site for European startups\, and a host of Tech Tonic\, the FT’s technology podcast. \n\n\n\nJohn was previously deputy editor and news editor of the FT in London. He has also been Europe editor\, Paris bureau chief\, Asia editor\, Moscow correspondent and Lex columnist. He is a board member of the Ada Lovelace Institute.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/technomoral-conversations-whats-the-story-with-ai-ai-narratives-and-counter-narratives/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Technomoral-Conversations-AI-Narratives-5760-x-3240-px-for-slide-deck-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260210T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260210T130000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20260119T110109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T111753Z
UID:10000327-1770724800-1770728400@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:FutureGaze: The Future of Animation
DESCRIPTION:Join us for FutureGaze\, a series of online lunchtime conversations that explore the future of our creative industries and practices. \n\n\n\nBrought to you by Creative Edinburgh and in partnership with Edinburgh Futures Institute\, FutureGaze has been designed for those eager to explore the future of our creative industries and practices. \n\n\n\nHosted by Caroline Parkinson\, Director of Creative for the Edinburgh Futures Institute\, each session features inspiring conversations with creative leaders who’ve driven innovation and transformation in their work – whether in business\, the arts\, academia\, or beyond. \n\n\n\nTogether\, we’ll explore what the future holds for the creative and cultural sector through their experiences and insights. \n\n\n\nFebruary’s Discussion\n\n\n\nJoin us for the eleventh instalment of the FutureGaze series\, which will focus on the future of animation and the technological advances happening in and around animation as well as the impact on the sector as a whole. \n\n\n\nIn this discussion we’ll ask: \n\n\n\nWhat is involved in the craft of animation and how is this being developed now and into the future? \n\n\n\nHow will craft skills develop and what is the importance of storytelling in an AI world? \n\n\n\nHow will the industry itself change through technological advancements and what it will adopt? \n\n\n\nWhat changes can we expect in commissioning by streaming platforms\, and where animated content is being used in other industries? \n\n\n\nAnd of course\, how will AI and ML affect the work flow pipeline and the creative process through the development of GenAI and the industry response to that? \n\n\n\nWe will also look at the future of the MOVE Summit in gathering the community in Scotland and connecting the sector internationally and its role in talent and industry development moving forward. \n\n\n\nIn this FutureGaze session\, we’ll explore what this all means for the future of animation in Scotland. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nTom Bryant\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTom Bryant is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Cahoots Studios\, an Edinburgh based animation and visual effects studio. Cahoots Studios creates blindingly awesome work for commercials\, children’s television\, games and film. \n\n\n\nIn 2008 Tom founded his first animation studio\, Interference Pattern to co-create the animated short film\, The Lost Thing and worked as the project’s lead 3D artist. The film went on to win the 2011 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film\, amongst its many festival successes. \n\n\n\nIn 2017 Tom co-founded MOVE Summit and has been Operations Director for the past 8 years. For 2026 he again takes the helm as event Director. \n\n\n\nAs Creative Director of Cahoots Studios\, Tom’s focus is on maintaining the exacting creative standards that the studio is known for\, bringing new creative ideas and workflows to the studios processes and work\, and driving business growth. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVictoria Watson\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVictoria Watson graduated as an animator in 2006 from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee. Since then Victoria has worked as Producer / Director in live action and all forms of animation. She has worked on a number of short films\, commercials and television series\, for clients such as Netflix\, BBC\, Disney\, etc. \n\n\n\nIn 2017 Victoria joined Rhona Drummond in running Eyebolls. Eyebolls (Showreel) is an award-winning all singing\, all dancing\, full service studio based in Edinburgh. We create and produce content for TV shows\, films\, creative advertising and experiential agencies. We are passionate about collaboration and specialise and take pride in pulling together the right team for each individual project\, whether it’s live-action\, animation or merging the two worlds. We actively seek out new and fresh talent to compliment existing collaborators\, and we morph workflows\, push boundaries and adapt styles so that no two eyes are the same. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaroline Parkinson\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage Credit: Eoin Carey\, 2022\n\n\n\n\n\nCaroline Parkinson is Director of Creative at the Edinburgh Futures Institute\, focusing on supporting innovation in data and creative technologies for the creative industries. Previously\, she has led her own consultancy business\, served as Director of Film\, TV\, Music\, Creative Industries\, Skills & Innovation in the early years of Creative Scotland\, and before that\, she was Director\, Scotland & Northern Ireland for Creative & Cultural Skills. \n\n\n\nHer early creative life included ballet and rhythmic gymnastics\, fashion\, singing in bands for over 30 years\, and photography\, becoming a professional photographer in 1999. She serves on the Board of Architecture & Design Scotland\, and for 8 years has served in a voluntary capacity as Strategic Director and Presenter of the MOVE Summit\, Scotland’s Animation and VFX Gathering.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/futuregaze-the-future-of-animation/
LOCATION:Online\, Edinburgh
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Future-Gaze.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260122T163000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260122T180000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20251013T112837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251127T141022Z
UID:10000299-1769099400-1769104800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Geddes and the Scottish Generalist Tradition
DESCRIPTION:Situating Geddes\n\n\n\nThe Data Civics Observatory is inspired by the work of the sociologist\, urban planner\, and polymath Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) and his pioneering ideas about the evolution of the city. But how can we situate Geddes intellectually\, culturally and politically to give context to this work? In this short series of talks we explore this question by placing Geddes in his cultural-political context and speaking to his enduring relevance to urbanism\, civics and ecological thinking today. \n\n\n\nAbout this event\n\n\n\nThis talk places Geddes within the Scottish interdisciplinary tradition (what George Davie called The Democratic Intellect) and explores Geddes’s global links\, both at in the early twentieth century and today not least with reference to his influence in Japan\, India and the USA. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Murdo Macdonald\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Murdo Macdonald is Emeritus Professor of History of Scottish Art at the University of Dundee. He is author of Scottish Art in Thames and Hudson’s World of Art series. He has worked extensively as an art critic and is a former editor of Edinburgh Review. Along with Will Maclean RSA and Arthur Watson PPRSA he developed the practice-led PhD programme in Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Other research interests include Robert Burns and art\, and the cultural milieu of the Celtic revivalist and ecologist Patrick Geddes\, not least with respect to cognate cultural revivals in India and Japan. In 2005 he co-edited Patrick Geddes: By Leaves We Live\, jointly published by Edinburgh College of Art and Yamaguchi Institute of Contemporary Art\, with text in Japanese and English. His book Patrick Geddes’s Intellectual Origins was published by Edinburgh University Press in 2020. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Chair: Liz McFall\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Liz McFall is Director of the Data Civics Observatory at Edinburgh Futures Institute and Personal Chair in the Sociology of Markets. She is an interdisciplinary sociologist with research interests that cross the social studies of insurance\, cultural economy and market studies. Her recent research explores historical\, spatial and infrastructural connections between institutional investment\, urban governance and everyday social life. This informs the Data Civics programme which draws inspiration from Patrick Geddes in its emphasis on using digital and experimental ethnographic methods to investigate the social\, political\, cultural and economic dimensions of civic planning\, governance and placemaking.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/geddes-and-the-scottish-generalist-tradition/
LOCATION:Room 2.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/22-Jan-Murdo-Macdonald-1920-x-1080.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251202T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251202T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20251119T130145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T112140Z
UID:10000318-1764698400-1764705600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Futures Board Games Night
DESCRIPTION:Back by popular demand\, Speculative Futures Central Scotland are running another Future Board Game Night.  \n\n\n\nEdinburgh Futures Institute’s Futures+Design Team are co-hosting the event with AndThen\, showcasing a selection of games for everyone to try out! \n\n\n\nOrganisers have partnered with V&A Dundee to run the night inside the museum after hours. Tickets are limited and we expect the event to sell out quickly so get your spot soon.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/futures-board-games-night/
LOCATION:V&A Dundee\, 1 Riverside Esplanade\, Edinburgh\, Scotland\, DD1 4EZ\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Gaming,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Spec-futures-7.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251104T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251104T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20251009T095359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T085945Z
UID:10000295-1762279200-1762284600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Technomoral Conversations: How Will AI Change Science?
DESCRIPTION:The Technomoral Conversations series brings together leaders\, creators and innovators from academia\, technology\, business and the third sector in a ‘fireside chat’ format to discuss futures that are worth wanting. \n\n\n\nChaired by the Centre for Technomoral Futures’ new Co-Director\, Dr Emily Sullivan\, this event will feature Dr Eran Tal (Canada Research Chair in Data Ethics and Associate Professor of Philosophy at McGill University)\, Dr Arfon Smith (Senior Fellow at Schmidt Sciences on the Science Systems team)\, and Professor Anna Scaife (Professor of Radio Astronomy\, University of Manchester). During this Technomoral Conversation\, we will hear from these experts on the impact of data driven machine learning and AI on science and knowledge production. \n\n\n\nThis event is a collaboration between the Centre for Technomoral Futures and Edinburgh Futures Institute. \n\n\n\nPlease note this is a hybrid event. \n\n\n\nImportant notice: This event will be photographed/recorded\, and images may be used for future marketing\, promotional or archive purposes. If you would prefer not to be photographed\, please let organisers know at the event.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/55594/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TC-AI-change-science-2160-x-1080-px-for-Even_Jordan-Watson.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251030T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251030T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20251001T150224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251009T093551Z
UID:10000294-1761847200-1761852600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:AI in the City
DESCRIPTION:AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI)\, Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) and Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) are proud to host a public forum on ‘AI in the City’. \n\n\n\nJoin us for a broad and rounded discussion between expert panellists working within Geocomputation\, city planning\, smart city design\, AI integration and AI ethics. Moderated by Scottish journalist\, broadcaster and presenter Stephen Jardine. \n\n\n\nDo you want to know more about how AI will affect how our cities are designed and managed? How AI will impact our towns\, cities and rural areas? And what work is already in motion? \n\n\n\nThis event will give members of the public access to expert knowledge and the opportunity to ask the questions they most want the answers to. \n\n\n\nJoin us on 30th October and stay engaged with the influence of AI on city living\, building and planning; the challenges\, the opportunities\, the risks\, the rewards and the impact to communities living in these areas. \n\n\n\nAgenda\n\n\n\n17.30 – 17.55: Doors open for arrival18.00 – 18.10: Welcome by Professor Marion Thain\, Director\, Edinburgh Futures Institute18.10 – 19.25: Panel discussion and audience questions19.25 – 19.30: Closing address19.30 – Event End \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Moderator: Stephen Jardine\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nScottish journalist\, broadcaster and presenter. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlison Heppenstall\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSmart City Design Theme Lead\, AI4CI & Professor of Geocomputation\, University of Glasgow. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTom Wilkinson\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChief Data Officer\, Scottish Government. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaroline Parkinson\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDirector\, Creative/Sector Engagement Manager\, Creative Industries\, Edinburgh Futures Institute. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJeremy Doherty\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEdinburgh Officer Leader\, Arup. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRaffaele Esposito\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCity Design Manager\, Glasgow City Council.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/ai-in-the-city/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Forum,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AI-in-the-City-Eventbrite-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251030T163000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251030T180000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20251013T100643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251013T100907Z
UID:10000298-1761841800-1761847200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Patrick Geddes and the Anarchist Strain of Town Planning
DESCRIPTION:Situating Geddes\n\n\n\nThe Data Civics Observatory is inspired by the work of the sociologist\, urban planner\, and polymath Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) and his pioneering ideas about the evolution of the city. But how can we situate Geddes intellectually\, culturally and politically to give context to this work? In this short series of talks we explore this question by placing Geddes in his cultural-political context and speaking to his enduring relevance to urbanism\, civics and ecological thinking today. \n\n\n\nAbout this event\n\n\n\nGeddes was part of an international network of radical and revolutionary geographers and communards. His work was both situated within the milieu of late 19th C Anarchism but went on to inspire thinkers such as Giancarlo di Carlo in Italy\, Colin Ward in England\, and Murray Bookchin in America through the work of Lewis Mumford. This talk explains how these ideas feed into contemporary practices of radical municipalism and ecological urbanism. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nMike Small\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMike Small is a writer and researcher working on a book ‘The Politics of Patrick Geddes’. In 2005 he contributed to Patrick Geddes: By Leaves We Live\, jointly published by Edinburgh College of Art and Yamaguchi Institute of Contemporary Art\, with text in Japanese and English. He previously taught a course on Patrick Geddes at the Centre for Continuing Education\, University of Edinburgh. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Chair: Liz McFall\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Liz McFall is Director of the Data Civics Observatory at Edinburgh Futures Institute and Personal Chair in the Sociology of Markets. She is an interdisciplinary sociologist with research interests that cross the social studies of insurance\, cultural economy and market studies. Her recent research explores historical\, spatial and infrastructural connections between institutional investment\, urban governance and everyday social life. This informs the Data Civics programme which draws inspiration from Patrick Geddes in its emphasis on using digital and experimental ethnographic methods to investigate the social\, political\, cultural and economic dimensions of civic planning\, governance and placemaking.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/patrick-geddes-and-the-anarchist-strain-of-town-planning/
LOCATION:Room 2.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/30-Oct-Mike-Small-1920-x-1080.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251022T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251022T173000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250915T124929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T125019Z
UID:10000290-1761148800-1761154200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Future of Free (and Who Will Pay for It)
DESCRIPTION:Who bears the cost of free in our AI-accelerated world? The foundational promise of open source software and open content licensing — that knowledge and code should be freely accessible to all — faces a significant challenge in the age of artificial intelligence. AI has put a huge strain on both the “libre” and “gratis” aspects of free culture\, but of these twin pressures\, the cost aspect is the one currently pressing down the hardest. As AI systems increasingly rely on vast datasets scraped from the open Web\, open repositories\, wikis\, forums\, and other commonly (and commons-ly) available works\, the infrastructure costs of supporting these free resources are growing exponentially. What was once sustainable through volunteer labor and modest hosting fees now requires massive computational resources\, bandwidth\, and storage to serve both human users and the voracious appetites of large language models. \n\n\n\nThis talk examines the emerging tension between the philosophical ideals of open access and the economic realities of AI-driven demand\, lensed through the experiences we’ve had to date managing programmatic access to content from Wikipedia. The presentation will: \n\n\n\n\nReview the landscape of current approaches to this challenge\, from rate limiting and API monetization to corporate payment programs\n\n\n\nDig into the details of the approach we’ve taken to date at the Wikimedia Foundation in our attempt to balance these opposing forces\n\n\n\nConsider whether these solutions preserve or undermine the democratic promise of open knowledge\n\n\n\nIndulge in speculation regarding possible futures that could result from the choices we make to support free in this newly expensive environment\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Biography\n\n\n\n\n\nLane Becker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLane Becker is the President of Wikimedia LLC\, a commercial subsidiary of the Wikimedia Foundation\, the non-profit organization that stewards the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Wikimedia LLC runs Wikimedia Enterprise\, a software platform for organizations that wish to reuse Wikimedia content on their own sites & services. \n\n\n\nPreviously\, Lane was a strategist for 18F\, a recently-shuttered consultancy inside the Technology Transformation Services division of the US government\, working to modernize government digital services. While there\, Lane started and ran 10x\, a federal venture-style fund to invest in technology products and services that benefit the American public. Prior to 18F\, Lane worked for the nonprofit Code for America as their Head of Product. \n\n\n\nBack in his start-up days\, Lane cofounded Adaptive Path\, a pioneering user experience design firm\, acquired by Capital One Bank to serve as their innovation lab; Measure Map\, an online analytics tool acquired by Google that became the face of Google Analytics; and Get Satisfaction\, an online customer service tool acquired by the social media firm Sprinklr. He has worked with the Institute for the Future as a research affiliate in their Governance Futures Lab and also coauthored a book on continuous innovation practices entitled “Get Lucky: How to Put Planned Serendipity to Work for You and Your Business.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImportant notice: If you have any questions regarding accessibility\, please contact us at ctmf@ed.ac.uk
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/the-future-of-free-and-who-will-pay-for-it/
LOCATION:Room G.07\, Informatics Forum\, The University of Edinburgh\, 10 Crichton Street\, Newington\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9AB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Wikimedia-Talk-with-Lane-Becker-1_Jordan-Watson.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251022T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251022T140000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20251015T125521Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251016T121227Z
UID:10000300-1761136200-1761141600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Traveltech/E-corner Meetup
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the next TravelTech Meetup\, hosted by the Edinburgh Futures Institute! \n\n\n\n​This month\, we’re switching things up with a lunchtime session. Our special guest\, Chris Carmichael from TUI\, will be joining us for a reverse pitch\, offering a fresh perspective. \n\n\n\n​Whether you’re a startup founder\, developer\, marketer\, or simply passionate about travel and tech\, this meetup is the perfect chance to connect\, share ideas\, and build new relationships. \n\n\n\n​We’ll kick things off with introductions to help everyone get acquainted\, followed by a series of 3-minute company updates\, a great opportunity to showcase what you’re working on. \n\n\n\n​Come for the conversations\, stay for the lunch\, and enjoy great company!
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/traveltech-e-corner-meetup/
LOCATION:Room 2.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/7.-Learning-from-Anywhere-cropped.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251021T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251021T133000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250917T090140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T090352Z
UID:10000292-1761049800-1761053400@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Facilitating Futures-led Design Sprints
DESCRIPTION:Speculative Futures Central Scotland invites you to our sixth event\, a Lunchtime Talk featuring Pushpi Bagchi and Kyle Morrison from the Futures & Design team at Edinburgh Futures Institute. Over three years\, they’ve transformed how MSc Data Science students can tackle complex social challenges\, working directly with organisations including the Scottish Government\, Aegon\, and Young Scot. They’ll share what they’ve learned about turning futures frameworks into practical collaboration tools that deliver results under pressure. \n\n\n\nAgenda \n\n\n\n12:30 — Welcome & Introductions \n\n\n\n12:35 — Presentation: Facilitating Futures-led Design Sprints \n\n\n\n13:05 — Q&A \n\n\n\n13:20 — Close \n\n\n\nPresentation: Facilitating Futures-led Design Sprints\n\n\n\nPushpi Bagchi and Kyle Morrison will share how they’ve adapted the Futures Triangle framework for digital collaboration environments to support data science students working on complex social challenges. Drawing from their three-year partnership with The Data Lab Academy\, they’ll explore how digital platforms like Miro and Notion can serve as “digital scaffolding” to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration in time-constrained settings. The presentation will cover insights from their team’s work with over 100 MSc students across 13 Scottish universities\, demonstrating how futures methodologies can bridge analytical and creative workflows when tackling real-world challenges from organisations across the public\, private and third sectors. \n\n\n\nThis talk will be of particular interest to anyone working with interdisciplinary teams\, designing collaborative digital tools\, or exploring how futures thinking can enhance problem-solving in educational and organisational contexts. \n\n\n\nSpeculative Futures Central Scotland is programmed by Andthen and the Futures & Design team based at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. We are interested in hosting discussions about applied futures — we want to learn about how people are addressing long-term issues in their organisations\, from understanding the role of long-term thinking in policy design to understanding the challenges of using futures in large corporates. Speculative Futures Central Scotland is a component chapter of the global Speculative Futures community.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/facilitating-futures-led-design-sprints/
LOCATION:EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spec-futures-event.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251020T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251020T183000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20251009T111159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251009T111202Z
UID:10000297-1760979600-1760985000@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Giving Humanists a Helping Hand in HPC
DESCRIPTION:With the proliferation of LLMs\, more and more researchers will be able to utilize complex computational resources with less and less technical expertise. In the next few years\, this will cause an exodus of researchers away from personal computers to HPC (high-performance computing) clusters for their research needs. While many default to the easy\, well-advertised\, but eventually expensive services of Google (Co-Lab) and other tech giants\, they are often unaware of the free/highly-subsidized services available at their own institutions. This is only exacerbated by the fact that many HPC centers remain unaware of a burgeoning need for compute in humanities and social science disciplines. \n\n\n\nIn this talk\, Brad will focus on low-cost\, high-impact DIY strategies for integrating humanities and social sciences into academic HPC infrastructures. With a decade experience in HPC\, both inside and outside centers\, Brad has developed a variety of programs and projects to raise awareness of compute-intensive research in these disciplines\, and help connect researchers to the resources they need for their work. We’ll look at a variety of case studies to identify approaches that fit in a variety of different contexts\, and conclude by looking at some aspirational programs for taking the next step. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biography\n\n\n\n\n\nBrad Rittenhouse\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrad Rittenhouse holds a PhD in English and is a Research Computing Consultant at Stanford Research Computing. He has published on C19 American Literature\, video games\, DH Lab Management\, and the Age of Revolutions. He’s worked in and around HPC centers since 2015.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/giving-humanists-a-helping-hand-in-hpc/
LOCATION:Online\, Edinburgh
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Brad_landscape_Emily-Allan.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251007T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251007T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250912T091327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250912T091329Z
UID:10000289-1759858200-1759865400@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:EICC Live: Artificial Intelligence - Can Tourism Stay Human?
DESCRIPTION:Joshua Ryan-Saha is Director of Tourism\, Travel and Festivals at Edinburgh Futures Institute\, University of Edinburgh. He established Traveltech for Scotland to cement our position as a European leader in travel technology innovation. He has delivered AI and tourism innovation lectures and workshops to more than 400 industry professionals across Europe\, America and Asia\, advising tourism destinations on the use of AI. \n\n\n\nEdinburgh knows tourism’s double-edged sword and is the topic of endless debate. Is the relationship between visitors and local residents under strain. Noise\, house prices\, traffic\, and new developments have all at times attracted the ire of those who call Edinburgh their home. Yet this very tension makes our city the perfect laboratory for asking: what happens when you throw AI into the tourism mix? \n\n\n\nThrough interactive elements and real-world examples\, Joshua will navigate how AI is already reshaping travel\, from algorithm-curated itineraries to predictive crowd management. But as machines become better at planning perfect trips\, are we losing the beautiful accidents\, spontaneous discoveries\, and genuine human connections that make travel transformative? \n\n\n\nDrawing on his work around the globe\, Joshua will explore the uncertain future ahead. Will tomorrow’s tourists still get wonderfully lost? Can we harness AI’s power while preserving tourism’s capacity to surprise\, challenge\, and change us? \n\n\n\nHear how this technological revolution is unfolding in Scotland and beyond – and help shape what comes next. \n\n\n\nImage credit: Cat O’Neil
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/eicc-live-artificial-intelligence-can-tourism-stay-human/
LOCATION:Edinburgh International Conference Centre\, 150 Morrison St\, Edinburgh\, EH3 8EE
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion,Tourism & Festivals
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/future-travel-tourism-scotland-illustration-by-cat-oneil-scaled.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251001T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251001T143000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250916T145035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T085554Z
UID:10000291-1759312800-1759329000@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Planetary Health is Public Health: Reimagining the Future Together
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an inspiring seminar on green prescribing and planetary health. \n\n\n\nThe Binks Hub and REALITIES are excited to welcome attendees to a half-day event exploring alternative approaches to health and wellbeing. Focusing on green prescribing and planetary health\, the first half of the seminar will open the floor to project teams to share their real-world insights into what’s working\, where the gaps are\, and how we can collectively move forward through community research and engagement. \n\n\n\nIn the second half\, we will hear from invited organisations who are paving the way in integrating green prescribing in their communities; offering their valuable perspectives on how planetary health and local initiatives are linked. \n\n\n\nOpen to researchers\, health practitioners\, and community members\, everyone is welcome to connect and learn. \n\n\n\nImage credit: Milena Trifonova
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/planetary-health-is-public-health-reimagining-the-future-together/
LOCATION:Room 4.35\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/milena-trifonova-bGcRXkrJAEE-unsplash-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250909T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250909T130000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250729T132822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250729T132825Z
UID:10000283-1757419200-1757422800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Future of Digital Place
DESCRIPTION:Brought to you by Creative Edinburgh and in partnership with Edinburgh Futures Institute\, FutureGaze has been designed for those eager to explore the future of our creative industries and practices. \n\n\n\nHosted by Caroline Parkinson\, Director of Creative for Edinburgh Futures Institute\, each session features inspiring conversations with creative leaders who’ve driven innovation and transformation in their work—whether in business\, the arts\, academia\, or beyond. \n\n\n\nTogether\, we’ll explore what the future holds for the creative and cultural sector through their experiences and insights. \n\n\n\nSeptember’s Discussion: The Future of Digital Place \n\n\n\nAs artificial intelligence rapidly develops\, it’s starting to shape how we design\, plan and manage our cities and neighbourhoods. From using generative AI in the design process to applying data analytics to solve big challenges like climate change and urban growth — digital tools are playing an increasingly important role in shaping our built environment. \n\n\n\nIn this FutureGaze session\, we’ll explore what the rise of AI means for the future of our streets\, neighbourhoods and public spaces. We’ll ask: \n\n\n\n\nHow might AI change the role of the designer?\n\n\n\nWhat could future ‘digital places’ look like?\n\n\n\nHow can we make sure AI-powered planning is fair\, inclusive and reflects the needs of all communities?\n\n\n\n\nJoin us for a forward-thinking conversation about technology\, cities and the people who shape them. \n\n\n\nSpeaking Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nIan Gilzean\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter graduating from The University of Edinburgh’s School of Architecture\, he worked as an architect in public and private sector roles in Edinburgh\, London and Glasgow with a focus on regeneration and community empowerment. In 1999\, Ian joined the Scottish Government’s Architecture Policy Unit and was Chief Architect from 2006 until November 2023. During this period\, he had a 6-month residency at WHALE Arts in 2019\, supporting the development of the Wester Hailes Local Place Plan. \n\n\n\nHe then moved into the Scottish Government’s Digital Planning team to lead the Innovation and Digital place workstreams. He is currently on secondment from the Scottish Government as Head of Innovation and Digital Place at Architecture and Design Scotland. Ian has a long-standing involvement in architectural education and is currently an Honorary Professor in Architecture and Urban Planning at Dundee University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaroline Parkinson\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaroline is Director of Creative at Edinburgh Futures Institute\, focusing on supporting innovation in data and creative technologies for the creative industries. Previously\, she has led her own consultancy business\, served as Director of Film\, TV\, Music\, Creative Industries\, Skills & Innovation in the early years of Creative Scotland\, and before that\, she was Director\, Scotland & Northern Ireland for Creative & Cultural Skills. \n\n\n\nHer early creative life included ballet and rhythmic gymnastics\, fashion\, singing in bands for over 30 years\, and photography\, becoming a professional photographer in 1999. She serves on the Board of Architecture & Design Scotland\, and for 8 years has served in a voluntary capacity as Strategic Director and Presenter of the MOVE Summit\, Scotland’s Animation and VFX Gathering. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Creative Edinburgh\n\n\n\nCreative Edinburgh is a registered Scottish Charity (SC052838) committed to helping creatives thrive. Through events\, career support and advocacy\, we bring together and help grow the city’s creative community\, providing a space for creation\, collaboration and connection at every stage of your career. Creative Edinburgh is supported by Creative Scotland as one of the Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs). \n\n\n\nTo become a member of Creative Edinburgh\, click here.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/the-future-of-digital-place/
LOCATION:Online\, Edinburgh
CATEGORIES:Creative Industries,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_1010195283_22386419628_1_original.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250824T151500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250824T161500
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250717T100820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250717T100822Z
UID:10000282-1756048500-1756052100@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Richard Susskind: Navigating the AI Revolution
DESCRIPTION:For Richard Susskind\, balancing the benefits and threats of artificial intelligence is the defining challenge of our age. Drawing on 40 years’ experience in the field\, his multidisciplinary book How to Think about AI: A Guide for the Perplexed demystifies AI’s ethical\, economic\, and social implications. Hear Susskind today\, cutting through the still-unfolding maze of uncertainty to show us how to think responsibly about our technological future. Chaired by Shannon Vallor. \n\n\n\nSupported by Edinburgh Futures Institute.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/richard-susskind-navigating-the-ai-revolution/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Edinburgh International Book Festival,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Richard-Susskind.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250817T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250817T113000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250717T091657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250717T091659Z
UID:10000281-1755426600-1755430200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Halle O’Neal: The Buddhist Approach to Healing
DESCRIPTION:Healing practices – physical\, emotional\, or spiritual – are part of what make us human; they’re also key tenets of Buddhism. They come in a wide range of inventive options\, including interacting with relics\, repairing broken objects\, even eating slips of scripture! Join Dr Halle O’Neal\, co-director of the Edinburgh Centre for Buddhist Studies\, for this special discussion on the myriad forms of repair and healing offered by Buddhism across history and cultures\, including for everyday challenges like illness\, childbirth\, and life after death. \n\n\n\nSupported by Edinburgh Futures Institute.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/halle-oneal-the-buddhist-approach-to-healing/
LOCATION:Spiegeltent\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Edinburgh International Book Festival,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Halle-ONeall-Copy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250813T201500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250813T213000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250717T085327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250717T085329Z
UID:10000280-1755116100-1755120600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Future Library
DESCRIPTION:Norway’s Future Library is a powerful gesture of hope for a world beyond our lifetime. Every year\, for 100 years\, an author writes a new book to be placed inside its walls; every text remains unread until 2114. Join Future Library’s Anne Beate Hovind as she leads a conversation on personal and collective memory\, on past lives and legacies\, exploring how individual and cultural heritage makes for a stronger society. Plus\, find out the sensational writer contributing to the Future Library in 2026. \n\n\n\nSupported by Edinburgh Futures Institute.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/future-library/
LOCATION:Room 1.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Edinburgh International Book Festival,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Blue-Cloud.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250620T083000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250620T183000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250512T084003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T090210Z
UID:10000265-1750408200-1750444200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:CreativeTech Scotland Gathering 2025
DESCRIPTION:Join us on the 20th of June for CreativeTech Scotland Gathering for an exciting day of cutting edge creative tech keynotes\, demos and panels with workshops and a closing reception with live improvised electronic music from Boardgame. \n\n\n\nOur aim is to bring people together from across the creative and cultural sector in every discipline to meet\, connect\, share know-how\, be inspired by new innovations and be amazed by how we each use creative technology to deliver our services\, products and audience experiences. \n\n\n\nView the outline programme to give you a flavour of the day\, from our keynote with Tupac Martir\, Satore Studios to a range of industry spotlights\, hands-on workshops\, and a showcase of creative tech demonstrations and lightening talks\, with a closing reception and performance with networking\, refreshments and snacks. \n\n\n\nThe event will be hosted on The University of Edinburgh campus across the Informatics Forum\, Inspace Gallery and the Student Enterprise Hub. \n\n\n\nAccess – Please let us know if you have any access or dietary requirements that would help you to feel more comfortable and able to join this event. This could include things like seating close to the front for visibility\, a information on parking or access to a quiet space. Please email engagement.efi@ed.ac.uk with any comments or questions. \n\n\n\nWe also have care vouchers available for those who would like this help to enable attendance please email engagement.efi@ed.ac.uk with your request or for more information \n\n\n\nDietary – We will provide catering for a range of dietary requirements. Please answer the questions at the booking stage to help us order appropriately and email engagement.efi@ed.ac.uk with any comments or questions. \n\n\n\nVenues\n\n\n\nInformatics Forum\, The University of Edinburgh10 Crichton Street Edinburgh EH8 9AB \n\n\n\nBayes Centre\, The University of Edinburgh47 PotterrowEdinburgh\, EH8 9BT \n\n\n\nInspace\, The University of Edinburgh1 Crichton Street Edinburgh EH8 9AB
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/creativetech-scotland-gathering-2025/
LOCATION:EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Conference,Forum,Performance,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_1009259703_2410354171853_1_original.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250502T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250502T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250205T123126Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250624T103849Z
UID:10000232-1746208800-1746212400@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Marcus du Sautoy: How Mathematics Shapes Creativity
DESCRIPTION:Many of the artists that we encounter are completely unaware of the mathematics that bubble beneath their craft\, while some consciously use it for inspiration. Our instincts might tell us that these two subjects are incompatible forces with nothing in common – mathematics being the realm of precise logic and art being the realm of emotion and aesthetics – but what if we’re wrong?  \n\n\n\nMarcus du Sautoy joins us at the Futures Institute to unpack how we make art\, why a creative mindset is vital for discovering new mathematics\, and how a fundamental connection to the natural world intrinsically links these two subjects.  \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nMarcus du Sautoy\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMarcus du Sautoy has been named by the Independent on Sunday as one of the UK’s leading scientists\, has written extensively for the Guardian\, The Times and the Daily Telegraph and has appeared on Radio 4 on numerous occasions. In 2008 he was appointed to Oxford University’s prestigious professorship as the Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science\, a post previously held by Richard Dawkins.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChair: Minhyong Kim\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMinhyong Kim is Director and Sir Edmund Whittaker Professor of Mathematical Sciences at the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences in Edinburgh. He works on arithmetic geometry\, the study of spaces built out of finitely-generated systems of numbers\, employing ideas of mathematical physics\, especially topological quantum field theory.  Minhyong is a keen communicator of mathematics and has published 13 books in Korea for the general public. His latest project is a series of illustrated children’s books featuring a mathematician (who quickly disappears)\, his family (who search for him)\, and Schroedinger’s cat (who does both).
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/marcus-de-sautoy-how-mathematics-shapes-creativity/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Making Waves: Spring 2025,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/250502_MarcusduSautoyHowMathematicsShapesCreativity.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250501T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250501T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250417T073607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250417T073944Z
UID:10000253-1746111600-1746118800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Book Launch: Experimental Times: Startup Capitalism and Feminist Futures in India
DESCRIPTION:Please join us for a discussion of Experimental Times by Hemangini Gupta\, Lecturer in Gender and Global Politics with a book presentation by the author followed by responses from: \n\n\n\n\nJanaki Srinivasan\, Associate Professor\, Digital South Asian Studies\, Uni of Oxford\n\n\n\nRahul Rao\, Reader in International Political Thought\, Uni of St Andrews\n\n\n\nAlex Taylor\, Reader in Design Informatics\, Uni of Edinburgh\n\n\n\n\nExperimental Times is an in-depth ethnography of the transformation of Bengaluru/Bangalore from a site of “backend” IT work to an aspirational global city of enterprise and innovation. The book journeys alongside the migrant workers\, technologists\, and entrepreneurs who shape and survive the dreams of a “Startup India” knitted through office work\, at networking meetings and urban festivals\, and across sites of leisure in the city. Tracking techno-futures that involve automation and impending precarity\, Hemangini Gupta details the everyday forms of experimentation\, care\, and friendship that sustain and reproduce life and labor in India’s current economy. \n\n\n\nA reception will follow the event.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/book-launch-experimental-times-startup-capitalism-and-feminist-futures-in-india/
LOCATION:Violet Laidlaw Room (6.02)\, Chrystal Macmillan Building\, 15a George Square\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9LD
CATEGORIES:Book launch,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_989588563_92493744523_1_original.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250429T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250429T203000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250205T122745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T093314Z
UID:10000231-1745949600-1745958600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The New Real Salon: Doing AI Differently 
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the third iteration of The New Real Salon\, which introduces their new international initiative\, Doing AI Differently. This initiative sets out to integrate the humanities\, data science\, and engineering in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. It is led by The New Real and the Data-Centric Engineering at Alan Turing Institute; and brings together the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC/UKRI) and partner institutions in the UK and North America.  \n\n\n\nAI has transitioned from numerical outputs to text-based\, qualitative ones\, highlighting the need for the humanities\, arts and social sciences to guide its development. Doing AI Differently brings humanities insights directly into AI design\, fostering collaboration between disciplines and aims to address complex\, context-dependent tasks in AI. By doing so\, it enhances AI tools for deep contextual analysis across different domains\, and fundamentality advances data-centric engineering.  \n\n\n\nThis event will showcase insights from our research in exploring humanities-based approaches to AI design. Throughout the event\, audience members will have the opportunity to participate in the discussion.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nImage credit: Yutong Liu & Kingston School of Art  / Better Images of AI / Talking to AI 2.0 / CC-BY 4.0
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/the-new-real-salon-doing-ai-differently/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Making Waves: Spring 2025,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/250429_NewReal-Yutong-Liu-Kingston-School-of-Art-Better-Images-of-AI-Talking-to-AI-2.0-CC-BY-4.0.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250425T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250425T190000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250205T121926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T151901Z
UID:10000230-1745604000-1745607600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:David Farrier: Nature’s Genius
DESCRIPTION:Life on Earth is changing; the question is\, can we change with it? Can we remake the world to be fit for all life to thrive once more? In his new book Nature’s Genuis: Evolution’s Lessons for a Changing World\, Professor David Farrier takes us on a profound journey into this ever-changing natural world\, encouraging us to think creatively about finding ways that we can adapt\, ways to stop the destruction we’re causing to the planet.  \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nDavid Farrier\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDavid Farrier is Professor of Literature and the Environment at the University of Edinburgh. David’s first book\, Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils\, looked at the marks we are leaving on the planet and how these might appear in the fossil record in the deep future. It was named by both The Times and Telegraph as a Book of the Year\, earned praise from Robert Macfarlane and Margaret Atwood\, and has been translated into ten languages. He has had pieces published in The Atlantic\, BBC Future\, Emergence\, Prospect\, Daily Telegraph\, Orion and The Washington Post. He has spoken at numerous online events\, has given an invited lecture at the Royal Geographical Society\, and has appeared on radio and podcasts such as BBC’s Free Thinking and Little Atoms.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChair: Hermione Cockburn\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHermione Cockburn is an Honorary Fellow of the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh and former Scientific Director at Dynamic Earth. She began her career in research working on landscape evolution in Africa\, Antarctica and Australia before moving on to present science programmes for the BBC including an 8-part television series about British palaeontology for which she wrote an accompanying book. She is passionate about empowering people with understanding and empathy for the Earth and enabling life-long learning. She was an associate lecturer with the Open University in Scotland teaching environmental science for many years and now works with a variety of organisations to support learning for a range of audiences. Hermione is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh\, a trustee of National Museums Scotland and in 2020 was awarded an OBE for services to public engagement in science. 
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/david-farrier-natures-genius/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Making Waves: Spring 2025,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/250425_DavidFarrierNaturesGenius.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250410T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250410T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250205T120000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250429T105152Z
UID:10000226-1744308000-1744313400@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Technomoral Conversations: AI & Creative Labour
DESCRIPTION:The Technomoral Conversations series brings together leaders\, creators and innovators from academia\, technology\, business and the third sector in a ‘fireside chat’ format to discuss futures that are worth wanting. Focusing on AI and creative labour\, this Technomoral Conversation will look at issues ranging from the AI industry’s copyright violations\, to the responses from creatives in the UK and elsewhere\, to the wider ethical and political questions about the role of AI in creative practice and culture.  \n\n\n\nThe Centre for Technomoral Futures\n\n\n\nThe Centre for Technomoral Futures focuses on the ethical implications of present and future advances in AI\, machine learning and other data-driven technologies. It supports work and research in these areas across the Futures Institute\, the University of Edinburgh and with a wide portfolio of partners\, projects and networks.  \n\n\n\nAs part of Edinburgh Futures Institute\, the Centre’s shared goal is to help people create and shape more resilient\, sustainable and equitable forms of life. The Centre for Technomoral Futures is a home for developing more constructive modes of innovation: innovation that preserves and strengthens human ties and capabilities; that builds more accessible and just paths to public participation in the co-creation of our futures; and that reinvests the power of technology into the repair\, maintenance and care of our communities and our planet.  \n\n\n\nBridging Responsible AI Divides (BRAID)\n\n\n\nBRAID is a UK-wide programme dedicated to integrating Arts and Humanities research more fully into the Responsible AI ecosystem\, as well as bridging the divides between academic\, industry\, policy and regulatory work on responsible AI. They represent a six-year\, £15.9 million investment in enabling responsible AI in the UK\, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and running from 2022 to 2028. Working in partnership with the Ada Lovelace Institute and BBC\, their team brings together expertise in human-computer interaction\, moral philosophy\, arts\, design\, law\, social sciences\, journalism\, and AI. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nCaroline Sinders\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaroline Sinders is an award winning critical designer\, researcher\, and artist. They’re the founder of human rights and design lab\, Convocation Research + Design\, and a current BRAID fellow with the University of Arts\, London. For the past few years\, they have been examining the intersections of artificial intelligence\, intersectional justice\, harmful design\, systems and politics in digital conversational spaces and technology platforms. They’ve worked with the Tate Exchange at the Tate Modern\, the United Nations\, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office\, the European Commission\, Ars Electronica\, the Harvard Kennedy School and others. Caroline is currently based between London\, UK and New Orleans\, USA.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPaula Westenberger\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr Paula Westenberger is a Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law and a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at Brunel University of London. She has a Masters and a PhD in IP law from Queen Mary University of London\, and is the Deputy Editor of the European Copyright and Design Reports. Her research interests cover the intersection between copyright law\, human rights and culture\, with a particular focus on the use of digital technologies (including AI) in the cultural heritage sector. She is a BRAID Research Fellow working on the project ‘Responsible AI for Heritage: copyright and human rights perspectives’ in partnership with RBG Kew. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichard Combes\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichard Combes is the Head of Rights and Licensing and Deputy Chief Executive for ALCS. His work focuses on the development of collective rights and licensing schemes in the UK and internationally\, aimed at providing writers with fair remuneration for the re-use of their work. This role involves a significant degree of partnership and collaboration with other UK writers’ organisations and licensing bodies as well as authors’ societies and collecting agencies around the world. \n\n\n\nRichard’s department is also responsible for engaging with UK and EU policy on copyright and authors’ rights – an area of growing prominence on the political agenda – by drafting responses to government consultations\, preparing Ministerial briefings and setting the agenda for the All Party Writers’ Group. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChair: Shannon Vallor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Shannon Vallor serves as Director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures in the Edinburgh Futures Institute. She holds the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence in the University of Edinburgh’s Department of Philosophy. Professor Vallor joined the Futures Institute in 2020 following a career in the United States as a leader in the ethics of emerging technologies\, including a post as a visiting AI Ethicist at Google from 2018-2020. She is the author of The AI Mirror: How to Reclaim Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking (Oxford University Press\, 2024) and Technology and the Virtues: A Philosophical Guide to a Future Worth Wanting (Oxford University Press\, 2016). She serves as advisor to government and industry bodies on responsible AI and data ethics. She is also Principal Investigator and Co-Director (with Professor Ewa Luger) of the UKRI research programme BRAID (Bridging Responsible AI Divides)\, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/technomoral-conversations-ai-creative-labour/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Making Waves: Spring 2025,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/250410_TechnomoralConversations.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250402T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250402T173000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250318T185315Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250318T185317Z
UID:10000247-1743609600-1743615000@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Repurposing media for collective inquiry: notes from the Public Data Lab
DESCRIPTION:Repurposing digital media for collective inquiry – notes from the Public Data Lab (2017-2025) \n\n\n\nThe Public Data Lab was founded in 2017 as an interdisciplinary network exploring what difference the digital makes in attending to public problems. It aims to develop materials and formats for collective inquiry with and about digital data\, digital methods and digital infrastructures. \n\n\n\nThis talk will provide a walkthrough of a smorgasbord of projects and publications undertaken with the Public Data Lab\, including around “fake news” and misinformation\, air pollution\, tax justice\, climate denial\, COVID-19 testing\, conspiracy cultures\, fact-checking\, data journalism\, nature-based solutions\, political bots\, forest fires\, forest restoration\, ecological listening\, diasporic solidarity and collective identity formation. \n\n\n\nIt will reflect on what we have learned from these cross-institutional\, interdisciplinary collaborations\, highlighting the role of social sciences\, arts and humanities research in repurposing digital media for collective inquiry. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nJonathan W. Y. Gray\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJonathan W. Y. Gray is Director of the Centre for Digital Culture and Reader in Critical Infrastructure Studies at the Department of Digital Humanities\, King’s College London. He is also co-founder of the Public Data Lab and Research Associate at the Digital Methods Initiative (University of Amsterdam) and the médialab (Sciences Po\, Paris). He has taught with the School for Poetic Computation in NYC. More can be found at jonathangray.org. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLiliana Bounegru\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLiliana Bounegru is Senior Lecturer in Digital Media\, Culture and Society at the Department of Digital Humanities\, King’s College London. She is also co-founder of the Public Data Lab and affiliated with the Digital Methods Initiative in Amsterdam and the médialab\, Sciences Po in Paris. More about her work can be found at lilianabounegru.org.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/repurposing-media-for-collective-inquiry-notes-from-the-public-data-lab/
LOCATION:Room 2.35\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Repurposing-media-for-collective-inquiry.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250402T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250402T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250319T125657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250324T110817Z
UID:10000248-1743609600-1743613200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Emerging Futures for Tokenised Licensing in the Creative Industries
DESCRIPTION:About this event\n\n\n\nWith the growing impact of online platforms and emerging technologies such as generative AI\, creators and end-users face continuous challenges to their authorship and ability to control content across the creative media supply chain.In this online one-hour webinar hosted by DECaDE’s partner\, Digital Catapult\, they will be introducing a report by DECaDE on a novel tokenized licensing framework known as ORA. Panellists will discuss tokenisation and standards such as C2PA. Discover how these developments might influence the cultural and creative economy\, offering new approaches to managing and valuing creative assets in the changing digital landscape.  \n\n\n\nWho should attend?\n\n\n\nThis webinar is designed for individuals and organisations across the creative industries who are navigating the evolving landscape of digital content management and licensing. \n\n\n\nIt will be particularly valuable for: \n\n\n\n\nCreators and Artists\n\n\n\nCreative Industry Professionals\n\n\n\nTechnology Developers\n\n\n\nPlatforms\, Policy and Legal Experts\n\n\n\nAcademics and Researchers.\n\n\n\n\nWhy attend?\n\n\n\nExplore the granular challenges regarding digital ownership\, licensing\, and attribution Hear more about emerging technologies such as the C2PA metadata standard and tokenisation and what roles these could play in the digital creative economy  Discuss the wider impact of these types of protocols for cultural economy and learn more about the DECaDE’s work in this field.  \n\n\n\nPanelists\n\n\n\n\n\nChris Elsden\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCo-Investigator on the DECaDE project\, Chris’s research is rooted in the field of Human-Computer Interaction\, but is fundamentally inter-disciplinary\, applying design research methods to understand the human experience and social meanings of data-driven services. \n\n\n\nUsing and developing innovative design research methods\, his work undertakes diverse\, qualitative and often speculative engagements with participants to investigate emerging relationships with technology – particularly data-driven tools\, FinTech and blockchain technologies. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nFrances Liddell\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Frances Liddell is a Research Associate in Design Informatics\, University of Edinburgh and working on the DECaDE project. Frances has a background in arts management and museum studies\, and her PhD research was one of the first empirical studies to examine the impact of blockchain technologies on museum practice. \n\n\n\nFrances’ research interests focus on themes such as participation\, digital materiality\, and ownership design and is interested in the way that emerging technologies such as Web3 can challenge and reshape perceptions around value and ownership. Together with Chris Elsden\, she is leading the qualitative fieldwork for the ORAgen project which explores how decentralised technologies might shape and address challenges on attribution\, rights and ownership in the digital creative community. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Collomoss\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Collomosse is a Professor of Computer Vision and AI at the University of Surrey where he is the founder and director of DECaDE\, the UKRI Research Centre for the Decentralized Digital Economy. Signal Processing (CVSSP). \n\n\n\nHe is concurrently a Principal Scientist and distinguished inventor at Adobe Research\, where he manages the cross-modal representation learning (XRL) research group. He leads research for Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and is a core technical advisor to the initiative since his involvement in its inception in 2019. \n\n\n\nJohn’s research intersects Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)\, with focus on media provenance to fight misinformation and online harms\, and on improving data integrity and attribution for responsible AI.   \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKar Balan\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEdited with Afterlight\n\n\n\n\n\nPost-graduate researcher within the Centre for Vision and Speech processing\, currently working on the DECaDE project. With a diverse background initially rooted in the film and animation industries\, Kar has cultivated a blend of technical and creative skills and now conducts research at the intersection of computer vision and blockchain technologies with a focus on digital content provenance. \n\n\n\nHis work addresses complex issues within the realms of copyright\, privacy and attribution in the Generative AI space. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGuest panelists\n\n\n\n\n\nDavid Oxley\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA UK-based creative technologist and artist\, blending technology and art to craft interactive experiences\, immersive installations\, and blockchain-enhanced digital art. David founded Numeriq Ltd\, offering website development while also exploring creative technology and independently pursuing artistic projects focussed on real-time AI\, WebXR\, generative art\, and immersive storytelling. \n\n\n\nDavid is interested in ORAgen as an approach to decentralised licensing and attribution and how initiatives explored in ORAgen\, like C2PA\, may address authenticity and provenance in digital media. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYayoi Shionoiri\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYayoi Shionoiri is the VP of External Affairs and General Counsel at Powerhouse Arts\, a Brooklyn fabrication facility for artists.  She also serves as U.S. Alliance Partner to City Lights Law\, a Japanese law firm that represents creators; and as Board Director to Startbahn\, a Japanese blockchain company.   \n\n\n\nYayoi has degrees from Harvard University\, Cornell Law School\, and Columbia University.  Yayoi writes frequently on legal issues related to copyright\, art NFTs\, AI\, and ethics. 
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/emerging-futures-for-tokenised-licensing-in-the-creative-industries/
LOCATION:EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DECaDE_Frances-Liddell.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250401T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250401T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T110451
CREATED:20250205T124933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250317T113804Z
UID:10000222-1743530400-1743535800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Culture is Bad for You
DESCRIPTION:Culture is Bad for You offers a powerful call to transform the cultural and creative industries\, by examining the intersections between race\, class\, and gender in inequalities in cultural occupations. Exclusion from culture begins at an early age\, the authors argue\, and despite claims by cultural institutions and businesses to hire talented and hardworking individuals\, women\, people of colour\, and those from working-class backgrounds are systematically disbarred. Since its publication in 2020 the book has proved a powerful provocation to policymakers and cultural practitioners\, and found resonance in cultural policy and sociology researchers internationally.  \n\n\n\nTo mark the publication of a new\, updated edition\, this event will bring together scholars from around the world with the authors to discuss the mechanisms of exclusion in cultural work and how they are mirrored in other national and policy contexts.  \n\n\n\nThis event is hosted in partnership with the Edinburgh Centre for Data\, Culture & Society (CDCS).  \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nOrian Brook\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrian Brook is Chancellor’s Fellow in Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh. She studies social and spatial inequalities in the creative economy\, and holds an ESRC ADR Fellowship exploring earnings of creative graduates. She is co-author of the book Culture is Bad for You and the report ‘A Class Act: Social mobility and the creative industries’ published with the Sutton Trust. She is a member of the College of Experts for the Department for Culture\, Media and Sport.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDave O’Brien\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDave O’Brien is Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at the School of Arts\, Languages and Cultures\, University of Manchester. He is the co-author of Culture is bad for you\, and has written numerous papers on the contemporary creative economy. His policy research includes a role in the AHRC-funded Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre\,  the co-authored Panic! report\, and the Creative Diversity APPG’s Creative Majority and the Making the Creative Majority reports. He has twice been an advisor to the House of Commons’ Culture\, Media and Sport Select Committee\, and is currently on a research secondment to the UK government’s Department for Culture\, Media and Sport.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nantonio cuyler\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nantonio c. cuyler\, PhD (he/him/his) is Professor of Music in Entrepreneurship & Leadership\, Faculty Associate in Voice & Opera in the School of Music\, Theatre & Dance (SMTD)\, and Faculty Associate in the African Studies Center at the University of Michigan. Dr. cuyler’s scholarship interweaves curiosities and inquiries about arts administration\, entrepreneurship\, leadership\, management curricula\, creative justice\, cultural policy\, and experiential learning. The central question of his consulting\, research\, service\, and teaching portfolio is\, “in what ways can the creative sector ensure and protect the creative justice of historically and continuously low casted\, othered\, and subalterned peoples?” Routledge will publish his forthcoming book\, Achieving Creative Justice in the U. S. Creative Sector\, in March. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nElysia Lechelt\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nElysia Lechelt is a Lecturer in the School of Art History at the University of Edinburgh. Specialising in cultural policy\, her research questions how we might begin to (re)imagine cultural policy in ways that move it away from dominant imperatives and notions of cultural value and towards issues of social justice and human flourishing. Her expertise encompasses urban and regional cultural policy practices\, creative industries\, and cultural labour. Furthermore\, she has authored and presented work on participatory (or co-produced) cultural policy processes. Elysia is committed to investigating the essential role of art and culture in promoting a more equitable and sustainable society. Currently\, she is examining how a capability approach can be utilised to understand the arts’ potential to enhance collective well-being and drive transformative policy change. Before entering academia\, Elysia gained experience in the cultural sector\, working with organisations such as Contemporary Calgary\, where she managed public programming\, audience development\, and community outreach initiatives. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBeata Kowalczyk\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBeata M. Kowalczyk is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sociology\, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań\, Poland\, and an associated researcher at the Institutions et Dynamiques Historiques de l’Économie et de la Société (Paris 1 Panthéone Sorbonne). Currently\, she is a Nawa Bekker Research Fellow at the School of Social and Political Science\, University of Edinburgh. She has conducted multi-sited fieldwork on the working conditions in the arts\, with a focus on Japanese musicians navigating the professional landscape of the classical music industry in Warsaw\, Paris\, and Tokyo. Her research has been published in Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques\, Work\, Gender & Organization\, Men and Masculinities and other outlets. She is also the author of Transnational Musicians. Precariousness\, Ethnicity and Gender in the Creative Industry (Routledge\, 2021). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInés Ruiz Alvarado\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInés Ruiz Alvarado is UNESCO Chair in Public Policy and Cultural Management at the Universidad Científica del Sur\, and Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Peru. Her research focuses on social and gender inequalities\, particularly examining the intersections of gender\, race\, and class. Her career spans key areas such as gender studies\, human rights\, and community communication. Her doctoral research examined the consequences of forced sterilization campaigns on the lives of affected women\, culminating in the book Pájaros de Medianoche. Las esterilizaciones forzadas en el Perú y la lucha de sus víctimas por ser reconocidas (Editorial Planeta) and the documentary A Futile Voice\, which delves into their struggles for recognition and justice. Her work bridges academic research and creative expression\, advocating for transformative change in social landscapes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChair: Kirsten Lloyd\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKirsten Lloyd is a Senior Lecturer in the School of History of Art at The University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on late 20th and 21st art and mediation\, including lens-based practice\, participatory work and realism. She is a Research Fellow with the ‘Feminism\, Art\, Maintenance’ project\, funded by the Swedish Research Council\, a member of the Glasgow Housing Struggles collective and the Academic Lead for the University’s Contemporary Art Research Collection. Kirsten is currently working on the next phase of the collaborative exhibition and research project Life Support: Forms of Care in Art and Activism with Glasgow Women’s Library and a book called Contemporary Art and Capitalist Life which has been supported by a Leverhulme Research Fellowship.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/culture-is-bad-for-you/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Level 0 Event Space\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Making Waves: Spring 2025,Talk/Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/250401_CultureIsBadForYou.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR