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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260520T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260520T190000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
CREATED:20260506T145605Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T082436Z
UID:10000357-1779296400-1779303600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Traveltech Meet Up
DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to announce our next TravelTech meetup on 20th May\, featuring an interactive session in collaboration with 80 Days. \n\n\n\n​Following the hugely popular session on Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) last year\, this session will explore how the AI search landscape has continued to evolve and what that means for travel and tourism businesses looking to stay visible. \n\n\n\n​From AI Overviews and search agents to the increasingly non-linear traveller journey\, we’ll cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. Expect practical\, actionable strategies to help you get found in the age of AI-driven search\, along with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and take part in the discussion. \n\n\n\n​Whether you joined us last time or are completely new to the topic\, this session is designed to give you clear insights you can apply straight away.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/traveltech-meet-up-5/
LOCATION:Room 2.55\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Mixer,Tourism & Festivals,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Traveltech-Meet-up-12_Maddy-Burgoyne.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251007T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251007T193000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
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:20250724T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250724T193000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
CREATED:20250711T081153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250711T142533Z
UID:10000276-1753378200-1753385400@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Traveltech Meet up #3
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the third in-person Traveltech meetup\, hosted by Edinburgh Futures Institute. \n\n\n\n​Get ready for an informal evening of networking\, reconnecting\, and building the future of Travel Tech. \n\n\n\n​Whether you’re a startup founder\, developer\, marketer\, or simply working in travel and technology\, this is a chance to connect with others in the sector. \n\n\n\n​We’ll kick off with structured introductions to help everyone get acquainted. We also invite companies to share a quick 3 minute update on what they’re working on. \n\n\n\n​Most importantly\, this is an opportunity to shape the future of our meetups and hear about exciting opportunities emerging from the Travel Tech cluster. \n\n\n\n​Come for the conversations\, stay for the pizza\, beer\, and great company! \n\n\n\n​Please note that this event will be in ward 3.40\, which is a different location to the previous meet ups.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/traveltech-meet-up-3/
LOCATION:Ward 3.40 – Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Tourism & Festivals
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1752053025732.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250522T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250522T193000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
CREATED:20250513T132859Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T132902Z
UID:10000271-1747935000-1747942200@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Traveltech Meet up
DESCRIPTION:​Join us for the first in-person Travel Tech meetup since the pandemic\, hosted by the Edinburgh Futures Institute! \n\n\n\n​Get ready for an informal evening of networking\, reconnecting\, and building the future of Travel Tech. \n\n\n\n​Whether you’re a startup founder\, developer\, marketer\, or simply working in travel and technology\, this is a chance to connect with others in the sector. \n\n\n\n​We’ll kick off with structured introductions to help everyone get acquainted. We also invite companies to share a quick 3 minute update on what they’re working on. \n\n\n\n​Most importantly\, this is an opportunity to shape the future of our meetups and hear about exciting opportunities emerging from the Travel Tech cluster. \n\n\n\n​Come for the conversations\, stay for the pizza\, beer\, and great company!
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/traveltech-meet-up/
LOCATION:Ward 3.40 – Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Mixer,Tourism & Festivals
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Travetltech-Meet-up-event-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241002T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241002T103000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
CREATED:20240902T083259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240902T083304Z
UID:10000181-1727859600-1727865000@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Tech Tuesdays #3: Automation - Your New Business Partner
DESCRIPTION:Kick start your day with a breakfast session exploring how automation and artificial intelligence could run the back office of your tourism or hospitality business. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re seeking to enhance your customer experience or streamline operations and admin\, this session is for you. \n\n\n\nDon’t miss this chance to see how smart technology can be your hardest-working employee. You’ll leave with practical ideas to make your business run smoother\, freeing you up to focus on what matters most – your customers. \n\n\n\nIn this session\, you’ll learn: \n\n\n\n• What automation actually means for small businesses• How AI can handle laborious tasks like bookings\, invoices\, and staff rotas• Real examples of hotels and tour companies saving time and money with these tools• Simple ways to start using automation\, even if you’re not tech-savvy \n\n\n\nNo tech knowledge needed – just bring your curiosity and your appetite for both breakfast and business growth! \n\n\n\nThe session will be hosted by Director of Traveltech for Scotland\, Edinburgh Futures Institute\, Joshua Ryan-Saha. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nPedro Moreira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPedro Moreira is a Director at Aphy – a cloud based automation company that supports hospitality businesses to streamline their support operations 24/7\, saving them time spent on repetitive tasks. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAndrew Guy\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAndrew Guy is the Managing Director of DF Intelligence\, who deliver intelligently automated processes that transform and streamline work across a business’s finance and HR operations. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho Should Attend?\n\n\n\nThis event is designed for owners\, managers\, and decision-makers within Edinburgh’s tourism sector\, including attractions\, experiences\, hotels\, B&Bs\, restaurants\, and bars.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/tech-tuesdays-3-automation-your-new-business-partner/
LOCATION:Edinburgh Futures Institute\, 1 Lauriston Place\, Edinburgh\, EH3 9EF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk/Discussion,Tourism & Festivals
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Travel-Tech-Tuesdays-3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230505T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230505T210000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
CREATED:20230214T140326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240711T105251Z
UID:10000037-1683313200-1683320400@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The New Real Salon: Exploring the Future of AI and the Arts
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the opening of the second New Real Salon\, which kicks off a series of events across the weekend of 5-7 May 2023: \n\n\n\nThe New Real Expose: The Algorithmic Turn (ticketed\, 5 May 2023\, 7-9pm\, Inspace)\n\n\n\nThis event brings to light the relationship between the artist and AI technology. At times of upheaval\, artists are at the forefront\, helping to illuminate the ways emerging technology impacts on life at a profound level. The New Real’s research themes look to reimagine interactions between humans and machines\, increase accessibility and interpretability for artists\, and foster transformative intelligent experiences for audiences. \n\n\n\nThe New Real’s research team and our newly commissioned artist will present insights into what is happening in this area and new work currently in development using The New Real Observatory Platform\, an unboxed AI tool created with and for artists. This tool provides artists with access to directly manipulate a model\, in order to enable profound artistic experiments with AI. We believe this can lead to better art\, and also provides a basis to probe and question urgent issues of today. \n\n\n\nThe New Real Hackathon: Turning the Algorithm (drop-in\, Inspace)\n\n\n\nIn the first ever The New Real Hackathon we are inviting developers\, creatives and scientists\, and digital explorers of any kind – to rapidly and collaboratively articulate and engineer a response to the set challenge of developing understanding between machine learning algorithms and their human users. \n\n\n\nTeams will have about 24 hours to analyse\, probe\, work with and break generative machine learning tools\, both those openly available online as well as The New Real Observatory platform (image and text processing). Some preparatory work is envisaged. Mentors from The New Real will be on hand to help with any questions and arising issues. \n\n\n\nApplications will open on The New Real’s website: https://newreal.cc/events/hackathon\, where you can now register to receive updates and a reminder when the application opens. *Sign up for this Hackthon is by application\, which will launch 2 months prior to the event. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Drew Hemment \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Drew Hemment is The New Real’s founder and principal investigator. Drew is an artist\, designer and academic researcher\, who over 25 years has been one of the key figures who has shaped the field of digital art and culture. He is Professor of Data Arts and Society\, Chancellors Fellow and Director of Festival Futures at Edinburgh Futures Institute and Edinburgh College of Art within University of Edinburgh. He presently leads The New Real and Experiential AI in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute and Edinburgh’s Festivals\, supporting significant new artistic works\, and exploring new paradigms for creative\, fair and inclusive AI. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMatjaz Vidma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMatjaz Vidmar is The New Real’s co-investigator\, an interdisciplinary researcher\, lecturer and strategist at the University of Edinburgh. He is an (Astro)Physicist by training\, now examining innovation processes and (inter-)organisational learning and change\, as well as other social dimensions of emerging technologies. He has an interest in using experiential Ai to create intimate interpretations of global datasets\, in particular from Space & Satellite data\, to influence sustainable development through futures thinking/literacy tools. He co-leads the delivery of the research portfolio of The New Real programme. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Partners\n\n\n\nThe New Real \n\n\n\nEstablished in 2019\, The New Real is a unique hub for AI\, creativity and futures research. It is a partnership between the University of Edinburgh\, Alan Turing Institute\, and Edinburgh’s Festivals. Its research explores how AI impacts on life at a profound level\, often interacting with us in fascinating and unanticipated ways\, and illuminates how emerging technology can become a creative\, playful and deeply impactful part of everyday living. \n\n\n\nThe New Real team believes that art and creativity can help to radically change how we think about AI design\, moving beyond the current paradigm of learning patterns from large amounts of data\, to embrace human traits such as bias\, disagreement\, and uncertainty as a signal with creative potential rather than noise that needs to be removed. They devise imaginative ways to experiment with new experiences\, practices\, infrastructures and business models\, and to empower people be agents of positive change. See more at: www.newreal.cc \n\n\n\nThe Alan Turing Institute \n\n\n\nThe Alan Turing Institute is the national institute for data science and artificial intelligence\, with headquarters at the British Library. \n\n\n\nThe Scottish AI Alliance \n\n\n\nDelivering Scotland’s AI Strategy Scotland’s AI Strategy. It was launched in March 2021 with a vision for Scotland to become a leader in the development and use of trustworthy\, ethical and inclusive AI. The Scottish AI Alliance is the body tasked with delivering this vision and the actions outlined in the strategy. It is a partnership between The Data Lab and the Scottish Government. \n\n\n\nPlease note this is a hybrid event. Streaming will be lived-captioned. \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 us know at the event.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/the-new-real-salon-exploring-the-future-of-ai-and-the-arts/
LOCATION:Inspace\, 1 Crichton Street\, Edinburgh\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9LE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Creative Industries,Love Machine: Spring 2023,Tourism & Festivals
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/e1c9a0e6210fb52dc54e95db3c2085e4-XTgGSp.tmp_.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230421T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230421T190000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
CREATED:20230214T140314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240711T105303Z
UID:10000030-1682096400-1682103600@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Galvanised: Big Mind – Collective Behaviour and Collective Intelligence
DESCRIPTION:This Galvanised seminar addresses the opportunities that collective behaviour and collective intelligence may offer for addressing a wide range of social and political issues. In keeping with the dual science/arts theme of Galvanised\, the seminar will be presented by a biological scientist and a social and political scientist. Collective behaviour evolved in animals and serves many functions ranging from increasing safety (fish schooling) through to attachment (such as in primate groups). In humans\, collective intelligence has been shown\, experimentally\, to solve certain problems much faster than individual action\, strikingly in Riley Crane’s successful crowd-sourcing framework that won the Red Balloon challenge set by DARPA in 2009. New collective intelligence methods are increasingly and widely used in science\, business and government\, sometimes combined with artificial intelligence. Many other examples of the concept of “Big Mind” will be offered by our two speakers\, along with the limitations of such approaches. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Iain Couzin\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Iain Couzin was born and brought up in Edinburgh. He is now a Director of the Max-Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the Cluster of Excellence ‘Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour’ (University of Konstanz)\, a National Geographic Explorer and a 2023 Rothschild Distinguished Fellow at the University of Cambridge. His work aims to reveal the fundamental principles that underlie evolved collective behaviour\, and consequently his research includes the study of a wide range of biological systems\, from neural collectives to insect swarms\, fish schools\, primate groups and human crowds. He has been the recipient of various high-profile awards. In 2022 he received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize—Germany’s highest research honour. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Sir Geoff Mulgan\n\n\n\n\nAccordion content. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Sir Geoff Mulgan (University College London) argues that collective intelligence\, prompted in part by a wave of digital technologies\, has the potential to address and perhaps help solve some of the great challenges of our time. He served as Director of Policy and later as Director of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit in Downing Street under Tony Blair\, and before that as the co-founder of the Demos ‘Think-Tank’. He was Chief Executive of the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA)\, advises governments around the world\, and is now a Professor at UCL. He is an editor in chief of the journal Collective Intelligence. His most recent book is ‘Another World is Possible’ (Hurst/OUP) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \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 us know at the event.
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/galvanised-big-mind-collective-behaviour-and-collective-intelligence/
LOCATION:Playfair Library Hall\, Old College\, South Bridge\, Edinburgh\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9YL\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Love Machine: Spring 2023,Public Services,Tourism & Festivals
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/57b2621221f9d65bb42aae7ab57cbd30-HZMbU7.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230418T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230418T203000
DTSTAMP:20260527T135157
CREATED:20230228T070536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230808T074505Z
UID:10000066-1681840800-1681849800@efi.ed.ac.uk
SUMMARY:CI Labs 23: FESTIVAL FUTURES
DESCRIPTION:REGISTER\n\n\n\n\nJoin us as we explore the themes\, ideas and methods our researchers used to produce FestForward magazine – a fictional\, speculative cultural magazine\, set in 2030\, exploring digital and data-driven futures for Edinburgh and South East Scotland’s festivals. \n\n\n\nFestForward\, written in 2022 and produced in collaboration with Glasgow-based design researchers Andthen\, was developed through interviews\, conversations and workshops with individuals and organisations working in the region’s cultural sector. The magazine tells stories about possible futures – the good\, the bad and the ugly – to stimulate conversations about how we work together in the present to discover and develop equitable and sustainable approaches to the application of digital and data-driven technologies. \n\n\n\nThe programme will include:\n\n\n\nA speculative futures workshop\, using provocations and ideas from FestForward\, where you’ll have the chance to write your own festival futures. \n\n\n\nPanel discussions imagining equitable and sustainable festivals in 2030\, and exploring futures for creative technologies\, online and hybrid performance and concepts of ‘liveness’ \n\n\n\nLive performance! More details announced soon… \n\n\n\nRefreshments provided and the Biscuit Factory bar will be open
URL:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/ci-labs-23-festival-futures/
LOCATION:EH3 9EF
CATEGORIES:Creative Industries,Tourism & Festivals
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://efi.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/festival-futures-now.png
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