We offer open and participatory events that showcase interdisciplinary work and impact and spark ideas, inspiration and debate.
Get event updates from Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Laura Cram, Professor of Neuropolitics and Director of the Neuropolitics Research Lab at the University of Edinburgh will be giving this year’s Schapiro Lecture for Government and Opposition.
Our Utopia Labs are ‘no-spaces’, places where everyone is welcome to join us in dreaming futures that inspire our experience of the present.
Our Utopia Labs are ‘no-spaces’, places where everyone is welcome to join us in dreaming futures that inspire our experience of the present.
A talk by danah boyd.
In this Technomoral Conversations panel, we will hear from leading voices from the Majority World on what they have learned from and about AI, and the issues and visions they would like to see taken up.
Join this weekly reading group hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh.
A panel event marking the 10-year anniversary of Katie Paterson’s 100-year artwork, Future Library.
Part of the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Futures Conversations series.
Unco is a project to create a new Scots lexicon of LGBT+ words. These words are a proposal for how LGBT+ people can talk about themselves in Scots.
This event will bring together key figures from the Scottish education landscape to talk about AI in schools and our education futures.
Niranthea is a hybrid short film combining documentary, audiovisual synaesthesia and AI hearing algorithms to tackle the notions of Deafhood, prosthesis and cyborg.
Join this weekly reading group hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh.
Ex Silens is an experience into a radically alternative sensorium through the entanglement of multiple bodies, multiple agencies.
Interdisciplinary artist Kasia Molga invites you to explore her first iteration of 'How to Find the Soul of a Sailor,' the result of The New Real 2023-2024 commission 'Uncanny Machines' supported by the Scottish AI Alliance.
Join Professor Alex Gil, Senior Lecturer and Associate Research Faculty of Digital Humanities in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Yale University, in the Centre for Data, Culture and Society (CDCS) Annual Lecture 2024.
Join this weekly reading group hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh.
Join Professor Daniel Kreiss for an in-depth talk and discussion, hosted by the School of Political Science, on how platforms fail democracy. It will examine their role in political polarisation and disinformation, while advocating for democracy-worthy policies to safeguard elections and institutions.
Join this weekly reading group hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh.
A film by Sapphire Goss, produced, written and narrated by Liz McFall. The screening will be followed by a discussion with special guests.
Join the Edinburgh Centre for Data, Culture and Society for their latest project deep dive featuring Andrew McLean.
Join this weekly reading group hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh.
Join this weekly reading group hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh.
An interdisciplinary symposium on AI and vocal music, with an immersive opera concert and social evening.
Join this weekly reading group hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh.
A preview dance performance featuring University of Edinburgh dance students and cutting edge robotic technology.
A live performance featuring new poetry from Kathleen Jamie and music created by AI from live drawings by Kate Steenhauer.
TJ Billard offers an insider’s view into transgender activism during the first two years of the first Trump administration.
Comedian Fern Brady joins Michael Pedersen to talk creativity, comedy and books.
A panel event celebrating the creation of the Edinburgh Seven Tapestry.
A workshop series on the skills needed by creatives in the current technological landscape, in partnership with Adobe.
For Freelancers
Join the Centre for Investing Innovation for a guest lecture featuring Sahra Ghalebikesabi, Google DeepMind.
A panel event on the mechanisms of exclusion in cultural work and how they are mirrored in other national and policy contexts
A workshop series on the skills needed by creatives in the current technological landscape, in partnership with Adobe.
For students and early career practitioners
This webinar is designed for individuals and organisations across the creative industries who are navigating the evolving landscape of digital content management and licensing.
In this talk, the co-founders of the Public Data Lab will share their experience of developing new collaborative methods through digital tools.
Join us to celebrate Oliver Escobar's professorship at his inaugural lecture.
A conversation with playwright David Harrower about creativity and the role of drama in the pursuit of justice. In collaboration with IASH.
The Edinburgh Futures Institute’s Building Near Futures course proudly invites you to join our students for the 2025 course showcase.
A workshop series on the skills needed by creatives in the current technological landscape, in partnership with Adobe.
For in-house professionals (including those working in creative agencies, studios, and teams)
A conversation about the role of AI in creative practice and culture.
A workshop series on the skills needed by creatives in the current technological landscape, in partnership with Adobe.
For creative managers and leaders
An international premiere dance performance using smart home technology on a theatrical scale.
Hosted by Edinburgh Futures Institute, attend the launch of Transmedia Geographies.
The latest in the Utopia Lab workshop series, which invites participants to share visions of utopias.
Join us as Professor David Farrier discusses his new book 'Nature's Genius: Evolution's Lessons for a Changing World'.
The third iteration of the New Real Salon, introducing their new initiative, Doing AI Differently.
Join us for a discussion of Experimental Times by Hemangini Gupta, Lecturer in Gender and Global Politics.
Marcus du Sautoy joins us to discuss his book 'Blueprints: How Mathematics Shapes Creativity'.
Take your business idea to the next level with expert support and up to £3,000 in funding.
The Creative Industries Mixer Event is an opportunity for both academics and industry professionals in the fields of AI, creativity, and technology interaction to connect, collaborate, and discuss shared challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions.
Come learn about Edinburgh Futures Institute's innovative approach to online learning and teaching.
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Sustainable Lands and Cities.
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Data, Inequality and Society
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Planetary Health.
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Service Management and Design.
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Data and AI Ethics.
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Cultural Heritage.
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Future Governance.
Led by Take Note, these workshops will support Scottish charities and grassroots social change organisations in creating effective impact.
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Narrative Futures: Art, Data and Society
Join this online information session to find out more about the MSc in Education Futures.
Join us for an informal evening of networking, reconnecting, and building the future of Travel Tech.
Join the premiere of the first full performance of Speaking Towards One Another in Inspace this May.
Led by Take Note, these workshops will support Scottish charities and grassroots social change organisations in creating effective impact.
Join staff from the University of Edinburgh and take part in some exciting activities for families, like our Future Explorers game!
Join staff from the University of Edinburgh and take part in some exciting activities for families, like our Future Explorers game!
Join us for an exciting day of discussion about the AI revolution, bringing together three leading keynote speakers with expert respondents.
Led by Take Note, these workshops will support Scottish charities and grassroots social change organisations in creating effective impact.
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.
A public lecture delivered by Professor Ruha Benjamin of Princeton University.
These will be relaxed sessions with writing prompts, a chance to share and discuss writing goals and regular creative activities to break up the session.
An informal evening of networking, reconnecting, and building the future of Travel Tech.
Join us to view the stories and illustrations of the old Royal Infirmary side by side in our new festival gallery.
Supported by Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Exploring how we can repair objects with creative writing and sculpture, to imagine positive futures, affecting present change.
Got something that’s broken? Repair Cafes are free community events where you can bring your item for repair.
Supported by Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Young people from the Alternative School at Spartans Community Foundation are back at the festival, with a new exhibition.
Sharpen your technical repair skills under the guidance of EFI's Makerspace team.
Got something that’s broken? Repair Cafes are free community events where you can bring your item for repair.
Supported by Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Join us for a series of conversations that explore the future of our creative industries and practices.
These will be relaxed sessions with writing prompts, a chance to share and discuss writing goals and regular creative activities to break up the session.
This September, explore the fascinating history and exciting future of this special Edinburgh landmark.
How can we weave planetary health into public health research, policy and practice?
Join Joshua Ryan-Saha from Edinburgh Futures Institute for an interactive exploration of AI's impact on tourism.
Hear from Professor John P. Sullins on the surprising role human wisdom is playing in navigating the challenges of AI technologies.
Explore how the strategic use of futures methods and digital tools can help teams create innovative solutions under pressure.
Join us for the next TravelTech Meetup, hosted by the Edinburgh Futures Institute!
Who bears the cost of free in our AI-accelerated world?
This talk features Mike Small, Scottish writer, activist, and Bella Caledonia editor.
How will AI affect how our cities are designed and managed? Join us at this free public event to be part of the discussion.
Hear from experts on the impact of data driven machine learning and AI on science and knowledge production.
Note: Applications close 31 October. Join this two-day training programme exploring media literacy in the age of AI.
Join us for our next virtual Postgraduate Study Open Day.
Our popular reading group, hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh, is back for the new academic year.
Join us for our next virtual Postgraduate Study Open Day.
Join us for our next virtual Postgraduate Study Open Day.
Join us for the launch of Venture Café Edinburgh at inaugural Thursday Gathering at Edinburgh Futures Institute, in partnership with ARIA (Advanced Research + Invention Agency).
Hear from EFI Visiting Fellow, Dr Ramsha Naeem on the need for interdisciplinary dialogue between AI ethics and management theory.
Our popular reading group, hosted by The Binks Hub and led by Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh, is back for the new academic year.
Join Speculative Futures Central Scotland at V&A Dundee for a night of futures board games — play, hack & create new ways to explore futures together.
A half-day event exploring and championing change within the Scottish criminal justice system.
A full-day workshop exploring repair and creative methods, presented by the Utopia Lab and the Binks Hub.
This talk will focus on the development of JPCA Explore and how it reflects wider issues around creating human-scale digital projects.
Making Waves is an exciting programme of events that explores creativity in different forms, crossing areas such as the arts, technology, science, and the environment..
Watch recordings
Our Autumn 2024 programme of events explored the future of education through panel discussions, poetry readings, live music and performance, and deep intellectual debate and discussion.
Watch recordings
Our Autumn 2023 programme of events explored leadership in all its forms – from the seats of power to the front lines of activist movements and even in our own workplaces.
Watch recordings
Our Spring 2023 programme of events explored the interconnections of AI and data with humanity through conversations, performances, and workshops.
Watch recordings
Our Autumn 2022 programme featured more than 20 events exploring crisis, migration, displacement and equality coalescing around the theme of Climate Justice.
Watch recordings"The production and intellectual content of your recent events has been fantastic! Thank you for the opportunity to attend and learn. This is probably the best event I have been to all year."
Event attendee, Love Machine Spring 2023
"Really, really impressed with Futures Institute events. Properly impressive speakers, and seamless technical management. Thank you for keeping them hybrid/online – it's a really nice way to keep in touch!"
Event attendee, Love Machine Spring 2023
"Amazing! I hope that Utopia Lab can ring in every event season, the dream space that you curate and allow to flourish is an important and novel lens that Edinburgh Futures Institute offers partners, students, staff, researchers and anyone with an interest in collaborative thinking and doing."
Event attendee, Love Machine Spring 2023
Our public events seasons are co-created with people from across the University of Edinburgh. If you'd like to contribute ideas for the programme please contact the events team.
Call for proposals
Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) building, The University of Edinburgh, 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9EF
*Deliveries via West Entrance on Nightingale Way.
Email: efi@ed.ac.uk
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Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all material is copyright © The University of Edinburgh 2021.
