Events

We offer open and participatory events that showcase interdisciplinary work and impact and spark ideas, inspiration and debate. 

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AI Safety and AI Ethics: bridging cultures of existential and social risk

Newhaven Lecture Theatre 13-15 College Street, Edinburgh

2023 was undoubtedly the year of 'AI' - when we were all amazed by the capabilities of ChatGTP and image generators, and stories of existential risks filled the media. This narrative seemed to be pushed by the very people who had invested most in developing Large Language Models, and were interlinked with the ideology of ... Read more

Protecting the State, Protecting our Homes: governing and designing cybersecurity

Newhaven Lecture Theatre 13-15 College Street, Edinburgh

As our society has become increasingly dependent on information infrastructures that reach into our pockets, homes and workplaces, we have become increasing vulnerable to attacks on and through these systems. How can we improve legal, technical and human dimensions of design and use to ensure future protection and resilience?

Project Deep Dive: Anja Neundorf

Online Edinburgh

Join the Centre for Data, Culture & Society and the Social Data Science Hub for a Project Deep Dive presented by Anja Neundorf, professor of Politics and Research Methods at the University of Glasgow.

Free

A New Sound

Project Room (1.06), 50 George Square 50 George Square, Newington, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Join us for a day of creative discussion with other makers of multi-disciplinary and music driven performance to identify how we overcome barriers and envision a future together.

Governance for a secure digital world

Newhaven Lecture Theatre 13-15 College Street, Edinburgh

Ensuring the safety of our information infrastructures is a huge challenge that involves human, legal, and technical cooperation at a global scale. The rise of new technology, especially AI, poses great challenges for the development of effective law and regulation. In this session we have a perspective from law and social science from the University ... Read more

Project Deep Dive: Sruthi Herbert

Digital Scholarship Centre Main Library, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

The CDCS Project Deep Dive series continues with ‘Digitization for Social Welfare: Examining the Building and Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) Welfare Funds in India’ presented by Dr Sruthi Herbert.

Using poetry to communicate about research

Medical School (Old Medical School), The University of Edinburgh (MST_Teaching Room 12 (01M.469) - Doorway 3) Teviot Place, Edinburgh

This workshop organised by The Binks Hub will help you use poetry to communicate your research.

Project Deep Dive: David Williamson Shaffer

Digital Scholarship Centre Main Library, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

ChatGPT and the other new advances in artificial intelligence have the potential to change work, education, and even what it means to “think” in the first place. In this talk, Professor David Williamson Shaffer looks at what AI is (and isn’t), its impact on what and how we learn, and how AI can change what ... Read more

Where are AI’s publics?

Inspace 1 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

What role should the public have in shaping Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Should the public have a voice in how AI is being developed and used, and how it’s governed and regulated? And how might a diverse cross section of the public be involved in the decisions made by big tech, regulatory bodies, and local and national government?

AI as the Broken Machine

Playfair Library Hall Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Join this one-day symposium on 'Artificial Intelligence as the Broken Machine' with invited keynote speaker Prof. Louise Amoore.

CDCS Summer School 2024

Edinburgh Futures Institute 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Join the Centre for Data, Culture & Society for their 5-day Summer School.

The Creative AI Forum

The Boardwalk 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom

This event will showcase the potential for AI in the creative industries.

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Power trip event season event flyer

POWER TRIP

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.

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Love Machine event season digital flyer

Love machine

Our Spring 2023 programme of events explored the interconnections of AI and data with humanity through conversations, performances, and workshops.

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First Breath Autumn Event Season brand leader. Image of dandelion and umbrellas on orange background. Text reads: 'First Breath: Autumn Event Season'. Includes Edinburgh Futures Institute logo.

First Breath

Our Autumn 2022 programme featured more than 20 events exploring crisis, migration, displacement and equality coalescing around the theme of Climate Justice.

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"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

Meet the events team

Headshot of Alice Carr

Alice Carr

Events Co-ordinator
Headshot of Fraser Pringle

Fraser Pringle

Project & Events Administrator
Headshot of Ioannis Kalkounos

Ioannis Kalkounos

Programme Manager
Lewis Williams

Lewis Williams

Events Technician

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