Futures Conversations Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/futures-conversations “Futures Conversations” brings you thought-provoking dialogue showcasing the intersections of disciplines, ideas, and possibilities being tackled at the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Futures Institute. © Edinburgh Futures Institute, The University of Edinburgh 584ff60c-c163-5d7e-ac48-c83f957660c1 no en Thu, 30 Oct 2025 03:01:37 -0700 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:50:05 -0800 https://img.transistor.fm/wyyAZPy7CmKZfUz8_wqzexE4k8Ygcu7kPR4V4sEU4MU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85NmMx/NDg3ZjVhY2VmYmMw/YjVjNmEwODg5NzU3/NGQ0Zi5wbmc.jpg Futures Conversations episodic Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh “Futures Conversations” brings you thought-provoking dialogue showcasing the intersections of disciplines, ideas, and possibilities being tackled at the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Futures Institute. “Futures Conversations” brings you thought-provoking dialogue showcasing the intersections of disciplines, ideas, and possibilities being tackled at the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Futures Institute.. Edinburgh Futures Institute No No Kate Wright: Mass Media in the Digital Age 6 6 Kate Wright: Mass Media in the Digital Age full cff16c01-990d-4811-9ce9-ef3b66efd04e https://share.transistor.fm/s/ef2e408a In this episode, Professor Kate Wright speaks openly about the uncertain future facing the media, drawing on her experience as a journalist and academic. Working as a BBC journalist, Kate spent time in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. Moving into academia allowed her to investigate how journalism is responding to the twin challenges of the new digital landscape and the changing political and cultural contexts in which news is now produced. 

Note: This podcast was recorded in late 2024.


]]> In this episode, Professor Kate Wright speaks openly about the uncertain future facing the media, drawing on her experience as a journalist and academic. Working as a BBC journalist, Kate spent time in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. Moving into academia allowed her to investigate how journalism is responding to the twin challenges of the new digital landscape and the changing political and cultural contexts in which news is now produced. 

Note: This podcast was recorded in late 2024.


]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2025 03:01:37 -0700 Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh 1874 In this episode, Professor Kate Wright speaks openly about the uncertain future facing the media, drawing on her experience as a journalist and academic. Working as a BBC journalist, Kate spent time in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. Moving into academia allowed her to investigate how journalism is responding to the twin challenges of the new digital landscape and the changing political and cultural contexts in which news is now produced. 

Note: This podcast was recorded in late 2024.


]]> No John Vines: Design Informatics 5 5 John Vines: Design Informatics full 4f457e52-02e7-448a-b00f-df6b509b34ef https://share.transistor.fm/s/992dfb94 Designing technology that humans can easily use — this is Professor John Vines' mission. He takes us through a varied career in design and explains how the field of human-computer interaction explores the ways in which people experience technology in their everyday lives. Along the way we learn about the value John places on the participation of users in design.


]]> Designing technology that humans can easily use — this is Professor John Vines' mission. He takes us through a varied career in design and explains how the field of human-computer interaction explores the ways in which people experience technology in their everyday lives. Along the way we learn about the value John places on the participation of users in design.


]]> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:14:04 -0700 Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh 2056 Designing technology that humans can easily use — this is Professor John Vines' mission. He takes us through a varied career in design and explains how the field of human-computer interaction explores the ways in which people experience technology in their everyday lives. Along the way we learn about the value John places on the participation of users in design.


]]> No Sean Smith: Future Infrastructure 4 4 Sean Smith: Future Infrastructure full 181fdda3-18af-4c55-ae64-bffeb53e40e8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3b34d5d8 How do we future proof our infrastructure? This question is the key concern for Professor Sean Smith, an engineer who has worked in industry and academia. He outlines the unique expertise that pioneering research can bring to the design and construction of buildings that enable us to reduce our environment footprint. 

]]> How do we future proof our infrastructure? This question is the key concern for Professor Sean Smith, an engineer who has worked in industry and academia. He outlines the unique expertise that pioneering research can bring to the design and construction of buildings that enable us to reduce our environment footprint. 

]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2025 02:05:45 -0700 Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh 1993 How do we future proof our infrastructure? This question is the key concern for Professor Sean Smith, an engineer who has worked in industry and academia. He outlines the unique expertise that pioneering research can bring to the design and construction of buildings that enable us to reduce our environment footprint. 

]]> No Laura Cram: The Neuropolitics Research Lab 3 3 Laura Cram: The Neuropolitics Research Lab full e17a6161-3e56-4c45-b6a8-b4624cb1bf51 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9b208dbd How does our brain explain the ways in which we make sense of the complex political worlds we inhabit? This question is explored in the Neuropolitics Lab, designed and developed by political scientist and Professor Laura Cram, where politics and neuroscience come together to answer some of the most pressing questions we face today about our politically-divided societies. 

]]> How does our brain explain the ways in which we make sense of the complex political worlds we inhabit? This question is explored in the Neuropolitics Lab, designed and developed by political scientist and Professor Laura Cram, where politics and neuroscience come together to answer some of the most pressing questions we face today about our politically-divided societies. 

]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2025 02:28:44 -0700 Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh 1857 How does our brain explain the ways in which we make sense of the complex political worlds we inhabit? This question is explored in the Neuropolitics Lab, designed and developed by political scientist and Professor Laura Cram, where politics and neuroscience come together to answer some of the most pressing questions we face today about our politically-divided societies. 

]]> No Liz McFall: The Data Civics Observatory 2 2 Liz McFall: The Data Civics Observatory full be599a58-d522-4270-b384-99c1b5172202 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9e4fe22c In a frank and revealing discussion, sociologist and Professor Liz McFall charts her journey from growing up in West Lothian, Scotland, to exploring vital questions about democracy and data in the Data Civics Observatory which she leads at the Futures Institute. She also discusses her film, Closes and Opens: a history of Edinburgh’s Futures and Milton Keynes of the Mind. 

]]> In a frank and revealing discussion, sociologist and Professor Liz McFall charts her journey from growing up in West Lothian, Scotland, to exploring vital questions about democracy and data in the Data Civics Observatory which she leads at the Futures Institute. She also discusses her film, Closes and Opens: a history of Edinburgh’s Futures and Milton Keynes of the Mind. 

]]> Thu, 26 Jun 2025 03:08:18 -0700 Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh 1964 In a frank and revealing discussion, sociologist and Professor Liz McFall charts her journey from growing up in West Lothian, Scotland, to exploring vital questions about democracy and data in the Data Civics Observatory which she leads at the Futures Institute. She also discusses her film, Closes and Opens: a history of Edinburgh’s Futures and Milton Keynes of the Mind. 

]]> No Shannon Vallor: The Ethics of AI 1 1 Shannon Vallor: The Ethics of AI full 15ffe4cf-4380-447b-8f87-059164879bd8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/07206331 Professor Shannon Vallor, Director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures and author of "The AI Mirror," explores how her background shaped her approach to research on the ethics of AI. For her, AI is a mirror to society, and she argues that we need to look to humans, not machines, for how to adapt to this emergent technology.

]]> Professor Shannon Vallor, Director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures and author of "The AI Mirror," explores how her background shaped her approach to research on the ethics of AI. For her, AI is a mirror to society, and she argues that we need to look to humans, not machines, for how to adapt to this emergent technology.

]]> Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:59:04 -0700 Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh 2478 Professor Shannon Vallor, Director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures and author of "The AI Mirror," explores how her background shaped her approach to research on the ethics of AI. For her, AI is a mirror to society, and she argues that we need to look to humans, not machines, for how to adapt to this emergent technology.

]]> Edinburgh Futures Institute, AI, ethics of AI, Edinburgh Futures Institute podcast, Shannon Vallor, Centre for Technomoral Futures, The AI Mirror No