Visions of the future

Visionaries, philosophers, rulers, writers, economists, engineers, politicians and scientists all try to anticipate the future. Using specific examples from both past and present, our ‘visions of the future’ sessions draw on topics such as art, literature, climate change, scientific discovery, financial crises, war and politics. Debate - naturally - includes predictions about our own future.

Scholars from various fields of expertise will cover a range of current and historical issues:

• Francis Bacon and his dreams of a scientific future
• Hopes and fears for Artificial Intelligence
• Jacob Epstein’s Rock Drill and other artists’ visions of the changing world
• Biomaterials and bioarchitecture for the future
• What future for the international order?
• What is the sustainability challenge, and how are companies and others responding?
• Genomic medicine: successes and future challenges
• Economic questions for the 21st century
• How will future electronics change the world?
• Extraterrestrials: when will we make contact?