Oxford Futures

[Geneva Andreotti]

Since2005, The Oxford Futures Forum (OFF) has sought to confront scholarship from different fields with scenario practice to advance scholarly understanding of why and how scenarios work. In doing so, it fosters the development of new joint projects, publications, exhibitions, events and other activities.

In OFF 2017, we gathered together a set of invited scholars and practitioners working at the forefront of scenario planning with those working with climate imaginaries to develop captivating and accessible narratives and strategies, in a variety of formats and media that can open up previously fixed ways of thinking about the future, catalyse novel interactions and spur initiatives.

The convenors aimed to produce effective and quality outcomes, similar to those which resulted from the previous four Forums. These may be in the form of research questions, joint publications, research proposals and workshops, and further networking and community building.

In the 2014 OFF, the authors, as co-conveners the event, proposed exploring the new theoretical terrain opened up through focusing on design, a field that is becoming more theorized and also emerges from practice. In addition to open space dialogue, the curated exhibition, Future Things, enabled greater generative dialogue by providing examples of visual and sensory means for conceptualisation and interaction that represent futures in novel ways.

It houses the Pierre Wack Memorial Library and the Boucher Futures Research Library, gifted to Green Templeton College by Napier Collyns and Dr Angela Wilkinson. Green Templeton College and Sad Business School acknowledge their generous support in bringing these collections to Oxford.

These two significant and complementary collections consist of nearly 6,000 items relating to futures and scenario planning practice and research. Together, they provide a unique and valuable insight into the nascence and continuing resonance of the discipline and its architects. To find out more about the history of scenario planning, read this short article by Professor Rafael Ramrez.

The library also includes the Art Kleiner Archive, a collection of letters, reports and other documents which was donated by renowned author, journalist and editorial consultant Art Kleiner to Green Templeton College, and deposited in the Oxford Futures Library. Green Templeton College and Sad Business School are grateful for the generous donation of this distinct archive.

I would hope to come back soon to Oxford and arrange to spend more time in the Oxford Futures Library. This is an important and fundamental resource for both early stage and experienced scenario planners and also, for students, professionals and researchers in general, anyone involved in scenario planning and future studies.

The Pierre Wack Memorial Library (established by Napier Collyns and Kees van der Heijden with a partnership between Green Templeton College and the Sad Business School at the University of Oxford) was officially opened in May 2014 as part of the Oxford Futures Library. The vast collection of documents and resources it contains were essential to the research and writing of my latest book, Foundations of Scenario Planning: The Story of Pierre Wack. The other collections in the library (the Boucher Futures Library and the Art Kleiner Archive) contain many additional resources that will be of great interest to anyone studying scenarios or the history of Futures as a discipline.

What I found in the Futures Library exceeded my expectations. Not only did I discover unique, original work by Pierre Wack, but I also had access to a wealth of general management literature that I would have otherwise not necessarily connected with scenario planning.

Members of the Sustainable & Resilient Futures Network share a common aspiration: to address pressing global challenges through research and innovation that contribute to sustainable and resilient societies and environments.

"The report aims to amplify the stories of single women with children who have experienced homelessness, living in temporary accommodation, and navigating rent-arrears and other forms of private debt".

When Dr Mina Samangooei and Dr Sangeetha Thondre met during an online networking event hosted by Brookes, they discovered a shared curiosity in bringing sustainable food production to urban areas. This would increase biodiversity and help combat climate change. They undertook a 3-month project, funded by Brookes, to test the feasibility of creating Edible Streets in Oxford, leading to the start of a fascinating interdisciplinary project.

Oxford Brookes University leads the way in climate resilience with the redevelopment of Clive Booth Student Village, a UK Universities Climate Network case study authored by SRF Network Lead, Dr Esra Kurul.

This is a series of related projects, funded by the British Academy, Leverhulme Foundation, and Urban Studies Foundation, that examines the rise of reduced domestic space, from Tiny Housing to co-living, in a range of global contexts.

Funded by Innovate UK, Project LEO is running trials in Oxfordshire to build a broad range of reliable evidence of the technological, market and social conditions needed for a greener, more flexible, and fair electricity system.

A changing climate poses significant risks to societies, non-human species and their habitats, the environment, and the economy. Recent events are a stark reminder that these systems should adapt to become more resilient to cope with climate risks. Understanding climate risks, evaluating the resilience of vulnerable systems and devising adaptation and mitigation strategies are research and consultancy areas covered under this theme.

Using resources responsibly to ensure they are available in the future is a critical aspect of sustainability and resilience. However, scarce resources and biodiversity have been depleted faster than they can be replaced or replenished. Alternative models for equitable sharing and effective use of finite resources; and reversing biodiversity loss are needed to reverse this situation. This theme also covers human and non-human access to resources; understanding the complex interactions between humans and wildlife; environmental and social impact assessment; biodiversity and resource use.

Cities & infrastructure are part of both the solution and the problem in building sustainable & resilient futures. For example, cities generate 60% of the Global GDP and 70% of the GHG emissions. Infrastructure either directly or indirectly influences the achievement of the SGDs. The way cities develop influences biodiversity. Our research aims to utilise the potential cities & infrastructure offer in reducing the impact of climate change, reversing biodiversity loss and enhancing health and well-being. Finding alternative, sustainable and resilient solutions to developing, operating, maintaining, reusing and disposing of these assets, is a key area of activity.

Good governance is a necessary pillar of sustainable development. It ensures appropriate structures of decision making are present and that decision-makers are accountable for the outcomes of their decisions. Our members are concerned with facilitating decision making across multiple sectors and scales; the trade-offs between equity, justice and fairness in decision-making, and ensuring that mechanisms exist to hold actors to account regarding decision-making, investment, action, and outcomes.

Could you contribute to reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals? If you could, join Oxford Brookes staff addressing pressing global challenges and contributing to the Sustainable & Resilient Futures agenda. ECRs, professional staff, research students, academic staff- all welcome!

An agreement to buy or sell a fixed quantity of a particular commodity, currency, or security for delivery at a fixed date in the future at a fixed price. Unlike an option, a futures contract involves a definite purchase or sale and not an option to buy or sell; it therefore may entail a potentially unlimited loss. However, futures provide an opportunity for those who must purchase goods regularly to hedge against changes in price and for speculators to make large profits. In London, futures are traded in a variety of markets. Financial futures are traded on the LIFFE (now Euronext.liffe), whose commodity department deals with shipping and with cocoa, coffee, and other foodstuffs; the London Metal Exchange deals with metals; and the International Petroleum Exchange (ICE Futures Europe) with oil. In many cases actual goods (see actuals) do not pass between dealers in these futures markets, a bought contract being cancelled out by an equivalent sale contract, and vice versa; money differences arising as a result are usually settled through a clearing house. In some futures markets only brokers are allowed to trade; in others, both dealers and brokers are permitted to do so. See also forward dealing.

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Keynote addresses from Professor Susan Greenhalgh (Harvard University) and Professor Biao Xiang (University of Oxford) will address the role of artificial intelligence in new forms of techno-scientific governance, and the phenomenon of migrations of reproduction in China.

Panels will focus on environmental governance, the role of technology in health and welfare, urban futures, and rural transitions, and feature a broad range of scholars from China, Europe, and the UK.

Keynote addresses and panel sessions are open to everyone, free of charge, and we welcome people to attend as many or as few as they would like. We also encourage scholars and students that are not specialists on China to attend. Registration is not required, but we encourage you to express your interest and spread the word on the Facebook event page below.

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