“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.
Publisher
Edinburgh Futures Institute – The University of Edinburgh
Professor Gbenga Ibikunle, Chair in Finance and Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Financial Innovation, gives us a glimpse into the fast-changing world of fintech and financial services. He explains how his work has a strong public-facing dimension with his research informing how governments generate new policies and design regulatory systems.
24 Sept 2026
Ram Ramamoorthy: Robots and Machine Learning
Professor Ram Ramamoorthy, Chair of Robot Learning and Director of the Generative AI Laboratory (GAIL) based at Edinburgh Futures Institute brings us on a fascinating journey into the work of robots and machine learning. Using real world examples drawn from his engagement with industry partners, we find out how robots can help humans in contexts such as social care.
10 Sept 2026
Sian Bayne: Digital Education
Professor Sian Bayne, Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Digital Education at Edinburgh Futures Institute and Assistant Principal (Education Futures), explores how education has been transformed by digital technology over the past two decades, and what the challenges and opportunities are when navigating this dynamic landscape.
25 Jun 2026
Morgan Currie: Data and Society
Dr Morgan Currie, Senior Lecturer in Data & Society and Co-Lead of the Critical Data Studies Cluster at Edinburgh Futures Institute, helps us to understand how datafication is increasingly embedded in our everyday lives and why we should be concerned about this.
4 Jun 2026
Liz Grant: Planetary Health
Professor Liz Grant, Chair of Public Health and Development and Assistant Principal for Public Health, discusses her research over the course of her varied career and how real world problems constitute the core of her work in mapping out a better future for our planetary health.
30 Oct 2025
Kate Wright: Mass Media in the Digital Age
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.
16 Oct 2025
John Vines: Design Informatics
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.
30 Sept 2025
Sean Smith: Future Infrastructure
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.
18 Sept 2025
Laura Cram: The Neuropolitics Research Lab
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.
26 Jun 2025
Liz McFall: The Data Civics Observatory
Professor Liz McFall discusses her journey and the Data Civics Observatory, which explores democracy and data, while also touching on her film about Edinburgh and Milton Keynes in this interview.
3 Jun 2025
Shannon Vallor: The Ethics of AI
Professor Shannon Vallor discusses how her background informs her research on AI ethics, viewing AI as a reflection of society and emphasizing human adaptation in this interview.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100
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Quality
17
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
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