Podcasts
Listen to our podcasts from a range of speakers on sociodigital futures research and thinking
What sociodigital futures are being claimed?
In this first of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making,' we are addressing the research question ‘What sociodigital futures are being claimed and made, and how, by which actors, across key areas of social life?’ Each of the three podcasts address What, How and Who.
In this episode we hear from Debbie Watson, David Evans, Bridget Anderson and Rich Hemming as they discuss what defines futures. Futures are multiple, and we explore if they are on the way or already here. Can they be resisted or are some inevitable?’
Listen time: 26:30
How are sociodigital futures being claimed?
In this second of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making’, we're ‘How are sociodigital futures being claimed?’
Claims about the future shape government policies, shape investments that are made by companies, and how all of us think about our lives. But how are these claims being made?
Listen to Susan Halford, Jessica Pykett, Debbie Watson, Paul Clarke and Beckie Coleman as they explore this timely subject.
Listen time: 32:17
Who is making claims over sociodigital futures?
This is the third in a series of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making.’
‘Who is making claims over sociodigital futures’ looks at which actors are making futures claims. Should we pay heed to government announcements around the capabilities of AI and how it will change our lives? Can any single actor make such sweeping generalisations when there are many possible futures in front of us?
Hear from Dale Southerton, Susan Halford and Helen Manchester in this fascinating and timely discussion.
Listen time: 25:10
Futures anthropology, foresight and the polycrisis
It is increasingly proclaimed that the world is in a polycrisis, a term and set of assumptions which have become a moniker for our times; a moment where multiple crises converge, requiring urgent attention and a future-focused solution.
For influential organisations the polycrisis concept makes problems of uncertainty accessible to foresight-informed solutions. Yet foresight frames frequently foreclose the kinds of futures knowledge delivered and sustain a consultancy-led futures industry.
Join Sarah Pink, Laureate Professor and Director of the Emerging Technologies Lab and FUTURES Hub at Monash University and Susan Halford, Co-director of the ESRC Centre for Sociodigital Futures as they discuss the polycrisis, foresight and the role of futures research in addressing challenges facing society.
Listen time 28:13.
How digitality is changing our spaces
Space is a key feature of social life. But does the digitalisation of society affect its spatial dimensions, and if so, how?
In this podcast, Leverhulme Visiting Professor Theodore Schatzki joins Dale Southerton to discuss his work exploring digitality, different types of space and notions of virtual realities, such as cyber space.
Listen time 30:45.
Community tech and sociodigital futures
What is community tech, and why do communities care about it? We discuss examples of community tech we’ve seen through our research to explore how communities are creating their own sociodigital futures and discover what can be learnt from community alternatives to big tech solutions.
With Anna Dent, Matt Dowse, Helen Manchester and Martin Parker.
Listen time 29:50.