Journal of Futures Studies’ Post

Great takeaways with Ivana Milojević from the 'Reluctant #Feminist' Symposium and the Journal of Futures Studies call for papers!! Let's get the ideas flowing, and be sure to reach out with your ideas for articles and essays for this fantastic special issue. #futures #futuresstudies #futuresthinking #thefutureisfemale ##feministfutures

#EUClimateAndHealth Irene Norstedt welcomes Magdalena Skipper (Editor in chief of Nature) & Jeremy Farrar (Director at World Health Organization and former Head of Wellcome Trust) to close the Conference. 1. Communication is key. Both Magdalena & Jeremy suggests avoiding broadcasting (NoA think "One to Many") to favour more interactive forms of communication (NoA with more listening and tailoring of message from government or science). Rigour is also important as politicians and scaremongering play on emotions. 2. Impact on Mental Health. The European Commission mentioned it in its Communication of July 2023. Magdalena quotes a rapper that engagement with "the audience" is what makes the performance have impact. Shouldn't scientists think likewise? Jeremy mentions the need to balance hope. [I suggest going back to Gramsci - as quoted to me from Jacques Delors - "You need to have the pessimism of reason, and the optimism of hope]. 3. Collaboration is needed. Across science areas, business sectors and countries. Jeremy recalls that the most interesting research happens at interfaces. Wellcome sometimes acts as "government", they can and should be breaking more silos. Government should also push scientists (and peer review groups) to push across research areas. Magdalena agrees and mentions Nature is addressing it in its works. 4. Irene mentions the need to move R&I towards implementation to test ideas to validate them and attract more funding on the best ideas. Jeremy agrees - but reminds not to forget basic research. Sharing more and more data is a key issue. Magdalena reminds of the value of failed research. Nature encourages such papers. Do not be afraid to publish this. CLOSING WITH VIDEO MESSAGE FROM Iliana Ivanova - our Commissioner for Research, Inmovation and Education.

Hello, Middle Neighborhood Community! We have a question for you: what topics would you like to see the Community of Practice address in a webinar or best practice report in 2024?  This could include a problem you are trying to solve, or a successful strategy you'd like to share. It could be a market trend you'd like to know more about, or it could be a roundtable discussion among practitioners, researchers or policymakers you'd like to hear from. All you have to do is reply with your ideas!

Was invited by Randhula de Silva to an event called 'Idea Café' last evening - an informal gathering of around 30 individuals at cafe in Colombo to talk about social media, & democracy in Sin/Tam. Event, curation, key presentations, & discussions were compelling - kudos to Randhula. Key focus on Online Safety Act (OSA). At violence to everything said, noted few key aspects submissions. (1) There's little to no awareness of what the OSA's dangers really are, within SL's socio-political context. 0 awareness of OSA's imbrication with surveillance architectures. (2) Generally, a very basic understanding of social media. For e.g., black/white takes on social media as beneficial or detrimental to democracy, w/out looking at how both are in a constant contest, read in context. Little evidence of robust/primary scholarship/research in SM. (3) Sharp difference in critique of OSA between Sinhala speakers (from South), & Tamil speakers (from North/Jaffna). Tamil submissions expressed existential concerns around OSA based on lived experience, & negotiation of security/surveillance/censorious state. Absent in Sinhala. (4) Noted that even the amendments to OSA, which I coincidentally studied the same day, & spoke to a journalist at length on (with article out Sunday), indemnified/protected industry/companies, with 0 relief to citizens/end-users. In fact, some amendments make things worse. (5) As I noted after a recent workshop organised by Sampath Samarakoon (Editor of www.vikalpa.org) with activists from around Sri Lanka, last evening showcased how poor public policy debates are in country, with near 0 awareness of regional, global, & even domestic context/history etc around in this case the regulation of online harms. (6) There's an amazing thirst for knowledge, & insight. For e.g., using food boxes, & straws explained networked virality, & long tail effects as now key risks under OSA, noting the Act is about EVERYTHING online, not just what one posts henceforth (which many thought was case). Video of two keynote presentations, one in Sinhala, & one (which was excellent) in Tamil, will be posted online. The opposition to OSA, which I fear will lose steam after cosmetic amendments appeasing industry, can be a moment to strengthen civil society debates on policymaking. Gatherings like the one curated by Randhula are far more interesting than echo-chambers of Colombo's civil society, & meetings w/ usual suspects. *Much* richer perspectives, entirely new faces, varied experiences, & a great ideas debate. This is the way forward, I think.

Empowering Lesotho's Youth in the Digital Age - Insights from Experts We recently convened a panel of experts to discuss the critical topic of empowering Lesotho's youth in the digital age. The discussion highlighted the urgency of adapting to the digital landscape, especially in the context of a shifting business environment. The panel, including Thabiso Doti representing the arts, shed light on challenges faced by artists, stressing the importance of collaborations to bridge the digital divide and create opportunities, especially in rural areas. Legal perspectives were shared by Advocate Tlhaloso Mpopo, who underscored the outdated intellectual property laws and called for updated legislation to protect creatives in the digital age.Economic implications were also discussed, with concerns raised about the lack of mechanisms to track the performance of creative works. The panel proposed the establishment of a national licensing system to ensure equitable benefits for all artists. As the conversation touched on these vital issues, Mr. Moima invited listeners to engage further on the D Nexus magazine Facebook and Instagram pages. The call to action emphasizes the collective role of the youth in shaping a thriving digital landscape for all. For the complete discussion video go on Youtube: https://lnkd.in/dCSMXMYb Stay tuned for ongoing discussions and join the conversation on D Nexus magazine's social media platforms/ Stone's Digital Citizens Lesotho. Share your thoughts on #LesothoDigitalEmpowerment, #YouthInnovation, and #DigitalInclusivity. Your insights are valuable as we work towards a more empowered and inclusive digital future.

The conversation around misinformation has largely failed to address tangible solutions. Our new article in JAMA changes that. Find out what we learned here: https://lnkd.in/g5ZUsUpw Hopefully Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, etc. will follow suit and open-source their methods. Community Notes is not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction. Community Notes is transparent, controlled by the public, and encourages third party evaluation. In my experience, it focuses on addressing clearcut misinformation rather than squelching reasonable debate around complicated topics. More insights from the study’s senior author here: https://lnkd.in/ePijHCb9 Nimit Desai, Aiden Namazi, Eric Leas, Mark Drezde, Davey Smith, MD, MAS, FACP, FIDSA, John Ayers

Connections! If you fancy reading about what goes on in Professional Associations Research Network (PARN) or want to know more about the workings of the professional bodies sector, consider subscribing to the free weekly news letter that I produce 📰

🎥🔬 **Elevate Your Research with Video!** 🔬🎥 Attention academic and government researchers! 🎓🏛️ It's time to amplify the impact of your ground-breaking work by promoting it through video at your next annual conference. 📹✨ Here’s why video is essential: 1. **Enhanced Visibility:** Stand out in a sea of papers and posters. Video captures attention and showcases your research dynamically. 👀🎬 2. **Wider Reach:** Share your findings with a global audience, beyond the conference walls. Social media loves video! 🌍📲 3. **Engagement:** Videos are engaging and memorable, making it easier for peers, policymakers, and the public to grasp complex concepts. 🧠💡 4. **Impact:** Inspire future collaborations, funding opportunities, and policy changes by presenting your work in a compelling format. 💪🤝 5. **Accessibility:** Videos can be subtitled and translated, ensuring your research reaches diverse audiences. 🌐🔤 Let’s transform your research into a visual story that resonates. 🎥📊 #ResearchImpact #AcademicConferences #VideoProduction #ScienceCommunication #GovResearch #InnovateWithVideo #Conference2024 #GlobalReach

GatHope N°12 is online❗️ The "Editorial": "A key alliance cracks, revealing the consequences of not listening to the people" The price to pay when listening is neglected In this 12th edition of GatHope, we remain optimistic despite the challenges facing the world. As we fully embark on our shift to a digital format, we are driven by the conviction that this evolution will enable us to better serve our mission of listening to the echoes of global public opinion. In a world marked by increasing conflict and widespread uncertainty, we strive to shed light on the opinions of the world's citizens on the facts that shape our reality. This week, you'll find our regular section on national and international reputations, with analyzes linked to the latest fluctuations, offering a glimpse into how perceptions are evolving within the global community. Despite persistent challenges, we see signs of opportunity and progress, testifying to the resilience and adaptability of nations in the face of adversity. For our membership pages, we put our ear to the people's opinions on the tensions emerging within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the face of the new alternative beginning to position itself in the region: the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS). A fine example of the upheavals underway in regional structures. As this new player emerges and power dynamics shift, we are witnessing how nations navigate an ever-changing geopolitical landscape. Despite the challenges, we remain optimistic about the ability of nations to find collaborative solutions to common challenges. As part of its commitment to listening carefully to public opinion, GatHope is preparing for the upcoming launch of its new platform for expressing and valuing public opinion worldwide. This innovative approach combines the analysis of organic data and the collection of expressed opinions, with the aim of providing relevant information and practical recommendations to respond to contemporary issues. So stay tuned for more details, and see you next week! Mariela Cao/Editor-in-Chief Browse free version and buy full version of GatHope Magazine for 1€ on our online kiosk. Link in bio or in first comment👇 🎯 GatHope, Giving Authority To Human Opinion Expression. 🎯 GatHope is listening to and echoing the world public opinion. 🎯 GatHope is the first international weekly magazine centered on social listening. #edito #Magazine #international #InternationalMedia #weekly #revista #revistasemana #Data #Opinion #media #people #politics #echo #listen #political #politique #PoliticalNews #politician #enjeux #figures #worldwide #population #PoliticalAnalysis #chiffres #Datascience #dataanalytics #public #datascientist #editing #redaction