Shared Workspace
The Shared Workspace is open to other government agencies with an interest in futures. It contains scanning observations from contracted scanners and others on developments & trends in science and other areas (such as societal and economic issues). The Workspace provides a forum for users to request observations on particular topics, and to discuss implications of posted observations. Making sense of the implications of some of the trends and developments is also undertaken through workshops. If you work for a government agency and are interested in using the workspace please contact us. Summaries of trends and developments are publicly available through a range of Futurewatch publications and presentations.
The scanning function was previously undertaken by the Navigator Network. Their previous reports are available on the Navigator Network page. Scanning observations from the Navigator Network are included on the Shared Workspace. The Navigator Network also commissioned a report on future developments in Neuroscience from Professor Steven Rose of the UK’s Open University. His paper and commentaries on it are on our Neuroscience page.
Our current contracted scanners are:
Andrew Shelling (University of Auckland)
Areas of expertise: genetics and human reproduction
Des Darby (GNS Science)
Areas of expertise: natural hazards & natural resources
Elspeth MacRae (Scion)
Areas of expertise: biomaterials
Lesley Hunt (Lincoln University)
Areas of expertise: public attitudes to biotechnologies
Mark Gahegan (University of Auckland)
Areas of expertise: eResearch
Nick Agar (Victoria University of Wellington)
Areas of expertise: Philosophy & ethics of new technologies
Sue McCoard (AgResearch)
Areas of expertise: stem cells, nutrition
Zac Hanley (Pastoral Genomics)
Areas of expertise: genetics, agricultural production