Human Futures event series - Human longevity

This event is now full – you can join a waiting list if you wish.

Overview

What does the future look like to you? Here at Innovate UK we want to know how you think the future will address the major challenges we expect to see in the next 30-50 years for society.
Leading on from our successful Glimpse of the Future events, our new Human Futures series will take a more sociological focused approach to the question of what the future technological needs of society are.

Hand-picked experts will participate in a fireside chat with Jonathan Mitchener, Futurist & Innovation Lead at Innovate UK, where they will discuss the human impact of various factors that effect change – technology, social & economic.

About the event

The first event in this new series will be themed on Human Longevity.

People are living longer, fewer die of chronic conditions or hereditary diseases due to ground-breaking therapies (including genetic). Brain therapy (increasingly non-invasive) and surgery routinely correct neurological capacity issues and deterioration. Medicines now not only treat conditions but can slow or even reverse aging and its effects.

People look and feel younger than their chronological age suggests. Physical injuries are routinely corrected using intelligent and personalised bionic prosthetics which are more and more discrete as the technology advances. Cryogenics is becoming possible, allowing people to elect to be suspended at a certain time of their life for a specific period.

But what do all these relatively new innovations mean for societal issues, such as:

• Working patterns
• Social security benefits, including pensions
• Equality and discrimination
• Human relationships generally
• Family living and support.

And what effect will these have on the businesses of the future?

Who should attend?

We want attendees who are willing to work in groups, discuss the themes raised by Jonathan and our guests, and engage interactively to envisage a future artifact to help address an aspect of the expected challenges.

Agenda

• 12:00 – Registration and networking lunch
• 13:00 – Welcome and introductions – Simon Yarwood, Innovate UK Business Connect
• 13:05 – Scene setting – Jonathan Mitchener, Innovate UK
• 13:20 – Fireside chat with guest experts
• 13:45 – Round table discussions
• 14:30 – Refreshment break
• 14:40 – Artefact envisaging
• 15:05 – Move around the tables to see what other groups have created and discuss
• 15:20 – Closing remarks –
• 15:25 – Networking – until 16:00