London Youth Foresight Workshop took place on Monday 03/11 and was focused on the nuclear future by exploring 4 different scenarios.
The event was hosted by the Swiss Embassy in London and organised by the School of International Futures (SOIF) and the Next Generation Foresight Practitioners (NGFP).
SOIF is a global non-profit transforming futures for current and next generations and NGFP is a network of over 900 people from all over the world who are using futures and foresight to create positive impact and systemic transformation globally.
The 4 scenarios were Growth: Nuclear Renaissance 2050, Collapse: Nuclear Chaos 2050, Discipline: Nuclear Control 2050, Transformation: Beyond the Nuclear – Regenerative Futures 2050. All thought provoking topics and future scenarios that enabled the ~24 participants to consider & discuss what the nuclear future could look like.
The drivers and trends to consider included, but were not limited to private sector involvement, international collaboration, public education & awareness, intergenerational partnerships, economic interests, technical advancements and the environment.
We were focused within the growth scenario where we explored a future in which nuclear energy gains renewed importance due to increasing energy demands, technological progress and private investments.
Nuclear infrastructure is massively expanded, modular reactors are rapidly developed, and artificial intelligence manages monitoring, safety, and efficiency. National interests and fragmented international cooperation lead to regulatory gaps, while geopolitical tensions and an arms race shape global order.
Public concern about risks and the environmental impacts coexists with the acceptance of nuclear energy; the shortage of skilled workers is addressed through education and knowledge management.
Energy supply, technological innovation, and safety are closely interconnected, yet the system remains vulnerable. A world that grows and renews itself technologically but stays fragile.
We are left contemplating the future we will end up in and found this a really thought-provoking, and interesting workshop to be involved with.