Foresight’s role is to help government think systematically about the future. We use the latest scientific and other evidence combined with futures analysis to tackle complex issues and help policymakers make decisions affecting our future.
Our work makes a critical contribution to meeting important challenges of the 21st century - such as food security, flooding and obesity.
- Foresight Projects are in-depth studies examining major issues 20-80 years in the future.
- The Foresight Horizon Scanning Centre does short projects looking at discrete issues across the entire public policy spectrum.
- Our Toolkits and Networks look to strengthen futures thinking capacity and share best practice within and across government.
Foresight reports directly to the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and the Cabinet Office. It is a part of the Government Office for Science within the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.
Latest news
1 April 2010: Foresight Programme releases strategic futures online training tool
The Foresight Horizon Scanning Centre today launches a free online version of the popular strategic futures training. The training tool is aimed at strategists, policy makers, planners, analysts and operational staff responsible for shaping or implementing strategy so they can make better decisions about the future. The online tool complements Foresight's role in encouraging long term thinking and evidence-based analysis throughout government and public sector organisations.
Take the training.
1 April 2010: Feeding the world
Foresight lead expert Professor Jules Pretty from the project Global Food and Farming Futures contributed to a BBC World Service programme about the future of farming in the worlds' cities. The episode is part of series looking at the latest science and technology that could be used to feed a growing global population.
Listen to the programme.
