2020 Vision & The 21st Century: Looking Back To 2000 And On To 2040, A Gresham College Scenario Event Two Decades On

A Danish saying runs, “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future”. Yet people continue to make such predictions, three year plans, five year plans, even twenty year plans. In keeping with tradition, in 2000 Gresham College hosted a series of events on London in the 21st century looking ahead to 2020, helpfully collated together in a 90 page booklet by the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. This symposium intends to review those predictions, examine mankind’s second-oldest profession of “fortune sellers”, and explore whether what we’ve learned over two decades might give us clearer vision into 2040. Along the way we would like to elicit best modern practices in dealing with the future ranging from modelling to scenario planning to complexity analysis. Or is this Yiddish proverb really the most enduring advice, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans”? Reprise from the original speakers: • Roger Camrass • Richard O’Brien • Gill Ringland • Oliver Sparrow • Richard Susskind • Chris Yapp Consisting of: The most surprising thing over the past 20 years; The lesson I’d most apply for the next 20 years; My most confident statement about 2040 Commentary by Professor Tim Connell, closing thoughts by John Carrington, chaired by Professor Michael Mainelli. Interested in watching our webinars live, or taking part in the production of our research? Join our community at: https://bit.ly/3sXPpb5