Future Forum is the British Science Association's (BSA) programme which gives young people a chance to have their voices heard on issues involving science.

The next generation are tasked with solving the greatest challenges in our time, yet our research has found that they do not feel able to have their say on the issues affecting their future and they don't feel spoken to by politicians, scientists and other influential figures.

Future Forum provides organisations, who want to better serve young people, the opportunity to find out more about what they value.

Our reports

Climate change education

We worked in partnership with the University of Plymouth and Professor Alison Anderson, Professor of Sociology and risk communication expert at the University of Plymouth, to find out about 14-to-18-year-olds’ experiences of learning about climate change and sustainability in secondary school.

The University of Plymouth’s participation in this Future Forum was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation.

Download the full report

Download the executive summary

                  

Science & creativity

In 2022, Future Forum focused on young people's views on creativity and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and the role of both in solving the issues of tomorrow.

The survey and workshops were conducted in partnership with UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, with support from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

Download the report

  

Genetic research

Future Forums in 2020 were funded by the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, with the aim to start a conversation between young people and researchers about genetic research – current and future – and its potential social impact.

The workshops focused on three main areas: COVID-19, genetics research
and medical data processing. 

Download the report

  

Industrial Strategy

In 2019, we ran four Future Forums (in Glasgow, Gateshead, Bury St Edmunds and Lambeth), funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to understand the views of young people on the four 'Grand Challenges' from the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy (AI & Data, Ageing Society, Clean Growth, and Future of Mobility).

This report gives an insight into the project, and their thoughts on the topics.

Download the report

  

The future of cities

Our pilot event (2017) was run in partnership with Affinity Sutton and
Oxfam, and explored the issues of the future of cities, innovation
and inequality. 

Download the report

For more information on the Future Forum programme and youth voice work at the BSA, please get in touch at [email protected]