ForeSight

Detection and Identification of Infectious Diseases

As well as the state-of-science reviews, we are also commissioning reviews on the impact of culture, governance and society on the detection and identification of infectious diseases, comparing UK, China and Africa for plant, animal and human diseases. We will also be looking at reviewing the history of infectious disease, the impact of new media, such as the internet and mobile phones, and possible future techniques of controlling infectious diseases, such as vaccines and anti-virals.

In January 2005, we submitted a discussion paper to the Commission for Africa, in response to their consultation exercise. The paper considers the threat of infectious diseases in Africa and argues that, whilst the threat to human health and economic development is already severe, the pattern and nature of risks is set to change in the future.

The final report of the Commission (http://www.commissionforafrica.org/), was published on 11 March, generating new ideas for a strong and prosperous Africa, making use of the UK's presidency of the G8 in 2005.

Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (IIS)

We have reviewed other futures work in the area, and have identified key drivers and trends where Foresight could add value. This report will be published shortly.

We are next hosting a series of scenario-building workshops. The resulting scenarios will provide visions of the future which consider how robustness, sustainability and safety might vary.

The first IIS Newsletter will appear shortly on the Foresight website and will provide more detail on the work of the project. If you would like to receive an e-mail copy, You can register your interest here.

Brain Science, Addiction and Drugs

We are looking at several possible futures techniques including modelling, scenario development and horizon scanning. We are briefing business groups, professional bodies and user and treatment groups to develop ways in which they might use the project to inform their future work.

We have also commissioned a small-scale public consultation exercise to get a feel for the views held by the general public about the use of psychoactive substances in the future. Finally for now, the project team including the science experts, will be giving presentations at a number of national and international conferences including the International Conference on Drug Related Harm, the British Psychological Society, the British Neuroscience Society, Drugscope and the British Association for Psychopharmacology.