What is the Future Places Centre?

The Future Places Centre (FPC) builds on Lancaster University’s pioneering projects on pervasive computing, the Internet of Things (the IoT) and the natural environment, on ‘futures thinking’ and data science. This creates a portfolio of applied research endeavours that help the University and the communities it serves to better understand the places in which they exist. With insights provided by everyday and state of the art computing, the FPC helps to make future places healthier spaces.

What does this mean for the North West and the Morecambe Bay region?

The concepts developed and tested through the centre have global relevance but are based in and developed with the communities, businesses and civic institutions of the North West and Morecambe Bay especially. Through working locally, the FPC demonstrates not only how places can be altered for the better, but what the experiences of those future places will be for those who live in them. On this basis, the FPC anchors research in the future of place wherever it might be.

Creating a shared vision

Key to the future of a place is shaping places with the people and communities that will use them. To ensure this, the FPC works closely with its partners, building all its research agendas on ’co-creation’ methodologies that make sure that those who benefit from the research are intrinsic to every part of the research.

There are many people and organisations working on visions and strategies for change in the North West and so the FPC is constantly reaching out to others to ensure that the project supports local initiatives whilst catalysing action where gaps and needs are identified.

Spring Into Action

21st April - 28th April

North Lancashire region has been awarded a SustainableFoodPlaces Silver Award. This award recognises the value of partnership working in promoting healthy, sustainable and local food to tackle some of today’s greatest social challenges; from food poverty and diet-related ill-health to the disappearance of family farms and the loss of independent food retailers. You can learn more about the award and read the application here: foodfutures.org.uk/north-lancashire-wins-sustainable-food-award/.

To celebrate, FoodFutures (North Lancashire’s Sustainable Food Partnership) is hosting a week of events everyone to get involved in skill shares and community conversations, through to mushroom growing, fermenting workshops, a food champion induction, no-dig allotment growing, farm tours, a composting gathering, and spring forage walk.

The FoodFutures partnership for a number of years through funding and collaborative projects.

Find out what's on and book your place, Spring Into Action.

Reimagining Landscapes Conference

4-5th July

Reimagining Landscapes Conference is back! On the 4-5th July, The Future Places Centre will showcase speakers across Europe and provide an opportunity for speakers and attendees to network.

More information and tickets will be available soon!