The Social Laboratory Programme (SLP) is managed by the Social Futures Observatory in association with the Institute for the Advanced Study of Management and Social Sciences at Lancaster University.
Each Programme has an annual theme; the theme for 2010 explores issues of personal identity, communications and behaviour in relation to the evolving futures of social media and virtual environments. The aim of the Programme is to act as a catalyst for change and development for members and to stimulate new initiatives and opportunities. This is achieved by the Programme bringing together insight, research and thought from a wide range of Global sources, academic and commercial, to inform and provoke thought and innovation.
Structure
The Programme is built round two formal seminars held in London annually. The first seminar is primarily interested with 'forseeable futures', looking towards a two year horizon. The second seminar explores mid to longer term futures looking towards the milestones for futures of a decade or more.
Membership
The Social Laboratory Programme is a collaborative experience, it is hoped and intended that members will work or share together as part of the experience. Therefore, membership numbers are deliberately restricted. For the 2010 programme, membership numbers will be restricted to a maximum of 10 organisations. Members will have full rights of reproduction of materials on the basis of fully attributing citation.