Social Work Futures

Note: This is part of a regular occasional series of blog posts I do that is based on scans of Twitter and elsewhere on the web – and a gathering of interesting things I think social workers, social work educators, folks in higher education and related professions who interested in futures topics might find valuable. It is a digest, and is unapologetically eclectic. Here’s a link to prior posts – check them out too!!

The Future of Law

I’m always interested in news items related to the future of the professions. As we know – this is a fast moving area and many factors are at work in their evolution . (For more on this topic in general see here). This piece is a survey of lawyers all pondering “what’s coming” in their profession and whether or not they feel ready for it.

Black Software

Author Charlton McIlwain has written a terrific book (on my sabbatical reading list) of this same name (Black Software). Here’s a podcast interview with the author that I found a great introduction to his work…you’re going to want to learn more. The history and importance of Black perspectives on tech and society are essential to a true understanding of the power, risks and opportunities of what comes next. Thought provoking!

Future of Work

I’m fans of the Susskind family – they are always putting more interesting things into the world related to the future of work and the professions (see note above). I just ran across a recent TED talk by Daniel Susskind on Three Myths Regarding the Future of Work. It isn’t short…but it is a rigorous, creative and important overview of this topic. I highly recommend!

Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians

Not just because my mom was one (a bookmobile lady to be precise) but I have so much love, respect and appreciation for good librarians and all who work in the sector. The library professionals at my university, like many, are extraordinarily future facing and ever looking ahead to new forms of literacy, information production and how to stay relevant and helpful in our shared academic spaces. While scanning, I ran across this great report – I passed it along to my colleagues but thought others might be interested too.

Climate Change

It can just be paralyzing can’t it? So much to worry about – where to start – how to keep going? At the same time we are having an awakening about the relevance of eco-psychology and the very real needs humans have for nature, we of course are dealing with deep, pervasive and emergent climate change complexity as well. Here’s a piece from the Economist on the “state” of our climate change work to do in here and now, as well as the future. Here’s a piece about “ecological grief” as experienced by climate scientists. It is sobering. Listen, we have no choice but to help each other focus, breathe deeply and KEEP GOING. This article from the NYT this past week is an energizer. Do you what you can, be strategic, get busy. Focus on the right things.

On this same topic, here’s a new and useful piece regarding the emerging importance of acknowledging the mental heath strain and challenges related to climate change. Connecting these dots is important, say these authors. Here’s another piece that breaks down what hope about climate change means now and in the future. Finally, here’s a super creative piece that endeavors to “tell a new story” about climate change by fast-forwarding into the future…and imagining how we solved the climate crisis in the year 2030.

Tech and AI

Here’s a lively piece from one of my favorite futurists Douglass Rushkoff in which he begins by saying: “We’ve spent the decade letting our tech define us. It’s out of control. Technology has grown from some devices and platforms we use to an entire environment in which we function.” Mr. Rushkoff is the author of one of my favorite futures books “Team Human” which is a must-read in my opinion (I especially love the audiobook which he reads). The article is a robust re-centering (as is his speciality) in the future of humans in this world…and how we get back to a vision of the future in which people, cooperation and community are the drivers.

It appears that the White House has come out with some new AI principles – these authors suggest they won’t work. Check it out – important and urgent. Note: Big thumbs up to Amy Webb’s book “The Big Nine” which I reviewed earlier in this space related to this topic – creative and empowering .

Why do we gender AI? These authors break it down...and change is coming.

Overview and analysis of the complexities of the coming “digital ID” centered world. Promising convenience and efficiency – it has a host of predictable an unpredictable risks. As always, I’m asking – how will this impact the most vulnerable? Some discussion of this in this article. Along those lines, another article explores the coming “digital welfare state.” Are social workers and human rights folks involved in the design and implementation of these systems? Not enough…so much work to be done. Pay attention to this space as a major cause of concern for well being and justice in the years to come.

Here’s a nice brief piece about algorithmic justice and the need to keep continual watch and invest democratic energy in oversight and regulation to keep AI ethical in the years to come.

The Future of Our Economy

We know the one we have isn’t working so well – at least as seen by most social workers and the communities they serve. I’m always interested in new ideas about what economic evolution that is human and equity centered might look like. This article goes there…it is an inspiring and thought provoking read.

The Future of Mental Health

How can tech help to address a global mental health crisis? This article answers that question. More social workers need to get in on this conversation. I believe we can be ethical and effective in these spaces…but we have to get in there and participate on purpose. More on this topic here. At this point, I’m neither a promoter or naysayer about these types of tools, but I do feel quite sure we have a lot to learn and a lot to share as futures where these ideas are accelerating and we have shortages of practitioners.

The Future of Work

This particular article is about the future of “not working” – vis a vis the “compelling case for working a lot less.” It is hard to imagine this future, but this piece is part of a continuing (and seemingly growing international conversation) about how working a little less would be a lot better for our health, relationship and community.

Tech Matters

Our city of Portland, Oregon made the news for its plans to have one of the most strict facial recognition bans in the country. I’m a fan of this move.

This piece suggests that “biased algorithms are easier to fix than biased people.” Here’s a piece that notes its making it easier for governments to responsibly adopt AI technology. It’s another effort to come up with some shared ethical and practice guidelines for this powerful technology. It is good to see them coming – it would be even greater to see them adopted widely and used. This piece, for example, suggests we aren’t doing a very good job in that department.

Here’s an interesting article posing the question: Do children think your smart speaker is just another family member? Thoughtful exploration about how the prevalence of technologies in our childrens’ lives is truly changing their experience of childhood in some unexpected ways and with impacts we can’t quite know yet. Without awfulizing, it probably is important to consider.

Should we give our robots citizenship? This piece from 2017 suggest that even as a gag, it probably isn’t a good idea, and is another category of human-tech activity we don’t have legal ground to be ready for what is coming.

Here’s another article that proclaims a crisis in the development of autonomous weapons – and a call to ban them. A slow down doesn’t seem to be coming.

Here’s a new and helpful “Digital Justice Manifesto” developed by a coalition of European data justice activists and organizations. It’s a 2019 document.

Biotech and Genomic Surveillance

We talk a lot about technological surveillance (and it is a concern) but how about “genomic surveillance.” This article suggests it is a growing threat and a human rights evolving story. Without international guidelines, the pace of potential abuses and the prevalence of genetic data is a bad combination.

The 2020 Trends Keep Coming

Tis the season! Here’s a fun overview of “12 themes experts predict will shape the world in 50 years.” (Algae, implantable tech, and lab grown meat anyone??)

What If We Get the Future Right?

Here’s a pretty creative and useful (from a futures practice) article asking the question “what if we get things right? Visions for the year 2030.” I’m excited to use this piece in practice as I think it stretches our creative thinking muscles towards some positive futures. The dystopian futures are a more common feature of our media/entertainment world. I think good positive future ideas are rarer to find and harder to come by. But they lay the groundwork to educate, to stimulate aspiration, to rekindle hope and determination. This is a valuable piece to read for something a little different – and dare I say it – upbeat? Along those lines, here’s a review of a new book by author Joe Tankersley (“Not all futurists are dystopian”) which also lays out a challenge to use our imaginations to build a better future on purpose. I got the book based on this article, but haven’t read it yet!

Also, you may recall that I’m on sabbatical this year. I thought I’d put my sabbatical reading list together to show you the books I’ve accumulated (like a squirrel with a stash of nuts…? Well maybe…) to settle into a cozy winter of some deep review and study. Check it out here.

Interested in looking back to see some of my past posts gathering up interesting items from Twitter? Click here to check them out.