What should society change today to create a better world ten years from now?
Look ahead to 2037. Choose one change in how people live, work, learn or govern themselves, work out what it will mean for different people, and make the case for what society should do about it now.
What you'll need to do
- IdentifyChoose a change already under way that will shape society by 2037. Show why it matters.
- ProposeDecide what should change today, through policy, institutions, communities or everyday choices.
- Test your thinkingConsider who gains and who loses, the strongest objections and what would need to be true for your proposal to work.
Where could you take this?
The focus is yours to choose. These are examples, not prescribed topics.
Cities and commuting
What happens to city centres if far fewer people travel to an office?
Care and ageing
Who should care for the growing number of older people, and who should pay?
Truth and information
How should a society decide what is true when anyone can produce convincing content?
Work and income
What should happen for people whose jobs change fastest?
School
What should school be for in 2037?
Climate and migration
How should countries prepare for people moving because of a changing climate?
What makes a strong entry?
A strong response will:
- Choose carefullyFocus on one change and one place or group, not the whole world.
- Use evidenceShow how the change is affecting people, and support important claims.
- Think independentlyGo beyond restating the familiar sides of the debate.
- Pressure-test the ideaConsider who loses, the strongest objection and what could go wrong.
- Connect it to youBriefly, say how the change affects you or your community, or how you might help bring it about in the career you hope to have.
- Make the case clearlyA reader should understand both your reasoning and what you think should change.
See the full judging criteria →
What you'll practise
By completing this challenge, you'll practise how to:
- understand a social problem from more than one point of view
- use research about people rather than relying on opinion
- weigh competing values and be honest about the trade-offs
- turn a concern into a concrete proposal with someone responsible for acting on it
- argue a position fairly and clearly, to a non-specialist reader
Help getting started
Ready to make your case?
Society and Humanity · Up to 1,000 words · Written, individual