
A studio for initiatives at the frontier of generating a better future. Founder: @davidbent. Now at: @atelierwhatsnext.bsky.social @davidbent.bsky.social
Joined May 2023
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Hello! @davidbent is starting Atelier of What's Next -- a studio for developing initiatives, institutions and more for a sustainable world.
What's needed? What's ready? What can we do? What next?
Mostly on BlueSky @atelierwhatsnext.bsky.social
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW UPDATE. As predicted, the 3 days a week with Absurd Intelligence has made a regular WeekNote harder.
INITIATIVES
-Scaling up sustainable innovation: @cisl_cambridge event.
-@UCL_ISR: 'Responding to Abundance: Yes, and…'
Absurd Intelligence
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
EVENT REPORT: Good faith arguments against 'post-growth'.
-Ecosystem thinking for a post-growth future.
-Good faith arguments against: their responses, and my list.
-New framings needed.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTE w/c w/c 21 & 28 April 2025, covering
CATALYST & ENABLER
-Services offered: could you use a strategist/futurist/facilitator?
INITIATIVES
-Assembly Dialogues
0/DETECTING
-'The Rift': new Chatham House research cycle
-'Speak Up' Agency launch
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTE w/c 31 Mar 2025.
-How can a climate innovation hub deliver the most impact over the next 3-5 years?
-Do MAGA hate Europe because they fear we can succeed with progressive values?
-Trump tariffs: careful what you wish for.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
WEEKNOTES for w/c 17 & 24 Mar 2025.
'CATALYST & ENABLER' MANAGEMENT
-2025 Intentions
-Job feedback
INITIATIVES
-Venture Partner,Conduit Connect
0/DETECTING
-Trump as derailment _event_
-Rise of new religious practices and/or new religions?
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTES WEEKNOTES w/c 10 Mar, covering:
0/DETECTING
Operating in a world where Trump is setting the weather.
ATELIER MANAGEMENT
2024 Results
-Progress on the story I want to be able to tell.
-Progress on KPIs.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTES w/c 10, 17, 24 Feb, & 2 Mar
This week covers:
ATELIER MANAGEMENT
-From 'getting by' to 'existentially revived'.
INITIATIVES
-Hard investigations: responding to the risks we're in.
-Becoming a Venture Partner at Conduit Connect.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW ATELIER POST. It has been a head-spinning and heart-stopping few weeks. I've not had a chance to produce a WeekNotes.
Here is a talk I gave in 2019 which, amongst other things, says we cannot assume the US will underpin the global order any more.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTE w/c 27 Jan & 3 Feb 2025, covers:
-Looking for roles.
INITIATIVES
-CUSP bulletin: exploring hopefully.
-Using Time Well: ending gracefully.
-Podcast UK's first electric fishing boat
0/DETECT
-Recovering technocrat
-Avoiding overwhelm
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTES w/c 20 Jan 2025, by
@davidbent:
-Immortal Address in memory of Robert Burns: 'in uncertain times, live life as artistic expression'.
-Investment principles for the next ten years: 'industrial revolutions on a deadline'.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTE Nov and Dec 2024. Apologies for the delays.
This time:
0/DETECTING
-Talk: Navigating arapidly changing world.
-Domineering finance: we missed the moment.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTE w/c 4 Nov. Did you notice the US election?
RUNNING THE ATELIER
-Consequences for the Atelier.
0/DETECTING
-Long-term big picture: our past is ending.
-Impact on climate might be less than feared (for good & bad reasons).
-More...
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTES w/c 21 & 28 Oct.
INITIATIVES
-Influential Trajectories
RUNNING THE ATELIER
-Supporters Group.
0/DETECTING
-Invisible knapsack of white privilege
-Growth vs Degrowth narrative war
#ReadingNotes
-CarbonBrief on UNEP Emissions Gap Report
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW ATELIER WEEKNOTES for w/c 14 Oct 2024.
Covers:
RUNNING THE ATELIER
-Testing an idea: Contact or Supporters Group.
0/DETECTING
#ReadingNotes
-Mission-oriented innovation for sustainable polymers in liquid formulation, by Massey-Broker and Conway
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTE for w/c 7 Oct 2024.
REQUEST on Influential Trajectories.
0/DETECTING
-A Roadmap to Impact for Family Offices
#ReadingNotes
-TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT IN SUSTAINABILITY
-@TransCapSpace's Definition and Hallmarks of Systemic Investing
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTES w/c 23 and 30 Sep 2024. This week covers:
INITIATIVES
'Who assembles the assemblies?’ — Humanity Project Assembly Dialogues.
0/DETECTING
Digital wallets for gorillas (or the frontiers of AI and more-than-human governance are weird).
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
New WeekNotes w/c 16 Sep 2024.
Imagining & enacting alternatives to dominant culture
-Collective Imagination Practices Toolkit
-Ursula Le Guin
-Designs for the Pluriverse
-Barcelona's bubbles of ontologies.
Overshoot Commission
New podcast w/ Amy Wilson
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTES w/c 2 and 9 Sep 2024, covering:
-Exploring What's Next: generating a better future.
-Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator UnConference.
Enjoy!
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
NEW WEEKNOTES w/c 15 & 22 July. Covers:
ATELIER MANAGEMENT.
-Tracking progress on 2024 intentions.
INITIATIVES.
-Event: Exploring What's Next: generating a better future.
-Meaningful Futures: first pilot.
0/DETECTING.
-Resilience vs Flourishing.
exploringwhatsnext.substack.…
















