Microsoft expert joins University’s Social Futures institute

The appointment of a former principal researcher at Microsoft will add a new dimension to Lancaster University's think tank for the future. Professor Richard Harper will become the new Co-Director of the Institute for Social Futures (ISF) from January 1. Lancaster's ISF aims to tackle thinking about better futures by bringing together all relevant expertise on how that future will be shaped. Under the directorship of Professor Linda Woodhead, the ISF has bought the best social science and humanities research to futures thinking, so that the human element of the future is taken more seriously. By appointing Professor Harper, the Institute will broaden its footprint to include the engineering and technology sciences. Professor Harper was trained in sociology, but he has spent the bulk of his life working in computer and engineering research. He has led teams in Microsoft Research and Xerox EuroParc and founded start-up technology companies.