That is the question that everybody was trying to answer at 2050 Emergent: we walked through 50 displays and went to a few of the 20 lightning talks, and we talked got up close with the innovators. In this journey to the future, we experienced the emerging ideas and technology that will shape Sydney in the next thirty years. All of this, in 5 hours!

The statistics say that by 2050 two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in cities. Already one of the most urbanised nations on Earth, Australia will be no exception, with Sydney taking the lead. What’s it really going to be like to live in Sydney in 2050? Will we find ourselves in a lively low-carbon city bristling with affordable green buildings and exciting entertainment precincts, all connected up with smooth and efficient public transport? Or something more Blade Runner-esque, even dystopic?

Whatever it is, the ideas and technology that will shape our reality in 2050 are already emerging in 2019. It’s just that many of them are hidden away in labs and innovation hubs, and some of them are “just ideas” in some of the bright young minds who will be tomorrow’s innovators.

It was good to come face to face with some of them. 2050 Emergent was a one of a kind opportunity to learn more about these emerging ideas and technologies, connect with their creators and have our say in the Sydney we’d like to see in in the near future.

It was also enlightening to hear from and connect with local innovators, explore the displays and exhibitions and see how ideas and technologies emerging today might shape Sydney in 2050.