To bring together the innovative thinkers from diverse industries that will support the built environment in delivering net zero, sustainable construction event Futurebuild has launched FutureX in collaboration with Ryder Architecture. FutureX is about giving a voice and platform to disruptors from different sectors to improve the health of people, communities and importantly our planet. To bring this community together Futurebuild and Ryder have launched the FutureX podcast — you can listen to the first episode here.

 The FutureX podcast, hosted by Martin Hurn, event director at Futurebuild and Dr Oliver Jones research director at Ryder Architecture, share ideas on how the built environment can overcome the many issues and challenges that it currently faces. FutureX will bring together some of the brightest minds, most disruptive thinkers and innovators to build a community of likeminded people that can begin to make a real change.

Martin and Oliver discuss a range of topics, including the principles of the circular economy and its role in the pathway to net zero, achieving carbon negative concrete, the importance of retrofitting, nature-based design solutions and the impact of biotech advanced materials. The global challenges we face are not specific to construction, so we will speaking to the brightest minds from other sectors and disciplines including speakers like Louise Clarke, head of sustainable places at Berkeley Group, Mak Gilchrist, Founder – curator & executive producer, The Edible Bus Stop and Bill Dunster OBE, architect, ZEDpower Group. Each speaker will share their expertise on how the built environment can embrace the concepts, technologies and materials discussed to take action and achieve net zero.

“The UK’s ambitious goal for net zero by 2050 gives the built environment a definitive deadline to eliminate emissions,” explained Hurn. “However, a recurring challenge that the industry faces is that it often operates in silos, creating a competitive mindset that can stifle progress and innovation. When collaborating with Ryder we began to realise the massive opportunities that exist if we start to look across our industry and outside of the built environment to share knowledge and collaborate.

“We’re building the FutureX community because we can’t rely on the same players using the same methods to make change happen. To deliver a net zero future we need to shake things up. We must take action to address the challenges the industry faces by collaborating with the diverse thinkers who are working tirelessly to deliver healthier environments,” concluded Hurn.

“Interestingly, some of the most exciting and innovative people who are disrupting our sector aren’t from traditional built environment disciplines,” explained Jones. “We are working with innovators from much more diverse disciplines to inform how we design and construct buildings. Microbiologists, chemists, computer scientists, psychologists and neuroscientists are just some of the professions that are set to disrupt the sector — these are exciting times.

“The podcast shows that construction is absolutely the most exciting sector in the world to work in right now and there’s an amazing opportunity for people who want to make a lasting change,” concluded Jones.

To listen to the first podcast and find out about upcoming episodes, visit www.futurexbyfuturebuild.podbean.com