Themes

Future society | Human potential | Navigating change | Informing policy

We focus on how society is impacted by rapid social, technological, economic, environment and geopolitical change. Our work spans four broad themes – future society, human potential, navigating change and informing policy.

Future society

Society is changing rapidly, challenged by huge demographic change such as ageing populations and growing ethnic diversity, climate change and new technologies. Democracy is under threat by increasingly pervasive disinformation. Our work aims to address social cohesion and societal resilience and we're developing new democratic tools to encourage better public decision making.

More about Future society

Picture of a very crowded street, early morning in a city.

news

17.09.2026

Reframing social cohesion and societal resilience in NZ

Social cohesion & resilience

perspective

18.06.2026

Contextualising cohesion for a resilient society

Social cohesion & resilience

discussion paper

18.06.2026

Societal resilience: Contextualising cohesion in an age of disruption

Social cohesion & resilience

Human potential

Healthy people are the building blocks of healthy societies. How can we support our children to develop and thrive? How do we educate people to live in a rapidly changing society? How do we support our young people with their mental health?

More about Human potential

perspective

29.06.2026

Not all on mums: fathers shape child health even before conception

Wellbeing

update

17.06.2026

Young people’s perspectives on online harm and young women in leadership

Human potential

perspective

03.06.2026

Social media age restrictions – the case for an evaluation framework

Youth mental health

Navigating change

Society is in an unstable state facing climate change and other sustainability risks. Technology is driving rapid social and other change which in turn induces fear and anxiety. In our fast paced world, how do we address and adapt to the changing information environment, new technologies and sustainability challenges ahead? How does New Zealand maintain our relevance to the world?

More about Navigating change

news

07.09.2026

Moving in parallel: Data, AI and Governance

Technology futures

perspective

29.07.2026

Shortsightedness has had a productivity cost

Navigating change

perspective

19.06.2026

In an unsettled world, boring might be brilliant

Navigating change

Informing policy

We inform policy to help to create conditions for society to thrive. We act as knowledge brokers by gathering evidence from multiple disciplines and domains and providing in useful formats for policy makers or civil society to make better decisions. We also study the science-policy-community interface to enhance how evidence is used in public decision making. Koi Tū is home to the International Network of Government Science Advice secretariat and the President of the International Science Council.

More about Informing policy