Curiosity That Matters Nadim Choucair

The Messy Middle with Climate KIC's Kirsten Dunlop
Episode 10 features Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of Climate KIC, discussing the profound shifts needed for climate action and transformation through radical collaboration and place-based approaches.

Kirsten emphasizes the importance of navigating the 'messy middle' — the gap between present realities and future climate goals — by fostering hope, courage, and systemic change. She highlights the role of unexpected partnerships and integrating art with science to drive human transformation and collective action.

Kirsten emphasizes the need for radical collaboration between diverse stakeholders, overcoming fragmentation and competition to bridge the gap between climate commitments and implementation.

She highlights the power of place-based solutions grounded in local meaning and agency and argues we must go beyond targets, exercising courage and imagination to remake systems and mindsets.

A key theme is embracing uncertainty and complexity, making sense of constant change through action, reflection and human experience.

Kirsten stresses the untapped potential of human connection and collective possibility when people engage each other with curiosity and generosity.

Key themes:

- Bridging gaps in implementation.
- Fostering an ecosystem of change through “deep demonstrations.”
- Constructing social infrastructure to tackle climate challenges.
- Role of unexpected partnerships and integrating art with science.
- Role of psychological and social dynamics for transformation.
- Strategic directions for Climate-KIC from 2024-2030.

Kirsten's LinkedIn Post
Climate KIC's 2024-2030 Strategy
Net Zero Cities project

Our latest episode features Dan Hill, a renowned designer, urbanist, and director of the Melbourne School of Design. Dan delves into his multifaceted career and his work at the intersection of design, technology, and urban planning. Key themes discussed include:

- Dan's multidisciplinary approach to solving urban problems
- The concept of 'dark matter' in design, involving unseen factors like policies and regulations
- Transformative, 'Trojan Horse' projects, such as Helsinki’s 'Restaurant Day'
- The role of public designers in city governance
- Decision making cultures and decision design 
- Integrating cultural elements in urban planning
- The "every day systems container" concept with the example of streets as complex systems with various interacting elements. 
- His thoughts on Mission Oriented Innovation 

Dan also reflects on the importance of curiosity in driving systemic change and innovation, emphasizing the interconnections between architecture, community, and sustainability.


References: 
- Vinnova's Designing Missions Book: https://www.vinnova.se/en/publikationer/mission-oriented-innovation---a-handbook-from-vinnova/
- Dan's Dark Matter & Trojan Horses concept & link to his book: https://medium.com/dark-matter-and-trojan-horses/dark-matter-and-trojan-horses-a-strategic-design-vocabulary-strelka-press-18551fff3133
- Missions: A Beginner's Guide (from UCL IIPP): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/publications/2019/dec/missions-beginners-guide

Extra material:
- Dan's presentation at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival - https://creativebureaucracy.org/discover/videos/mission-oriented-innovation-what-is-it-and-does-it-work/

In this episode, host Nadim Choucair speaks with Bridget Gildea, a multidisciplinary consultant & behavioral scientist working at the intersection of applied learning, technology, behavioral insights, and public policy.
We discuss the value of curiosity in policymaking and how to create the right conditions to foster productive curiosity.
We explore the challenges in translating intention into action, highlighting strategies such as making desired behaviors more achievable, leveraging social norms, and fostering accountability.
Bridget explains how curiosity can uncover the root causes behind policy challenges and lead to more effective solutions. However, bureaucracy and ingrained ways of working can unintentionally stifle curiosity. Bridget argues that modeling curious behaviors like asking thoughtful questions, approaching issues with "intellectual humility," and creating safe spaces for inquiry and reflection can shift mindsets. She also highlights the importance of translating insights into action, which she calls "productive curiosity."
Bridget also discusses the role of reflective periods, collective intelligence, and methodologically sound convening in innovation within the for-good sector. She also touches on the influence of narrative and art in policy, the concept of 'social sculpture,' and the importance of addressing large existential threats like climate change.
Overall, the conversation centers on cultivating curiosity to drive innovation in policymaking. It emphasizes curiosity's ability to challenge assumptions, spur collective problem-solving, and create meaningful change.

Links:
The Curiosity Incubator
https://www.linkedin.com/company/curiosity-incubator/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il9TN2HG0Y4The EAST Framework
https://www.bi.team/publications/east-four-simple-ways-to-apply-behavioural-insights/

In Episode 7 of Curiosity That Matters, host Nadim Choucair engages with Sir Geoff Mulgan, a prominent author, thinker, and advocate for collective intelligence, social innovation, and public policy.
Geoff shares insights from his multifaceted career spanning roles in the UK government and academia, reflecting on lessons learned from his political activism to his leadership at Nesta, the UK's innovation foundation.
The conversation delves into Geoff’s latest book, Another World Is Possible, exploring the concept of collective imagination and its critical role in envisioning positive societal changes amidst challenges like climate change, technological advancement, and political inertia.
Geoff’s stories range from his early days mobilizing musicians against Thatcher’s policies to modern efforts in reimagining future governance structures and societal support systems like mental health and climate action.
This episode offers an in-depth conversation on the importance of collective imagination and innovation in addressing societal challenges, drawing on his vast experience in government, academia, and social innovation.

More readings & content by Geoff:
https://www.geoffmulgan.com/post/mesh-organisational-archicture-theoryhttps://www.geoffmulgan.com/post/imaginationhttps://creativebureaucracy.org/discover/videos/the-art-of-imagination/
Geoff's interview with Boundaryless & New Statesment article
https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/geoff-mulgan/https://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2015/10/trotsky-blair-and-new-politicsAbout Geoff:
https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/76510

In this episode I speak with Zahra Davidson, the outgoing CEO of Huddlecraft, about peer learning, collective imagination, and letting go. Zahra left her post as CEO at the end of March 2024

Zahra explains how Huddlecraft facilitates huddles - small peer learning groups united by a shared curiosity. She discusses the importance of crafting a personal learning question, embracing emergence and giving up control, and making learning tangible.
She reflects on stepping back from leading Huddlecraft after 7 years and shares her curiosity around enjoying life amidst challenge. She describes Huddlecraft's work around collective imagination, and talks about the role of writing in making sense of her curiosity and processing ideas. As she prepares to leave her CEO role, she looks ahead to having more space and an open mind about what is possible next, following her curiosities with less attachment to specific outcomes.

Learn more about Zahra's journey through this substack:
https://zahradavidson.substack.com/

Check this post by Huddlecraft about Zahra's last day:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/huddlecraft_after-7-years-of-building-huddlecraft-from-activity-7181245879440297987-mPMo?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

“Agile stability in the context of the entrepreneurial state” explores the role of the state in innovation and the economy.
UCL Professor & IIPP Deputy Director Rainer Kattel, explains why innovation needs bureaucracy, and why the initial nimbleness and speed required to innovate needs a certain structure that provides stability for scaling innovations. 
Kattel introduces the idea of “agile stability” – governments need stability for long-term functions but also agility to respond to new challenges. He provides examples like digital agencies that start small and experimental but later become institutionalized. Kattel argues we need to consciously design public organizations for innovation. He emphasizes that both capabilities and capacities matter – skills and leadership, but also infrastructure and resources. The discussion covers how to build these capabilities, the role of missions in focusing innovation efforts with specific examples.
Overall, the podcast makes the case that realizing the promise of an “entrepreneurial state” relies on building dynamic and learning-oriented public organizations.
Some other resources for you to learn more about How to Make an Entrepreneurial State: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29aosKq90mA
For more on Mission-Oriented Innovation & UCL IIPP's work
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/publications/2019/dec/missions-beginners-guidehttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/research/mission-oriented-innovationFor links to previous episodes mentioned:
CTM3: Creative Bureaucracy with Charles Landry CTM1: Expansive Thinking with Christian BasonHow to buy the book:
https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300227277/how-to-make-an-entrepreneurial-state/