Conference | Rethinking The State

In June, East of Moon visted London to take part in the Rethinking the State conference, hosted by University College London (UCL) Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP). We joined a diverse community of academics, policymakers, researchers and administrators exploring bold, creative and grounded visions for the future of the public sector. From technological democracy to efficient infrastructure, decolonisation to ecological repair, the conversations were as urgent as they were inspiring.

Being based in a small nation in the middle of the North Atlantic has many benefits, but it’s important to ‘get off the rock’—both physically and metaphorically—and find spaces that foster an exchange of ideas. In particular, being invited to take part in the workshop, ‘A New Economy Movement for a World in Transformation’ hosted by Carolina Alves and Pedro Rossi gave us the opportunity to do just that. 

At East of Moon, we’re committed to reimagining systems from the ground up, through experimentation with community-centred innovation, cultural methods, and design co-creation. Being part of this gathering reinforced the value of working across disciplines and borders. Whether you’re an economist, a politician, a programmer or an artist, all of our voices and experiences are required to create effective change. 

Thank you to everyone we met and to IIPP for bringing together such a vital constellation of people and ideas. It was an excellent reminder to all of us that imagination is not a luxury, but a necessity.