From foresight to hindsight: the promise of history in responsible innovation

This short paper forms one of a series of responses to a longer essay by Alfred Nordmann in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Responsible Innovation. Wilsdon's response reinforces Nordmann's emphasis on the value of history to contemporary science and technology policy and asks, if we want to practice the art of anticipation, what skills and capabilities do we require? How will existing cultures, processes and organisational arrangements for policy-making and governance need to adapt and change?