A series of new programmes will invite listeners to present their own vision of the future on the World Service.
From 28th January to 31st March the ‘What If?’ shows will look into the future and how the world might look, how technology will advance and innovations in health and science.
Beginning with ‘What if humans and robots sat down together?’ on Tuesday, 29th January, an hour long live discussion on technology show Click will look at developments in human and robot interaction.
Other programmes will ask ‘What if we stayed young forever?’ and ‘What if women ruled the world?’, with topics including technology, government, love, inventions and soldiers.
The season will feature special editions of interview series HardTalk on the BBC World Service and BBC World News. Information on the whole ‘What If?’ season will be available from bbc.co.uk from 28th January.
Audiences are invited to submit an entry for a competition which will run alongside the season, sending in their “vision of the future, either a still or a moving image, using any visual medium – animation, photography, film, paint”. The competition will be judged by artists and animators from around the world.