Ever since his innovative Contemporary Theory of Conservation (2005), Salvador Muñoz-Viñas, the Spanish paper conservator and Professor of Conservation and Restoration at the Universitat Politècnicade València, enjoys a global reputation as a theoretician of conservation. Now he has published a new volume providing an original view of cultural heritage at large. A Theory of Cultural Heritage: Beyond the Intangible offers a novel ‘taxonomy’ and ‘anatomy’ of cultural heritage.

Heritage conservation recognizes that losses and damages cannot be entirely prevented, that decisions about what to keep and what to let go are fundamental to maintaining values for future generations; even when what is valued is gone. The heritage principle of curating transformation can advance climate action through pragmatic and participatory management of losses and damages, offering lessons for climate change adaptation and giving people agency over what is lost.

This report highlights the eighth year of the UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures. Again, the year was full of activities and recognition of our work by others, both in Sweden and internationally. A key moment was our participation in the side events of the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024, where world leaders adopted a global Pact for the Future. This will pave the way towards a Post-2030 Agenda for the world where culture and heritage may feature more promi­nently and in broader ways than before. Another highlight was our Futures Workshop held during the 17th World Congress of the Organisation of World Heritage Cities in Cordoba, Spain. Other important engagements included our participation in the Nuclear Energy Agency’s (OECD) newly formed Expert Group on Archiving and Awareness Preservation. During the year, we could also celebrate the Defense of Ulrika Söderström’s Doctoral thesis (see Research section below) and new funding received by the Swedish Research Council for Dr. Marcy Rockman, widely known for her work at the intersection of climate change and cultural heritage, to join our team at Linnaeus University Kalmar from September 2025. Visiting Doctoral Students during the past year inclu­ded Erman Ertuğrul from Istanbul University for several months during the winter and Marjie Miedema from Groningen University from August 2025. Finally, we had reason to celebrate that UNESCO granted a third period to the Chair, created in 2017 and now continuing until the end of 2029. This would not have been possible without the reliable support of our work from Linnaeus University through the Vice-Chancellor and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

John Schofield's new book Wicked problems for archaeologists: heritage as transformative practice was prompted by Oxford professor Shadreck Chirikure's intriguing question: “Why is it that archaeology—a discipline that deals with human experience over the long term—is failing to achieve its potential in tackling global challenges?” (p.259). Schofield's discussion and answer to this question reflects a view that is rather innovative, and it constitutes a watershed for archaeology and cultural heritage.

In the light of the 2024 UN Pact for the Future, the cultural sector has much to offer to other sectors as well as to global decision-making addressing the needs, interests, and rights of future generations. Culture inspires and enhances futures thinking and long-term planning and decision-making for change and transformation. In this way, cultural knowledge benefits addressing key global challenges such as climate change, AI, environmental pollution, and increasing inequality, to create a better and more sustainable future for all.

Sending messages beyond the Earth and into deep space is an occupation that many people find fascinating and inspiring. Space messages evoke powerful themes: the variety of human legacies on Earth, the uniqueness of humanity as such, and the remote corners and distant futures of the universe. This volume provides a useful introduction to the history and practice of space messages sent from Earth, exploring a range of key issues and their social and cultural contexts.

The future is an important new topic for archaeology. Archaeologists do not only study past futures but are also concerned with future pasts and in particular with the impact of their work on future societies. Drawing on the notion of “heritage futures”, archaeological heritage is claimed to contribute to sustainable development and address challenges posed by climate change, human conflicts, and others.