My Perfect Country

Internet entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox and presenter Fi Glover explore policies, technologies and innovations that achieve inclusive and sustainable prosperity. The series asks why and how they work, and whether they can work elsewhere.

The IGP is partnering with BBC World Service and independent radio producers Whistledown. They’ll be providing programme research and data analysis for the series and the accompanying online resource. Director of IGP Professor Henrietta Moore will a regular weekly guest contributor.

The first series features Estonia’s digital strategy, new drug laws in Portugal and Costa Rica’s approach to renewable energy.

Fi Glover says, “I am thrilled that Henrietta Moore, and the IGP, are part of our new radio adventure. My Perfect Country's aim is to bring the people and the ideas behind successful policies to the WS's huge audience and yes, we really are going to try and bolt together a perfect country. We'll then consider the question, would you and I like to live in it?”

My Perfect Country is an opportunity for UCL researchers to engage in a conversation about building an inclusive and sustainable future: the hoped-for outcome of the Sustainable Development Goals, due to be completed by 2030.

If you’re a member of research staff or a postgraduate research student at UCL, and are interested in contributing ideas for the following countries and topics, please send an EOI to Hannah Sender.

• Estonia: digital policy
• Costa Rica: renewable energy
• India: women/sanitation
• Michigan, USA: suicide rates
• Portugal: drug policy
• Uganda: law and order

My Perfect Country will form part of The Compass strand. The first episode airs on Thursday 5th February 2016.

Connie Smith is leading the project.

You can contact David Prest, Managing Director of Whistledown Productions at davidprest@whistledown.net.