
Programme
Packed with sessions, informative keynotes, and practical workshops, the Data Innovation Showcase provided a unique opportunity for attendees to connect with their peers, learn from our experts, and gain hands-on experience of the latest tools and techniques.
Please note that this is 2023's programme. This will be replaced with 2024's programme once it is available.The Programme
Day 1 | Wednesday 27 September 2023
08.00 | Registration and Refreshments | ||||
09.00 |
Welcome Address - Prof. Paul Watson, Director, National Innovation Centre for Data Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
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09.30 |
Keynote Talk - Bill Thompson, Head of Public Value Research, BBC R&D The New 'New Journalism': How Big Data and AI are Transforming the News The space within which we do journalism is changing, as big data and AI provide new capabilities on the computing infrastructure that supports the modern world, affecting the way news organisations like the BBC research, analyse and tell stories. This latest version of 'New Journalism' challenges journalists, editors and audiences. Bill Thompson considers the way news reporting could alter, and asks how we will figure out what works, and what works best for society. Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
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10.15 | Refreshment Break | ||||
10.45 |
Data-Driven Success Stories Hear from speakers representing diverse organisations as they share real-world stories of successful projects leveraging data science.
Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
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12.15 | Lunch | ||||
13.15 |
Beyond the Hype Panel discussion hosted by Colin Eberhardt, Scott Logic
Theatre - Ground Floor |
Introduction to Computer Vision using PyTorch Dr Antonia Kontaratou, National Innovation Centre for Data Gorgon - First Floor |
Generating PDF Reports using Python Dr Fergus McClean, National Innovation Centre for Data Team Decision Theatre - First Floor |
Statistics and Machine Learning: The Two Cultures Dr Matt Edwards, National Innovation Centre for Data Electra - First Floor |
Reinforcement Learning for Business Dr Jacek Cala, National Innovation Centre for Data Faraday - First Floor |
14.45 | Refreshment Break | ||||
15.15 |
Mastering Innovation
Theatre - Ground Floor |
Introduction to Computer Vision using PyTorch Dr Antonia Kontaratou, National Innovation Centre for Data Gorgon - First Floor |
Generating PDF Reports using Python Dr Fergus McClean, National Innovation Centre for Data Team Decision Theatre - First Floor |
Statistics and Machine Learning: The Two Cultures Dr Matt Edwards, National Innovation Centre for Data Electra - First Floor
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Reinforcement Learning for Business Dr Jacek Cala, National Innovation Centre for Data Faraday - First Floor
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16.45 |
Closing Address Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
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17.00 Onwards |
Social Revolution de Cuba |
Day 2 | Thursday 28 September
08.15 | Registration and Refreshments | ||||
09.00 |
Welcome Address - Prof. Barry Hodgson, Director of Strategy, National Innovation Centre for Data Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
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09.15 |
Keynote Talk - Dr Birju Bartoli, Chief Operating Officer, Northumbria Healthcare Trust The Data Engine Underneath the NHS Known as one of the country’s greatest assets, how does one of the country’s largest employers use data to drive its services and for how much longer will the public continue to support the NHS? Birju considers how data is used to drive services, where hands on clinical care is only one part of the jigsaw and where data is being used to predict what services might need to look like in the future. Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
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10.00 |
Refreshment Break |
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10.30 |
Data-Driven Success Stories Hear from speakers representing diverse organisations as they share real-world stories of successful projects leveraging data science.
Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
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12.00 | Lunch | ||||
13.00 |
From Zero to Data Science Hero
Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
The Lure of Large Language Models Dr Mac Misiura, National Innovation Centre for Data Electra - First Floor
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Descriptive Data Products Louise Braithwaite, MSc, National Innovation Centre for Data Gorgon - First Floor |
To Code or Not To Code Stephen Dowsland, MSc, National Innovation Centre for Data Faraday - First Floor |
Exploring AI in Edge Computing Dr Peter Michalák, National Innovation Centre for Data Team Decision Theatre - First Floor
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14.30 | Refreshment Break | ||||
15.00 |
Navigating Business Support
Theatre - Ground Floor |
The Lure of Large Language Models Dr Mac Misiura, National Innovation Centre for Data Electra - First Floor
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Descriptive Data Products Louise Braithwaite, MSc, National Innovation Centre for Data Gorgon - First Floor |
To Code or Not To Code Stephen Dowsland, MSc, National Innovation Centre for Data Faraday - First Floor |
Exploring AI in Edge Computing Dr Peter Michalák, National Innovation Centre for Data Team Decision Theatre - First Floor |
16.30 |
Closing Address Theatre & Viewing Room - Ground Floor |
The Conference Tracks
Data Mastery
Immerse yourself in our Data Mastery Track, where interactive workshops and practical hands-on sessions unveil the latest tools and techniques in data science. Whether you're a business leader, data scientist, or decision-maker, this track will equip you with all the skills necessary to leverage data effectively.
Why sign up?
- Gain access to the latest tools and techniques in data science.
- Benefit from interactive workshops and hands-on sessions.
- Learn how to leverage data effectively to make informed decisions.
- Develop your skills in areas such as computer vision, automated reporting, coding, and more.
- Connect with like-minded professionals, industry experts, and thought leaders in data science.
- Gain the knowledge and expertise to transform your business by leveraging data effectively.
Who is this Track for?
- Data professionals
- Business leaders and decision-makers
- Entrepreneurs and start-ups aiming to leverage data for business success
- Professionals interested in understanding the impact of data-driven tools and strategies
- Aspiring data scientists and students
Session Breakdown
Day 1
Have you ever wondered how an automated vehicle can read road signs or tell a pedestrian from a parked car? Or perhaps you've wondered how artificial intelligence can make diagnoses from medical scans or X-rays? How does the camera at the airport link your face to your passport? These are all applications of 'Computer Vision'. In this workshop, we will gently introduce you to Computer Vision, teaching your computer to learn how to identify items of clothing via a simple 'neural net'. We will be using an existing online dataset, the Python programming language and 'PyTorch'.
Creating PDF reports from data is a common but often painstaking task for many businesses. Building automated workflows to generate these reports can save time and, in turn, add value. In this workshop, we present one possible open-source solution using Python and ReportLab. You don’t need any prior coding experience to attend. We will walk you through the process of automating your first report and hopefully provide inspiration to optimise your own reporting workflows.
Statistics and Machine Learning, though often confused with each other due to shared tools and techniques, possess distinctly different cultures and objectives. This intriguing workshop aims to explore these differences in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of their respective objectives and applications. By examining the complementarity of these two disciplines, we will explore how certain data science projects can benefit from one set of tools and techniques over the other.
Dr Jacek Cala, Senior Data Scientist, National Innovation Centre for Data
Reinforcement Learning (RL) is less well known as a Machine Learning technique, especially in business. But perhaps you've started to wonder what benefits this lesser-known ML technique might bring to your company? In this workshop we will introduce you to the Reinforcement Learning area, including Deep RL, and help you learn what problems can be solved using this technique. We will also take a closer look at some of the common challenges companies face, including product recommendation, A/B testing, and optimisation. You will then have a chance to build your own models and see how they perform, so be sure to bring your laptop with you!
Day 2
Dr Mac Misiura, Data Scientist, National Innovation Centre for Data
Large language models have revolutionised the field of natural language processing (NLP), allowing breakthroughs for many NLP tasks including language generation, translation, and understanding. This session will dive deep into the theoretical foundations and recent advancements in large language models, and explore their potential applications in the business world. Join to discover how organisations can harness the power of these models!
Louise Braithwaite, Data Scientist, National Innovation Centre for Data
Organisations often have broad goals around “visualising” their data. This is often driven by a desire to make the data they hold “accessible” and “actionable”. But how do you turn this goal into a reality? This workshop aims to help by introducing you to a great framework for developing descriptive data products, such as reports and dashboards.
Join us to explore tabular data analysis through a progressive path, starting with the simplicity of "no-code" tools, moving to the customisation and automation offered by "low-code" solutions, and finally diving into the power and versatility of coding. Discover a step-by-step process to effectively work with tabular data, empowering yourself with the knowledge to choose the right approach at every stage of your data journey.
Dr Peter Michalak, Edge Solution Specialist, National Innovation Centre for Data
Join us to explore the exciting world of Edge Computing. As the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices steadily grows, so too does their processing capability. There are more opportunities than ever before to move computation from the cloud to edge devices, and by using edge computing strategies, applications can benefit from lower latency, reduced bandwidth and energy requirements, and improved data privacy (among other things). Be sure to join this session to explore the real-world applications and benefits of Edge AI!
The Art of Innovation
Discover how to deploy data-driven innovation for business success in 'The Art of Innovation' Track. Gain insights from success stories of businesses harnessing data's power to drive growth and explore available support for data and digital journeys.
Why sign up?
- Gain valuable insights into the world of data science and its impact on business success
- Enhance your data science capabilities through access to strategies, tools, and expertise
- Learn from real-world case studies of successful data-driven transformations
- Enjoy networking opportunities with experts and like-minded professionals
- Explore available support and resources for data and digital journeys
Who is this Track for?
- Business leaders and decision-makers
- Professionals seeking to unlock the potential of data science
- Those looking to enhance their data science capabilities
- Entrepreneurs and start-ups aiming to leverage data for business success
Day 1
In this panel discussion, jointly presented with Scott Logic, we strip away the buzzwords and delve into the reality behind the hype. Hosted by Colin Eberhardt, CTO of Scott Logic, panellists will dissect trending topics, exploring their practical implications and separating fact from fiction. Discover the true impact of these technologies on our daily lives, job roles, businesses, and society as a whole. Join the conversation, gain valuable insights and prepare yourself for the future with a grounded understanding of the potential these buzzwords hold.
Discover the keys to business innovation and growth in this insightful session. Learn the importance of a robust data strategy and how it drives organisational success. Overcome the challenges of capturing innovation in a time-constrained world with practical advice and tools for busy professionals. Navigate the decision-making process of insourcing or outsourcing skills for effective innovation. Integrate data science skills into your organisation and unlock new opportunities. Gain valuable insights to drive innovation and propel your business forward. Don't miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools for success!
Day 2
Ignite your data science journey with this insightful session. Discover the fundamentals of data science, empowering your organisation to drive innovation and make informed decisions. Our expert speakers break down complex concepts, providing an introduction to data science. Gain valuable insights on harnessing the power of data, from understanding principles to practical implementation strategies. Don't miss out on this opportunity to innovate!
Learn about diverse funding and support programmes from regional experts nurturing innovation in the fields of data and digital. Gain a comprehensive understanding of eligibility, application processes, and success stories.
Discover how to access support programmes and accelerate your growth. Whether you're a start-up, established business, or aspiring entrepreneur, this session equips you with the knowledge to navigate the funding ecosystem. Make informed decisions, secure funding, and propel your ventures forward in the dynamic landscape of digital and data science innovation.