Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI), powered by algorithms, play an ever-increasing part in decision-making within our society. This was the context for “The growing ubiquity of algorithms in society: implications, impacts, and innovations” – a discussion meeting held by the Royal Society on 30-31 October 2017.

Speakers from various backgrounds, ranging from law to computer science, economics to education, and graphic design to statistics, delivered a series of thought-provoking talks, followed by engaging discussions generated by questions from the audience.

In this blog I will highlight some pertinent points that emerged, but of course, many more interesting topics were discussed. For a detailed overview of all the speakers and their abstracts, see the event page on the Royal Society’s website.

Day 1 focused on the relationship of algorithms and the law, transparency and regulation, touching upon what the legal and regulatory implications of the use of algorithms in society are.

Many conversations on this day concerned potential issues surrounding the black box nature of (some) algorithms. Because of the growing complexity of machine learning and AI, it is often challenging, if not impossible, to reveal the underlying route that led to a decision an algorithm has made. How, then, can such a decision be scrutinised or tested against the law? The implications of this are quite substantial – consider for example a self-driving car that is involved in a fatal accident. Liability is hard to assign if it is unclear why the car drove the way it did. A key line uttered by one of the speakers this day was appropriately: “if something is not testable, can it be contestable?”

Day 2 started off on a positive note, focusing on what we can gain from algorithms in society, demonstrating use cases of algorithms with societal impact, before moving on to discussing the implications and potential of algorithms applied to studying human health.

We learned how UN Global Pulse is developing machine learning methods to obtain high quality information from humanitarian disaster areas – areas that are hard to reach in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, and therefore historically, information quality is notoriously low. Exciting applications that were demonstrated included using satellite imagery to identify human-built structures and communities, and releasing speech recognition and natural language processing tools on radio broadcasts to identify where events are occurring.

A key discussion on this day evolved around the implications of using data for human health, and the implications for privacy. To train good algorithms, much data is needed. In health, this will often involve sensitive personal data, such as one’s genome. Despite efforts of anonymisation, it has repeatedly been shown that with the right tools, individuals can often be re-identified from analysis outcomes. To alleviate such privacy concerns while still enabling data scientists to have access to the data they need, much innovation is happening. To give an idea of promising methods, speakers discussed techniques such as differential privacy, distorting data (k-anonymity), and methods where analysts do not need to have access to the underlying microdata (e.g. datashield).

Overall, perhaps the strongest point about this meeting was the broad variety of disciplines that was represented by the delegates and speakers, allowing for the complexity of the topic to be debated from many different angles, underlining that machine learning, artificial intelligence, and their implications for society aren’t a challenge tackled by a single discipline.

For further reading on this topic, the Royal Society has published some interesting materials on machine learning.

 

Blog post by Bobby Stuijfzand, Data Science Specialist at the Jean Golding Institute. Follow us on on Twitter @JGIBristol @BobbyGlennS

News

Clifton Suspension Bridge Harp

The Clifton Suspension Bridge Harp event a great success on Friday at the Waterfront – lots of coverage via Points West, BBC Radio 4 Today programme and the Evening Post. Read more about the event and the project behind it here: Clifton Suspension Bridge Harp

Data visualisation challenge now open!

Exploring complex datasets using VR / 360 data visualisation. Expression of interest deadline 15 December 2017. Are you a researcher producing or have produced complex datasets and have interesting research questions that may be investigated or explained using data visualisation on 360 and/or VR? Or are you a professional in data visualisation, VR, AR, VFX, 360, a content developer, gaming developer or producer and are keen to work with researchers to develop a VR and/or 360 data visualisation to be showcased at the Bristol Data Dome? If so, get in touch or complete an expression of interest form now – see Data visualisation challenge for more details.

Training page now live on JGI website

For links to a variety of training courses available to people interested in the field of data science and beyond, please see our new pages on the JGI website. 

Why we need the Data Ethics Canvas

To mark the launch of the Open Data Institute‘s Data Ethics Canvas, Amanda Smith and Peter Wells write in this blog, sharing the thought behind it, why it is important and how they hope it will be used by organisations and sectors. Data is emerging as a vital and virtual form of infrastructure that we rely on. This creates the opportunity to build better societies but also the risk that we lose trust, not just in data or facts but also in businesses and governments. One of the ways that we can address this is to improve data ethics. The choices made about what data is collected and how it is used should not be unfair, discriminatory or deceptive. The new Open data Institute (ODI) paper and tool will help you learn how to do this.

Funding Opportunities

JGI Seed corn funding call now open! Closing date 17 November 2017

The JGI’s second round of research funding is now open to applicants. Please take a look at previous successfully funded projects – JGI funded projects. The primary aim of this scheme is to support activities that will foster interdisciplinary research in the area of data-intensive research and our priority work streams address these themes:

• data driven solutions to societal challenges
• data visualisation and materiality
• developing communities through data
• addressing data as a shared knowledge base (information commons).

More information and the application form can be found on the JGI Funding page.

GW4 Initiator and Accelerator Fund. Closing date 31 October 2017

Initiator fund up to £20K. Accelerator fund £20-75K. The panel wishes to particularly encourage applications with a focus on Global Challenges Research Fund ad Industrial Challenge Strategy Fund.

Policy Bristol – funding call for Support Scheme. Closing date 1 November 2017

Apply for funding to influence, inform and engage with policy. This scheme helps University of Bristol academics engage in activities with policy-making stakeholders. For more information please see intranet page – PolicyBristol Support Scheme 2017/2018

EPSRC UKRI Innovation Fellowships funding call. Closing date 9 November 2017

Up to £38.9 million is available for this call. EPSRC expects to fund 65-85 Fellows. Additional funding of up to £1.6 million from AHRC, a minimum of £1 million from BBSRC and up to £0.4 million from ESRC will be available for research at specified interfaces.

Tools and Resources Development Fund call. Closing date 5 December 2017

The aim of the call is to support the early-stage development of cutting edge, high-impact research technologies essential to sustaining the vibrancy of life sciences discovery research in the UK. The 2017 call specifically encourages proposals relevant to Technology Touching Life (TTL), a BBSRC, EPSRC and MRC joint initiative to foster interdisciplinary research into innovative and potentially disruptive technological capabilities that will drive world-leading basic discovery research in the life sciences (both biological and biomedical). Applications should be between six and eighteen months duration and are not expected to exceed £150,000 (£187,000 fEC).

More funding opportunities

A list of current funding opportunities is available on the Research Development website (University of Bristol people only)

Events

The growing ubiquity of algorithms in society: implications, impacts and innovations 30 – 31 October 2017 The Royal Society, London

Scientific discussion meeting. The usage of algorithms and analytics in society is exploding: from machine learning recommender systems in commerce, to credit scoring methods outside of standard regulatory practice and self-driving cars. The rapid adoption of new technology has the potential to greatly improve citizens’ experiences, but also poses a number of new challenges. This meeting will highlight opportunities and challenges in this rapidly changing landscape, bringing legal and ethics experts together with technologists to discuss implications, impacts and innovations.

British Library Labs Symposium. 30 October 2017 @ 09.30 – 17.00. The British Library, London

The Symposium is an annual networking event and awards ceremony showcasing innovative projects which have used the British Library’s digital collections and data over the past year.

Start Something Tuesday 31 October @ 17.00 Unit DX

QTEC is running a series of 8 seminar and networking events called Start Something for postgraduates aimed at providing an overview of how to become an entrepreneur. The idea is to get people in a room who might be interested in getting something off the ground along with a mixture of experienced entrepreneurs, the professional and business community and people who will be able to help them. This first in the series will be a panel session entitled ‘Heart and Mind: Entrepreneurial Motivation’

Big data and the language industry workshop. 2 November 2017 @ 15.00 – 16.00 Room G108, 21 Woodland Road, University of Bristol

The application of big data in the language industry. For more information please see: Big Data Workshop 2 Nov 2017

UK-HDAN Workshop on health data analytics 3 November 2017 Alan Turing Institute, London

The UK Health Data Analytics Network (UK-HDAN) are hosting a one day participatory workshop at the Alan Turing Institute to bring together health informaticians and data science methodologists. The aim is to explore, in some depth, the methodological challenges posed by health data, building on the UK-HDAN Research Roadmap, a living document, which provides a framework of Healthcare Opportunities and Data Science Challenges. The intention is that, through sharing insights and experience, participants will identify new opportunities for research and collaboration. The meeting will also contribute to further development of the Roadmap.

Opportunity for dialogue with the Royal Statistical Society Friday 17 November 2017 @ 15.00 – 17.00, Room SM3, School of Mathematics, University Walk, Bristol

Presentation and discussion with Hetan Shah, CEO Royal Statistical Society (RSS). Hetan will give a short presentation that explains the varied work of the Royal Statistical Society. After the presentation the floor will be open and a discussion held about what people see at the key issues which they think that the RSS should be taking forward. Hetan is particularly interested to hear about the range of statistical work that is carried out in Bristol and views from the community about what the RSS should be doing. Members of the RSS are encourage to attend and participate and non-members, who are interested are more then welcome to attend.

Famous for 3 minutes Thursday 18 January 2018 @11.00 – 14.00 (lunch provided) Stephenson Room, Richmond Building, University of Bristol

Looking to meet academics from other fields of research, find out about their latest passions and discoveries and develop new research partnerships? ‘Famous for three minutes’ is a popular, fast-paced networking event for academics right across the University of Bristol. With just three minutes and one slide each to communicate their research, attendees get an opportunity to see a huge variety of ideas, models, theories and findings related to data science. Come and join us!

Changing perception: Hearing, psychoacoustics and ICT workshop 6 – 7 February 2018

EPSRC is holding a two day workshop to explore collaborative research opportunities between psychoacoustics, hearing and engineering (specifically within the information and communications technologies). EPSRC are including sound (including music, but also other sounds, natural and artificial) and the intersection of sound with computer science. This includes the development of algorithms, signal processing techniques, user interfaces or information systems to support music or sound based interactions between humans and computers, between performer and audience, as well as applications in healthcare (assistive technology) and robotics. EPSRC are also including basic studies of the biology and psychology of human hearing where the purpose of the research is to underpin design and implementation of human-computer interfaces and other aspects of ICT design.

The workshop will be multidisciplinary, bringing together researchers from varied domains, psychology to computer science. Please express your interest by 20 November 2017.

Famous for 3 minutes Wednesday 14 February 2018 @ 11.00 – 14.00 (lunch provided) Beacon House, University of Bristol

Our second networking event of 2018 – looking to meet academics from other fields of research, find out about their latest passions and discoveries and develop new research partnerships? ‘Famous for three minutes’ is a popular, fast-paced networking event for academics right across the University of Bristol. With just three minutes and one slide each to communicate their research, attendees get an opportunity to see a huge variety of ideas, models, theories and findings related to data science. Come and join us!

Jean Golding Institute Showcase 2018 Tuesday 3 July 2018 Wills Memorial Building

Please save the date for the JGI Showcase event. 

For up to the minute info about events please see the JGI Events page

Courses

Understanding the General Data Protection Regulation. Free course via Future Learn starts 13 November 2017

Get to grips with the General Data protection Regulation and take the first steps to ensuring that your organisation is compliant. Future Learn is offering a free course which covers general principles and basic concepts of the GDPR, key actors under the GDPR and their role, rights of data subjects, obligations of data controllers and processors and law compliance measures, enforcement and compliance mechanisms and liabilities and sanctions.

Public Engagement

Support sixth form students at the Extended Project Qualifications Mentoring Fair 15 November 13.45 – 15.00

The University supports local sixth form students (Age 16-18) completing the Extended Project Qualification, where students write a self-motivated research project around a topic of their choice. The mentoring fair is an opportunity for students to spend an hour discussing their projects and receiving advice from researchers who work in similar areas. We are looking for researchers of any career stage to be mentors for this one-off session. You will be matched with students according to topic and no previous experience of working with schools is needed. A training session will be provided with the public engagement team on Wednesday 1 November 2017 @ 15.00 – 16.30

For more information and to participate please get in touch with Public Engagement Associate ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk

Competitions

Data visualisation challenge now open! Expression of interest deadline 15 December 2017

Exploring complex datasets using VR / 360 data visualisation. Are you a researcher producing or have produced complex datasets and have interesting research questions that may be investigated or explained using data visualisation on 360 and/or VR? Or  are you a professional in data visualisation, VR, AR, VFX, 360, a content developer, gaming developer or producer and are keen to work with researchers to develop a VR and/or 360 data visualisation to be showcased at the Bristol Data Dome? If so, get in touch or complete an expression of interest form now – see Data visualisation challenge for more details.

JGI Community 

To ensure the JGI community is profiled on the JGI website and to build the profile of the JGI as a whole to benefit it’s members, please take a moment to:

• email pure-support@bristol.ac.uk asking to be affiliated with the Jean Golding Institute
• Add @JGIBristol on your twitter profile
• Add ‘Jean Golding’ as a structured keyword on PURE for relevant publications to the data science and data-intensive research community (these publications will then appear on our Publications page for anyone interested in the field to explore and offer opportunities for collaboration with teams in other disciplines)

Keep in touch

We are always happy to hear from you!

Would you like your events publicised by the JGI? Do you have interesting datasets that you would like to share/promote? Have any queries or would like to get involved? Please contact us jgi-admin@bristol.ac.uk

Follow us on Twitter @JGIBristol

Digital Bristol Week

A harp has been created inspired by the Clifton Suspension Bridge and transforms data from the bridge into sound. The harp was displayed as part of Digital Bristol Week on 20 October 2017 at a public event in the Hub on Bristol’s Waterfront. The event was popular, drawing in people who were walking past and could hear the relaxing sounds of the harp, as well as members of the University of Bristol and other organisations and businesses in Bristol. The event was reported on Radio 4’s Today programme, across the BBC radio network, including the World Service, Points West, Bristol 24/7 and TechSpark. Even a radio station in Honolulu was interested and has broadcast a piece! Read what the University of Bristol News said about the event – Harp at ee!

During the event people had the opportunity to hear about the project and how it came about from the engineers, musicians and luthier and were able to view the harp and listen to the robotic arms strumming the harp, which reflected the data from the suspension bridge. It was fascinating to see the data being transmitted live from the bridge and hearing the resulting sounds from the cleverly constructed instrument. Here is a little more about why the harp was built and the engineering project behind it……..

Monitoring the impact of people, traffic and weather on the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Background to the project

The UK’s bridges are vitally important for the movement of people and freight. However, many bridges are old and carry far more traffic than they were designed to. It’s therefore very important to monitor these structures and understand how they move; a change to the movement profile might indicate ageing or fatigue.

Monitoring the bridge

The University of Bristol set out to develop a low cost, easy to install bridge monitoring dashboard. The first trial of the software was run on the Clifton Suspension Bridge earlier in 2017. The system uses off the shelf wireless technology and big-data management techniques to collect information about how the bridge is moving. The data is then displayed to users – structural engineers or bridge management personnel – in real-time anywhere in the world. Six sensors monitored the bridge for a month, allowing the team to learn a lot about how the bridge moves and the effect vehicles, pedestrians and the weather have on the iconic structure. Whilst six sensors were needed to monitor the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the technology can scale to measure vibrations and displacements on far larger bridges

Using the data

The data is being used at the University of Bristol, by Civil Engineering to improve its structural models of the bridge and Engineering Mathematics to design a system to classify vehicle traffic. Now proven, there are plans to use the dashboard to monitor the Clifton Suspension Bridge for a second time as well as other bridges in the future.

Innovative infrastructure

Currently bridge inspections are predominantly visual, with an engineer periodically visiting the bridge to look for signs of fatigue. By combining mathematical models with real-time structural data it will be possible to identify problems more quickly, or possibly prevent them altogether. How a bridge moves also reflects what kind of traffic is moving across it, so fitting this system to motorway bridges, for example, will help traffic managers to understand how busy the road is at any given time.

The sensor system designed by the University of Bristol is low cost because it uses open-source software to manage, store and visualise data. The use of wireless technology means it can be installed quickly, easily and in more challenging locations. These factors combined mean we can now gain knowledge of structures that were previously deemed impossible.

How data from an iconic bridge is transformed into a musical installation: The Clifton Suspension Bridge Harp

Creating the installation

Bristol-based musicians and sound artists Yas Clarke and Lorenzo Prati worked with the University of Bristol’s Jean Golding Institute and the Music and Engineering departments to create an installation which musically represents structural data from Bristol’s iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The harp

The harp was designed and built by Bristol-based Luthier and guitar maker, Sean Clark. It has 82 strings and is tuned in relation to the bridge’s natural frequency of 12.9Hz. The unique installation takes the form of a two-course harp resembling the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The instrument is played by two robotic arms, each strumming the strings on different sides of the harp. One represents data collected on the north side of the bridge, the other on the south side.

Driven by data

The monitoring sensors placed on the Clifton Suspension Bridge by the University earlier in 2017 produced data which is now being fed into a musical model that controls the arms of the harp. Six streams of data – four vibration and two displacement measurements – were analysed, combined and used to extrapolate information about the activity on the bridge. This data is then fed into the harp, driving the robotic arms to reflect the activity on the bridge. The more traffic, the busier and more dynamic the music. When the bridge is quiet, so is the instrument.

New ways of experiencing data

This project was developed by the Jean Golding Institute (JGI) at the University of Bristol, which supports interdisciplinary research in the area of data science. One area of interest to the JGI is to investigate the physical manifestations of information and explore innovative ways to represent data that creates an impactful response.

Acknowledgements

The monitoring system was created by Sam Gunner, Professor Eddie Wilson, Dr John Macdonald, Dr Paul Vardanega and Dr Theo Tryfonas from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol. The project was funded through an EPSRC Institutional Sponsorship. Thanks also to Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust – especially Bridge Manager, Trish Johnson – and Andrew Ramage at Techni Measure, local supplier of the wireless component of the system. Yas Clarke and Lorenzo Prati were the musicians and sound artists, Sean Clark (Luthier and guitar maker) contructed the harp and Sion Hannuna provided the Clifton Suspension bridge images.

 

Dear JGI community

We are pleased to announce the JGI’s second round of research funding is now open to applicants.

We were overwhelmed by the positive response that we received when we launched the first round of funding earlier in the year and the outputs of the JGI funded projects have been excellent.

The primary aim of this scheme is to support activities that will foster interdisciplinary research in the area of data-intensive research. Our priority workstreams address these themes:

• data driven solutions to societal challenges
• data visualisation and materiality
• developing communities through data
• addressing data as a shared knowledge base (information commons).

However, we are very open to hear from you and your research ideas, so contact us if you have any queries at ask-jgi@bristol.ac.uk. More information and the application form can be found on the JGI Funding page.

With best wishes from the JGI team

Welcome to September’s JGI Community Update

Please share with your networks and invite people to Join the JGI Community through completing our quick online form – Join the JGI Community

News

An explosion of data – applications and implications of a data driven society

At the end of the summer, JGI’s resident Data Scientist, Bobby Stuijfzand joined the Bristol Skeptics in the Smoke and Mirrors pub on Denmark Street, Bristol to present ‘An explosion of data – applications and implications of a data driven society’.

Our ability to generate and use data has tremendously increased in the past few years. Data is now influencing many aspects of daily life, from tailoring our internet experiences to the managing of traffic flows on smart motorways. Data is also the key driver behind major technological advances based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Advances are expected to have major effects on society as we know it (think for example about driverless cars, electronic personal assistants and the internet of things). Data is a powerful, promising and omnipresent force in modern day society. But this however, sits quite uncomfortably with many of us. We don’t always know where and when data is being collected, what it is being used for and what we get back from it.

Bobby presented differing views on the impact of data in society and sparked lively debates amongst the crowd.

Funding opportunities

GW4 Initiator and Accelerator Fund

Deadline 31 October 2017

Initiator fund: up to £20K. Accelerator fund: £20-75K

The panel wishes to particularly encourage applications with a focus on Global Challenges Research Fund and Industrial Challenge Strategy Fund.

Jean Golding Institute (JGI) Seed corn funding

The Jean Golding Institute will be launching a seed corn funding call soon, stay tuned!

More funding opportunities

A list of current funding opportunities is available on the Research Development website. (UoB internal only)

Events

For up to the minute events relevant to the data intensive research community please see our events page on the JGI website

Improving health through better use of data

Tuesday 19 September @ 13.00 – 16.30 Armada House, Telephone Avenue, Bristol BS1 4BQ

Bristol Health Partners and the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute are creating a new resource, a Health Data Inventory. For the first time, this will provide an easy way to understand what information is available for research in our region and where it’s held. Bristol is the first region to develop such a tool and this is your chance to define how this tool should be used.

This workshop will introduce the Health Data Inventory and pilot funding will be made available by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for University of Bristol researchers to develop high quality pilot projects using this data. For more information please email oliver.watson@bristol.ac.uk.

Working group on data visualisation: good and bad practices

Tuesday 26 September 2017 @  13.00 – 14.00 Beacon House Seminar Room, University of Bristol, BS8 1SE

This is the first bring-your-own-lunch meeting of the University of Bristol data visualisation working group. In this meeting we will focus on good and bad practices in data visualisation.

The ‘Data visualisation’ working group is interested in representing large scale data in innovative ways: i.e. more than just a graph! There will also be time scheduled to identify the future directions and needs of the group, and we hope to get an idea of who may be willing to lead one or more sessions (but you are also more than welcome to attend if you are not comfortable/willing to lead a session).

This session will be led by Harriet Mills and Bobby Stuijfzand and we are currently collecting materials (i.e. good and bad visualisations) as input for discussion during the meeting. If you are aware of any good (or bad!) data visualisations, please do email them to bg.stuijfzand@bristol.ac.uk

The working group is supported by the Jean Golding Institute (JGI).

Bristol Bridge: Interdisciplinary approaches and new directions in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) research at Bristol

Wednesday 27 September 2017 @ 13.00 – 18.00 Lecture Theatre 3 and East Foyer, School of Chemistry

As you may be aware, the BristolBridge AMR network project concludes on 30 September. To mark this, there will be a final event to celebrate its achievements and those of the wider AMR research community at Bristol. AMR research is currently being undertaken in 5 of our 6 Faculties and in 12 Schools and Departments.  Many in the AMR research community also work closely with Bristol’s NHS trusts, Public Health England labs, the veterinary and farming community and increasingly with industry.

The AMR research community has much to celebrate – the University of Bristol is currently leading the UK in the number of awards (and value) from the cross-council AMR funding initiative.  They will also be looking forward to some new AMR research and training initiatives at Bristol too.

All AMR and related posters are very welcome (please note that all projects/activities that have been funded by BristolBridge are requested to present a poster, thank you). Please register. The deadline for registration is 20 September 2017.

Ada.Ada.Ada. A Theatre Production

16 October 2017 @ 11.00 The Lantern Theatre, Colston Hall, Bristol, UK

 Free tickets are for children and teachers / accompanying adults from state schools. Ada.Ada.Ada is an interactive theatre production which celebrates the work of Mathematician Ada Lovelace. The Jean Golding Institute (JGI) is sponsoring this event. The aim of the show is to inspire the next generation of technical innovators and help people, especially girls and women, to engage with technology and STEM as a career. For more details please see Ada.Ada.Ada. A Theatre production

Bristol Suspension Bridge sound wave installation

20 October 2017 @ 17.00 – 19.00 The Hub, Unit 5-6, 1 Canon’s Road, Bristol, BS1 5UH

Bristol based musicians and sound artists Yas Clarke and Lorenzo Prati have been working alongside the Jean Golding Institute and Bristol University’s Music and Engineering Departments to produce an installation which sonically represents structural data of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

This unique installation takes the form of a robotic two-course harp resembling the Clifton Suspension Bridge in shape. The instrument will be played by two independent robotic arms, each one strumming the strings of one side of the harp in response to data harvested on the north and south side of the bridge.

This intriguing installation forms part of Digital Bristol Week and is open to the public at this Waterfront venue. Keep checking the JGI website events page for more details as they emerge.

University of Bristol Engineering Research Showcase

14 November 2017 @ 1pm – 6.30pm New Wing, Queen’s Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR

Meet with academic and industry colleagues and explore opportunities for developing new collaborations and partnerships

For full details see Engineering Research Showcase 2017

Digital Catapult Pit Stop

27 and 28 November 2017 Digital Catapult, London

BOC is the largest provider of industrial, medical and special gases in the UK and Ireland and is part of The Linde Group. BOC is interested in identifying collaboration partners for developing solutions, as well as learning about plug and play technologies that can support discovery of customer insights. Innovators could also benefit from involvement in upcoming collaborations with BOC and other activities promoted by Digital Catapult.

The Pit Stop is a focused open innovation activity designed to accelerate the growth of new ideas. You will get the chance to explore specific challenges of BOC’s datasets and discuss potential solutions with BOC and technology and industry experts. To attend this Pit Stop please apply by 13 October 2017

Competitions

Enter the new UBDC cycling data challenge to win great prizes!

The Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC) is offering voucher prizes. Entries close 1 October 2017
Download the data, develop your ideas and pitch your innovations to an expert judging panel to win the exciting new cycling Data Challenge and take home the £1,000 voucher prize.

The benefits of cycling as a mode of transport are well documented – including saving money, improving health and a cleaner environment for all. Whether you’re an academic, in business, involved in a charity, a startup or a data enthusiast the challenge is to use Strava Metro data to develop innovative solutions to answer the question, how do we get more people cycling?

This is how it works: the data will be provided and the rest is up to you! Your entry could take the form of a tool, an app, a visualisation, a linked dataset, or a new piece of software to clearly demonstrate your ideas. Following the first round of judging, selected finalists will be invited to pitch their innovations to the judging panel and an audience of event attendees at a Demo Day.

New ‘Data Sandbox’ research competition to be launched soon

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), via the Rail Research UK Association (RRUKA), is to invest up to £500,000 in academic-led feasibility studies to identify data driven solutions to key network performance challenges in the rail industry in order to increase reliability, capacity and maintainability of the railway system.

Please visit the Data Sandbox webinar hub for more info and to join the discussion.

Register to attend the information and networking day on 31 October 2017 in London

Adonis: help us create the UK’s first digital twin

Bristol may soon have its own ‘digital twin’ – a first for the UK – through a new competition launched by Lord Adonis. Find out more.

User surveys

Capital Roadmap for X-ray Computed Tomography: EPSRC user survey

Open until 15 October 2017

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have just launched the Capital Roadmap for X-ray Computed Tomography: EPSRC user survey to get a better understanding of the future needs for investment in cutting-edge and underpinning equipment that will support world-leading physical science and engineering in the UK.

An important element of these roadmaps is to understand the current equipment provision across the UK. The working group would like the help of the community to inform EPSRC’s understanding of current provision by completing this survey. The group would also like to collect views on the future challenges and technical developments in tomography required to enable new science.

UK Data Service survey

Want to improve your ability to find data and use data in your research? Then take this online survey to give the UK Data Service feedback on their current Discover search interface and give input into their next-generation data repository, which will improve your ability to explore, analyse and link data in the UK Data Service’s collection.

This survey is the first of many initiatives in their endeavour to generate a special focus on user experience for the UK Data Service. In recognition of those giving their time to respond to these questions they are offering the first 100 respondents a £20 Amazon voucher as a thank you (terms and conditions apply).

Keep in touch

We are always happy to hear from you!

Would you like your events publicised by the JGI? Do you have interesting datasets that you would like to share/promote? Have any queries or would like to get involved? Please contact us jgi-admin@bristol.ac.uk

Follow us on Twitter @JGIBristol