Harnessing Data and AI for Knowledge and Inclusive Societies

Background

Artificial Intelligence technologies have come leaps and bounds in the last few years and they offer the potential to transform our lives from driverless cars to augmenting our decision making. But are these technologies a panacea or Pandora’s box? What are the potential consequences of AI on the way that we do business, we engage and interact with each other and the world around us? How will society be affected by technologies that can not only emulate but augment human decision making and even take decision-making out of our hands? Will they be a force for good or are there far-reaching implications on societal structures, institutions and our very sense of being humans that we have not even begin to contemplate?

About the Conference

Join us as we bring together a diverse set of experts in data science and AI to showcase the power of harnessing data for knowledge and inclusive societies. Knowledge societies generate, share and make available to all members of the society knowledge that may be used to improve the human condition.

Two days of fascinating talks at the prestigious Wivenhoe House Hotel will include case study presentations, a panel discussion with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex, the Chief Constable for Essex Police and the Chief Executive of Essex County Council while international experts including representatives from UNESCO and UNESCO Chairs will discuss the potential for AI and Data to support and enhance Sustainable Development. There will be networking opportunities to share knowledge and best practice.
This conference aims to explore the development and deployment of AI and data science methods in government and the wider public sector, but also businesses and charities. This includes the use of such methods to support the development and implementation of policy and delivering improved services to citizens at the regional, and national level, whilst we simultaneously tackle global challenges.

This conference is for those inspired to make a difference and for those ready to embrace the revolutionising potential of data science and AI to improve society for all. A cross/interdisciplinary conference, this event is aimed at researchers, policymakers, practitioners and professionals already working in or interested in exploring this area.

We hope you can join us.

Further information

Free refreshments will be available on both days of the conference including a networking event.

Full agenda

Agenda: Day One

09.00 - 09.30 Registration and Refreshments

09.30 – 09.40 Welcome and Introduction to the Workshop

· Professor Maria Fasli, Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Health, University of Essex, UNESCO Chair in Analytics and Data Science

09.40 – 10.10

· Dr Shoaib Ehsan, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex - RAI UK: Creating an International Ecosystem for Responsible AI Research and Innovation

10.10 – 10.40

· Professor Peter Fussey, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Essex - Human Rights in the Age of AI-Assisted Policing

10.40 – 11.10

· Dr Spyros Samothrakis, Deputy Director of Institute of Analytics and Data Science – AI, Labour and Knightian Uncertainty

11:10 - 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 12.00

· Dr Kakia Chatsiou, School of Technology, Business and Arts, University of Suffolk – Learning sound and speech representations for AI - from children impaired speech data to gunshot detection in Amazon

12.00 – 12.30

· Professor Noam Lubell, School of Law, University of Essex - Machines Deciding Fate: AI and Human Judgment

12.30 – 13.00

· Professor Katherine Cockin, Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies, University of Essex - The Rise of the Robots in Literary History

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 14.30

· Professor Haris Mouratatidis, Director of the Institute for Analytics and Data Science, University of Essex - Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Challenges and Opportunities

14.30 - 15.30 AI and Open Data for Sustainable Development - part 1

· Dr Majdi Owda, UNESCO Chair in Data Science - Open Science for Sustainable Development: An International Perspective

· Professor Lampros Stergioulas, UNESCO Chair in AI and Data Science – Open Government Data Framework

15.30 – 15.50 Coffee Break

15.50 – 16.20

· Dr Bhanu Neupane, UNESCO Advisor for Communication and Information - Supporting policy makers and member states to deploy AI and Open Data

16.20 – 17.00 AI and Open Data for Sustainable Development – part 2

· Panel Discussion

17.00 – 17.10 Close of the Day

17.15 – 18.15 Drinks Reception and Networking

We invite you to join us for a networking drinks reception.

Agenda: Day Two

09.00 – 09.30 Registration and Refreshments

09.30 – 10.00

· Hannah El-Sabassy, Research Officer, Business and Local Government Data Research Centre - Community Intervention Economics: Exploring the Impact of the SOS bus on Public Services

10.00 – 10.30

· BJ Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex Police - The clues are in the data: Policing’s movement into a data rich operating environment

10.30 – 11.00

· Nicola Mallett, Head of Profession: Data and Analytics, Essex County Council and Colin Seward, Population Health Management Programme Manager, Essex County Council - Partnership work in action: The power of join up

11.00 – 11.45 Panel Discussion

· Professor Anthony Forster, Vice-Chancellor of University of Essex

· BJ Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex Police

· Gavin Jones CEO of Essex County Council

11.45 – 12.00 Coffee Break

12.00 – 12.30

· Professor Stavroula Karapapa, School of Law, University of Essex - Artificial intelligence and the law: Legal and ethical issues

12.30 – 13.00

· Dr Andrea Fejos, School of Law, University of Essex - The role of data in credit union loans provision to facilitate financial inclusion

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 14.30

· Dr Osama Mahmoud, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Essex - Pubertal growth and risk of low maximal attainment of lung function

14.30 – 15.00

· Dr Haider Raza, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex - From Metadata to Diagnosis: A Paradigm Shift in Skin Lesion Classification

15.00 – 15.15 Coffee Break

15.15 – 15.45

· Dr Dheeraj Rathee, Chief Technology and Analytics Officer, Provide Digital Limited - The evolution of data drive healthcare: Transforming insights into action

15.45 – 16.15

· Ragini Gokhale, Senior Research Officer, Business and Local Government Data Research Centre - Maximize learning efficiency through Co-training

16.15 – 16.45

· Bruno Queiros Arcanjo, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex - Remote sensing vegetation data to mitigate climate change humanitarian crises

16.45 – 17.00 Closing Remarks

Host or Publisher ESRC Business and Local Government Data Research Centre