51³Ô¹ÏÍø

51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Data Science Institute (DSI) is celebrating its fifth birthday with a series of lectures.

I am immensely proud of the DSI and what we, as a College rich in knowledge of data science, computing and mathematics, have achieved over the past five years. Professor Yike Guo Director, Data Science Institute

The DSI was founded in April 2014 by Director Professor Yike Guo, of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Department of Computing. His aim was to foster, advance and promote excellence in data science research, education and application across all domains for the benefit of society.

Over its five years, the DSI has successfully built strong networks and collaborations both nationally and internationally with industry, academia and government bodies.

Its main achievements to date include building the Europe’s largest data visualisation suite, the Data Observatory, setting up joint academic labs with several international industry organisations, and forming the hub of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s data science research and education.

The DSI launched its anniversary celebrations on 17 September 2019 with a talk on “”.

The eight lectures in the series are open to all, and will conclude with the DSI’s annual lecture, given by the , on Monday 4 November. The lectures span data science, AI, machine learning, smart algorithms, and robots - and the ethics and theory behind them.

Professor Guo, said: "I am immensely proud of the DSI and what we, as a College rich in knowledge of data science, computing and mathematics, have achieved over the past five years. DSI researchers have published over 300 papers and, thanks to its many research collaborations both across 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and with a variety of academic and industry partners, the DSI has established itself as an international hub on data science."

DSI birthday celebration events, 2019

“” by Professor Ross King (University of Manchester)

17 September

will discuss his creations, the Robot Scientists ‘’ and ‘’, which are the first machines to autonomously discover scientific knowledge by forming and experimentally confirming new hypotheses. Adam works in the domain of yeast functional genomics, while Eve was developed to automate early-stage drug development.

“” by Professor Murray Shanahan (51³Ô¹ÏÍø & DeepMind)

26 September

Professor Shanahan’s work spans artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, logic, dynamical systems, computational neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. In this talk, he will discuss neural network architectures that learn to acquire and exploit relational information, and will present recent work on learning explicitly relational representations.

“” by Professor Stephen Furber (University of Manchester)

1 October

works on neural systems engineering, and has created computers that can model the human brain. His talk will focus on these computers, known as neuromorphic computers, and their potential applications.

“” by Professor Niranjan Mahesan (University of Southampton)

8 October

works on machine learning algorithms, focusing on data-driven inference problems in computational biology. In this talk, he will discuss the problems facing smart algorithms when they are applied to target tracking, condition monitoring of complex engines, and patient health monitoring in an intensive care setting.

“” by PROFESSOR KARL FRISTON (University College London)

17 October

is a theoretical neuroscientist and authority on brain imaging. In this talk, he will argue that life - or biological self-organisation - is an inevitable and emergent property of any random dynamical system with Markov blankets – a type of ‘cognitive membrane’ that separates our world-view from pure reality.

“” by Professor Abbas Edalat (51³Ô¹ÏÍø)

24 October

Professor Edalat is an expert in mathematical and logical theories of computation, as well as a political and social activist. His talk will focus on ways to enhance emotional and social intelligence and creativity in humans, in order to handle the existential problems we currently encounter as a species. Professor Edalat will also give the results of a long-term pilot project on the subject and then describe a ‘laughter protocol’ which directly challenges old and entrenched beliefs of the ‘Bayesian brain’ about past misfortunes and tragedies.

“” by Dame Wendy Hall (University of Southampton)

30 October

is an expert in artificial intelligence, and was recently named the UK government’s first . She will discuss what socially responsible AI means, and will look at current attempts to ensure AI development is undertaken in a socially responsible, ethical, and diverse way, before discussing what should be done to ensure we build AI systems in a way that is good for humanity.

Annual Lecture event: “” by Lord David Willetts

4 November

The final lecture in the series will be delivered by the , who will discuss the future of research in the UK.

Lord Willetts is President of the Resolution Foundation, an independent think-tank focused on improving the living standards for those on low to middle incomes. He served as the Member of Parliament for Havant (1992-2015), as Minister for Universities and Science (2010-2014) and previously worked at HM Treasury and the No. 10 Policy Unit.

Lord Willetts is a visiting Professor at King’s College London, a Board member of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a Board member of Surrey Satellites and of the Biotech Growth Trust. He is the Chair of the Sanger Institute and the Chair of Foundation for Science and Technology. He is an Honorary Fellow of Nuffield College, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society and the Chancellor of the University of Leicester.