‘Professor Risk’ among new speakers added to DataFest lineup 

Scotland’s Innovation Centre for data science and artificial intelligence (AI) has revealed the names of more speakers for its flagship two-week data festival, DataFest, which takes place across Scotland in March next year.

The Data Lab welcomes mathematician and broadcaster, Hannah Fry; AI entrepreneur, Priya Lahkani; Campaigner and Author of Invisible Women, Caroline Criado-Perez; and British statistician, David Spiegelhalter, known as ‘Professor Risk’, are among some of the names revealed today who will join world-famous astronaut, Tim Peake, as speakers at DataSummit, the two-day international conference element of the festival.

The Innovation Centre also revealed Erin LeDell, Chief Machine Learning Scientist at H20.ai and Janelle Shane, Scientist and Writer, aiweirdness.com, will speak at DataTech, an aspect of the festival which provides a forum to discuss the deep technical elements of data science.

Now in its fourth year, DataFest has grown to become the UK’s largest data festival and a key calendar event for professionals working in data and AI across the UK and beyond, with last year’s festival attracting more than 4,000 visitors.

This year’s key theme ‘#BeyondData’ will focus on the impact data and AI has on the world and the future potential of the sector to help realise innovation across business and wider society, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities data and AI presents.

Taking place from the 9th to 20th March 2020 across Scotland, the festival will also see the return of a range of successful events, including Women in Data Science, an inspirational showcase for school children on data careers, Data Talent Scotland, the networking and recruitment event for industry and academia, and a host of fringe activities, including STEM-related events.

The full list of speakers announced so far and their biographies can be found further below. 

Fraser Macdonald, DataFest Delivery Director at The Data Lab, said: “Preparations are ramping up now ahead of next year’s DataFest20 and we are excited to announce a fantastic mix of speakers who will join us during our flagship two-week data festival. 

“Since its inception, DataFest has grown to become the largest data festival in the UK and we are incredibly proud of the impact it has each year in bringing people at the forefront of data and AI from all over the world to Scotland, enabling us to not only showcase our Scottish capabilities, but share insights and innovation through a range of events to suit everyone.

“The latest speakers to be announced will be excellent additions to next year’s line-up, and we are thoroughly looking forward to welcoming them to DataFest and listening to the ground-breaking work they’re undertaking in the fields of artificial intelligence and data science.”

For more information and to book tickets, please visit: https://www.datafest.global/