\u201cI hope the event has inspired delegates to believe that Scotland can become home to the world\u2019s most impactful data community, nurturing companies that will change the world for the better through a greater understanding of data and its implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arthur, in a keynote address, confirmed the Scottish government\u2019s interest in data and its potential to secure a better future for society, but cautioned it must be used ethically, or it won\u2019t gain public support.<\/p>\n First minister Nicola Sturgeon said, in a statement in support of the government-backed organisation: \u201cData is central to the Scottish government\u2019s vision for our economic future. It is an area where Scotland already excels, where we are ambitious to do better, and which has potential for significant economic opportunities and important social benefits.<\/p>\n \u201cData is absolutely crucial to tackling social and economic challenges, creating jobs and wealth, and improving people\u2019s health and well-being. The talent, innovation and energy on display at an event like Data Summit demonstrates that the data sector here in Scotland is in good health.\u201d<\/p>\n The conference took place at Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 3 and 4 November. It had a range of speakers that included quantum computing professors, nanotechnologists, entrepreneurs, data ethicists, philosophers, musicians and artists.<\/p>\n The first day\u2019s roster of speakers was predominantly female, and included Stephanie Hare, whose book Technology is not neutral<\/em> was named by the Financial Times<\/em> as one of its tech books of the year. She discussed how technological innovation overwhelmingly ignores women and the embedded bias within AI.<\/p>\n Science broadcaster Hannah Fry gave the first day\u2019s closing keynote and demonstrated how even well-intentioned data science projects can end up being biased<\/a>, and how women in particular are incrementally made to feel that fields like mathematics or endeavours like Formula One car racing are not for women \u2013 unless they are \u201cgrid girls\u201d, as in the case of F1.<\/p>\n Devi Sridhar, a professor at the University of Edinburgh Medical School and a personal chair in Global Public Health, talked about the use of data during the Covid-19 pandemic, and what problems lack of trust in data could cause in terms of public health.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/peymantaeidi.net\/stem-cell\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Brian-Hills-The-Data-Lab-at-Data-Summit-800px_half_column_mobile.jpg\")
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