Techy Talks and other events coming up for Autumn 2023
Events for teachers, schoolkids, families, general public
This is an occasional post highlighting some talks and events that touch on computer science or computing-adjacent tech and which are not aimed solely at an academic audience. This isn’t a complete list (an impossible task!) but is drawn from a range of venues and organisations, some already computer-focused, some that have a wider focus but who sometimes host computing events. If you have a suitable event, particularly ones for which the public / schools can get tickets for, please let me (Jo) know, thanks.
The lectures will be broadcast on the BBC over the Christmas holidays, or you can get a live ticket in the ballot, which opened on 14th September (for Ri members and tickets reserved for UK schools in disadvantaged areas). More information.
The Ri will also be livestreaming the recording, as it happens, to several universities and community groups around the UK and Queen Mary University of London will be one of them. We’ll share more information when we have it.
Fri 22 September 2023, 7pm, £various, in-person (London, at the Royal Institution)
“Join Steve McNeil and Rob Sedgebeer (All Hail King Rob) as they connect an entire room of gamers to play as teams, or individuals against each other, on their latest gaming creations. Will there be bugs? Maybe. Will it be fun? Definitely.
Don’t forget to bring a charged phone or tablet with you to the event. It’s easy to join in and you don’t have to download anything new to play along. The team are also on hand to help you if you need it.“
Part 1 – a series, organised in collaboration with the Royal Institution. Fri 22 September 2023, 7-8.30pm, £various, online or in-person (London)
“Join us as we will delve into the world of generative AI and explore what it is, how it works, its history and reliability.
Generative AI refers to a type of artificial intelligence that involves creating new and original data or content. Unlike traditional AI models that rely on large datasets and algorithms to classify or predict outcomes, generative AI models are designed to learn the underlying patterns and structure of the data and generate novel outputs that mimic human creativity.
ChatGPT is perhaps the most well-known example, but the field is far larger and more varied than text generation. Other applications of generative AI include image and video synthesis, speech generation, music composition, and virtual reality.
In this lecture, Professor Mirella Lapata will present an overview of this exciting—sometimes controversial—and rapidly evolving field.“
“Anne-Marie Imafidon will draw on her portfolio career across industry, academia and entrepreneurship to shed light on the power every one of us has to change the status quo, impact positive change for ourselves and our communities, future-proof ourselves and build a better tomorrow, no matter where we are in our own careers.“
Download and print a free poster of Anne-Marie Imafidon, along with other posters of Black computer scientists, on our posters page.
This event is sold out but included for information.
Mon 9 October 2023, 9.30am to 3pm, In-person (Bletchley)
“Digital Future Days is an exciting initiative hosted by TNMOC, dedicated to empowering school-age learners with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the digital era. Through a series of 20 engaging events held throughout the year, we provide a unique opportunity for students and educators to explore and develop desirable digital skills while connecting with industry leaders.”
Tue 10 October 2023, 5-6.30pm BST*, online, free Katharine Childs (Raspberry Pi Foundation)
“Countries are increasingly introducing Computer Science as a curriculum subject, but access to learning does not always ensure that all students are included and have the opportunity to succeed. Culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) is a theoretical framework that aims to make learning more equitable by incorporating learners’ cultures and experiences. Work to localise CRP in the UK is ongoing and has highlighted the need for professional development for primary teachers to apply the theory for use with lesson resources. This session will explain in more detail the professional development approach used in a recent research study, and provide a hands-on opportunity to have a go at adapting a short activity to make it more culturally relevant to learners ‘needs.“
*Clocks go back on the last weekend in October. The seminars take place on the first Tuesday each month at 17:00–18:30 BST / 12:00–13:30 EDT / 9:00–10:30 PDT / 18:00–19:30 CEST.
Tuesday 10th October 2023, 6-9pm, £various, online or in-person (London). The evening event includes several science talks from women, including
• Greening the ICT world, Dr Azza Eltraify, senior software engineer at Ultracell Networks Ltd. Greening the ICT sector has emerged as a vital aspect to balance technological advancement with environmental sustainability by adopting energy-efficient technologies and practices such as eco-design and eco e-waste management. • 3D printing artificial organs, Dr Antonia Pontiki, biomedical engineer at King’s College London. 3D printed anatomical models can benefit surgeons in improving their skills and confidence in surgery, as well as provide patients with advanced surgical techniques and hence better quality of life.
Wed11 October 2023, 5-6pm, free, online (you’ll need to create a free account to register).
This one is aimed at teachers, lecturers, outreach staff etc who work in the computing education space: “Are you interested in finding out about research, conducting research in your classroom, developing connections with schools to conduct research or are you keen to share your academic research with teachers? Whatever your interest in computer science education research, come along!“
Wed 11 October 2023, 6pm, free, online or in-person (London)
“Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI are changing our lives and society as a whole from how we shop to how we access news and make decisions. Are current and traditional legal frameworks and new governance strategies able to guard against the novel risks posed by new systems? How can we mitigate AI bias, protect privacy, and make algorithmic systems more accountable? How are data protection, non-discrimination, free speech, libel, and liability laws standing up to these changes?“
Part 2 – a series, organised in collaboration with the Royal Institution. Tue 17 October 2023, 7-8.30pm, £various, online or in-person (London)
“As generative AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, its potential to revolutionize the way we interact with data is clear. It has already shown its ability to assist with tasks such as image and video synthesis, text and speech generation, and music composition. However, the rapid development of generative AI models has also raised concerns about their misuse, particularly in the context of disinformation campaigns, deepfakes and online harassment.
Are generative AI models moving too fast for regulation to keep up? Will the development of generative AI outpace our ability to ensure their responsible use?
Inthis lecture, Dr Mhairi Aitken will examine what this means for online and offline safety and discuss how society might be able to mitigate these risks.”
“Our educational STEM activities have become the go-to Milton Keynes event for children wanting creative fun during the school holidays and every weekend throughout the year. From Minecraft to OSMO, BBC micro:bits to Robotics, there is plenty to do to unlock imaginations, inspire and entertain. Educational fun for all the family, providing byte sized tasters of coding, robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality and much much more!“
Tue 24 October 2023, 6pm, free, online or in-person “Our brains are computers. What if we could enhance their processing power? Medical technology now allows for brain signals to be read and translated to reverse paralysis. Deep brain stimulation is also used to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s. Neural interfaces are already improving lives. How do they work? What’s next for our physical connection to digital technology? And what are the implications of having new hardware in our heads?“
Wed 25 October 2023, 11am to 1.30pm, £15 (workshop), £10 accompanying adult, in-person (Cambridge)
“Wearable technology is being talked about a lot right now. With the help of some basic electronic components like LEDs and switches, and some sewing skills you can add function, fashion and fun to the clothes, soft toys or something else you regularly use.
In this session, we will be making an armband fitted with LEDs. With dark evenings already here, the armband will go towards helping you stay safe on the roads.
This workshop is aimed at children aged 10 years and older.“
Fri 27 October 2023, 11am to 1.30pm, £30 (workshop participant), £10 accompanying adult, in-person (Cambridge)
“Halloween’s nearly here and we want to build something spooky. How about a ghostie gadget? It will spin, squeal, and spook you if you make it jump with a clap!
For this activity we’ll be turning our classroom into an Electronics Lab. We’ll have soldering stations set up and our in-house elecetronics expert will help you assemble, solder and test your Ghostie Gadget kit ready to take home with you.”
Part 3 – a series, organised in collaboration with the Royal Institution. Wed 6 December 2023, 7-8.30pm, £various, online or in-person (London)
“In the final lecture of the series, we will explore the potential futures of generative AI, and what they could mean for AI applications as the technology progresses.
With their ability to generate human-like language and complete a variety of tasks, generative AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate, learn and work. But what other doors will this technology open for us, and how can we harness it to make great leaps in technology innovation? Have we finally done it? Have we cracked AI?
Join Professor Michael Wooldridge for a fascinating discussion on the possibilities and challenges of generative AI models, and their potential impact on societies of the future.”
Note: Michael Woolridge is also delivering this year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (see above).
PODCAST: Artificial Intelligence: Who cares?
In July Science Gallery London hosted a BBC Global News podcast recording of their ‘AI special’, which is now available to listen on BBC Sounds.
Places which have computing-themed talks and events
Teaching London Computing: A RESOURCE HUB from CAS LONDON & CS4FN 