Tag Archives: BCS – British Computer Society / Chartered Institute for IT

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The Big AI Debate for Students

The BCS is organising an AI Debate for Students on Tuesday 18th July between 2 and 3pm, it’s free to attend or to stream to your classrooms.

Students discussing image by StockSnap from Pixabay

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making the headlines in a big way, and thus far the focus has been on the views of industry professionals and educational experts. It’s vital that we also gather the student voice on the opportunities and threats of AI and how it is used in education.

To begin this dialogue will be holding an online (Zoom) debate on

  • Tuesday July 18th, 2-3pm.

Join us to hear facts and opinions both for and against the use of AI in education. Hear from both experts and student speakers, with the opportunity for your students ask questions and contribute views to the discussion. You can register for the event (which is free of charge) here – something different to engage students in during those last few days of term!

Understanding what young people think about AI is crucial since they will be most affected by AI’s advancements in the future. Their perspectives can shape the ethical, legal, and social implications of AI and their views can help ensure that AI of the future aligns with their needs and values.”

This blog is supported through EPSRC grant EP/W033615/1.

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[Job, UK] @BCS, Chief Editor (CAS*), <£50k *Computing At School, ^JB

The BCS has announced a new Chief Editor role for someone with knowledge of both computing and the school settings in which it’s taught, and ‘the computing education landscape in the UK and beyond’. Full details in the link and a brief summary below.

BCS
Chief Editor (CAS)
https://www.bcs.org/about-us/careers-at-bcs/vacancy-chief-editor-cas/

The Chief Editor will possess exceptional communication skills, able to develop and deliver interesting and unique content. They will be highly inquisitive, able to stimulate discussion, seeking out inspiring stories and encouraging and supporting others to contribute fully. They will be a natural collaborator, able to build positive relationships quickly, seize opportunities and make good things happen quickly. They will have a proven track record in making complex and technical concepts understandable, writing for a professional audience, engaging communities through content and will play a leading role in communicating and engaging with our community.

The Chief Editor will be responsible for content on the new Computing at School website. They will have a genuine interest in computing education and be passionate about finding and sharing opinions and evidence amongst the Computing at School membership and beyond. They will plan, research, write and edit copy. They will seek contributions and commission others to support their plans to ensure that the content is relevant to the audience.

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How to enjoy a career in computing: the power of networks – 22 May, free, 5.15pm via @bcsacademy

Professor Dame Wendy Hall FRS FREng will present the 4th Karen Spärck Jones Lecture (an annual event that honours women in computing research).

A Digital Library by Eric Hackathorn

“The influence of her work has been significant in many areas including digital libraries, the development of the Semantic Web, and the emerging research discipline of Web Science”

“In 1987, I co-authored a paper on the lack of women in computer science called “Where have all the girls gone?”. Twenty-seven years later things have changed depressingly little despite much effort across many different projects and initiatives. During that time however, I have (mostly) enjoyed a wonderful career in computing. In this talk I will reflect on how the power of networks has affected my career both in terms of the work I do and in terms of surviving, indeed thriving, in what is still very much a man’s world. I will also reflect on the current state of affairs with regards to women in computer science and in the wider STEM community. What lessons have we learnt and what hope is there for the future? As Karen Spärck Jones famously said – computing is too important to be left to men. But it is only by working together that we will change the gender balance in our industry. It’s time for men to make sacrifices as well.”

Karen Spärck Jones Lecture 2014 – Dame Wendy Hall
5:15 PM to 9:00 PM
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, First Floor, The Davidson Building, 5 Southampton Street, London , WC2E 7HA
Organiser: BCS Academy of Computing
Price: Free to attend
Book a free ticket.

Our sister site, cs4fn (Computer Science For Fun) has a magazine called ‘The women are here‘ all about women in computing.

cs4fn's magazine celebrating women's contribution to computing

 

 

 

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Turing lecture – free livestream on Monday 24 February, 6.30pm GMT

“Beyond silicon: cognition and much, much more” Monday 24 February, 18:30 GMT

The IET / BCS Turing lecture 2014 is being given in four cities this year (London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh). The London talk (at the Royal Institution) is fully booked but the IET will be hosting a free livestream of the talk as it’s given on the Monday evening.

Visit the IET’s Turing Lecture webcast site to see if your computer setup will let you view the stream.

More information at the BCS’s website on Beyond silicon: cognition and much, much more, and on the speaker – Bernard S Meyerson. The Turing lecture is given in honour of Alan Turing, an important figure in the history of computer science.

Free resource from cs4fn
We have a free PDF / web-based version of ‘The Alan Turing Issue‘ of cs4fn magazine (issue 14) for schools.

“…2012, marks one hundred years since the birth of Alan Turing. You may not have heard of him before, but he is one of the most important scientists of the last century. He worked on maths, logic, code-breaking and most importantly, he came up with some of the fundamental ideas that make computers work. He was one of the very first computer scientists.

In this issue we’ll explore Turing’s world-changing life and ideas, and we’ll check out the latest research in subjects he cared about. You’ll read about computers made from chocolate, the best ways to keep a secret and an animal that can survive being chopped into almost 300 pieces. It’s a pretty amazing world out there, made all the more amazing by Alan Turing’s work.”