Academy of Ideas

#BattleFest2016: Big Data: does size matter?

Big data knows where you’ve been and who your friends are. It knows what you like and what makes you angry. It can predict what you’ll buy, where you’ll be the victim of crime and when you’ll have a heart attack. Big data knows you better than you know yourself, or so it claims. But how well do you know big data?
What is data? What makes it big? And is it only size that matters? From science to smart cities, business to politics, self-quantification to the Internet of Things, big data has been described as the fuel of the next industrial revolution, and as a modern oracle. It’s winning elections, revolutionising scientific research, and transforming how businesses interact with their customers. And it’s just getting started. Now is the time to decide how we want to use the power of big data. We already benefit from aggregating small improvements, saving time, money and energy through more efficient use of what we have. But we could be more ambitious, and aim to do more with more instead of the same with less. Big data could think bigger. In other ways, though, it’s already too big for its boots: however big the dataset, however powerful the analysis, big data has blind spots. It may be great for population-wide patterns, but it’s not so good at why an individual person might choose to do one thing or another.
This raises the question: why are we so keen to put our faith in big data? Does that say less about what the technology can really achieve than about our lack of trust in one another, or in ourselves?
Timandra Harkness
journalist, writer & broadcaster; presenter, Futureproofing and other BBC Radio 4 programmes; author, Big Data: does size matter?
Zulfikar Abbany
senior science and technology journalist, Deutsche Welle
Will Moy
director, Full Fact
Dr Alex Powlesland
principal scientist, Immunocore Ltd

#BattleCry: Munira Mirza on reinvigorating London

Max Sanderson talks to London's former deputy mayor for education and culture.
In a new series of podcasts ahead of the forthcoming Battle of Ideas festival, journalist Max Sanderson profiles some of the Battle’s most interesting speakers and their ideas.
In the final episode of Battle Cry, Max speaks to Munira Mirza, an arts and philanthropy adviser and London’s former deputy mayor for education and culture, about how London can maintain its vibrant arts and cultural life.
Munira will be speaking at sessions on Britain after Brexit and the future of London at this weekend’s Battle of Ideas.

#PodcastOfIdeas: What’s the truth about generational inequality?

Podcast: Rob Lyons speaks to sociologist Jennie Bristow.
In this edition of the Podcast of Ideas, Rob Lyons talks to Dr Jennie Bristow from Canterbury Christ Church University, author of Baby Boomers and Generational Conflict, about whether the young should be angry at older generations for profligacy and selfishness, or if the blame game is just a displacement exercise preventing millennials from tackling the problems they face.
Jennie will be speaking on three panels at the weekend’s Battle of Ideas on generational inequality, the future of education, and dating apps. Find out more here.

#BattleCry: Anders Sandberg on ethical AI

Battle Cry - Anders Sandberg on ethical AI
Max Sanderson profiles Anders Sandberg from the Future of Humanity Institute
In a new series of podcasts ahead of the forthcoming Battle of Ideas festival, journalist Max Sanderson profiles some of the Battle’s most interesting speakers and their ideas.
In this the third episode of Battle Cry, Max speaks to Anders Sandberg from the Future of Humanity Institute about the future of AI and robotics and whether machines can ever become true moral agents.
Anders will speaking at session Why, robot? Can we teach AI to be ethical? at the Battle.
The Battle of Ideas festival will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October. Get your tickets here.

#BattleCry: Ian Dunt on populism

Max Sanderson profiles Ian Dunt, editor of Politics.co.uk

In a new series of podcasts ahead of the forthcoming Battle of
Ideas festival, journalist Max Sanderson profiles some of the Battle’s
most interesting speakers and their ideas.
In this the second episode of Battle Cry, Max speaks to journalist
Ian Dunt about the why the term ‘populism’ is now being bandied about so
often in both Europe and America, and whether the term is even useful
for understanding contemporary politics.
Ian will speaking at sessions on populism and the busybody state at the Battle. Find out more here.
The Battle of Ideas festival will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October. Get your tickets here.

#BattleCry: Timandra Harkness on Big Data

Max Sanderson profiles writer, broadcaster and comedian Timandra Harkness
In a new series of podcasts ahead of the forthcoming Battle of Ideas festival, journalist Max Sanderson profiles some of the Battle’s most interesting speakers and their ideas.
In the first episode of Battle Cry, Max speaks to writer, broadcaster and comedian Timandra Harkness about her book, Big Data: Does Size Matter?, and whether the Big Data revolution is something to be embraced, feared or perhaps a bit of both. 
Timandra will speaking at sessions on big data, blockchain, comedy and censorship, and ethical AI at the Battle. Find out more here.
The Battle of Ideas festival will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October. Get your tickets here.
To keep up with the Institute’s podcasts subscribe here.

#BattleFest2015: After Ferguson - policing and race in America

Recorded at the Battle of ideas 2015.

#PodcastOfIdeas: How will we feed Britain after Brexit?

Rob Lyons speaks to Dr Guy Smith from the National Farmers Union

The Brexit vote throws the future of British farming and indeed
how to produce enough food to feed Britain into question. The EU was
always notorious for its apparently huge subsidies to farmers, while
other struggling sectors of the economy – as illustrated by the
threatened closure of Port Talbot steel works – have been refused such
support. Now, however, farmers may be hit with heavy tariffs on cereals
and dairy products. For some of those who wanted to remain, the silver
lining of leaving the EU is the opportunity to shake up farming policy,
ditching the generous subsidies farmers receive. Is this the start of
another battle between rural folk and townies, or a valuable opportunity
to rethink how Britain, which already relies heavily on imports, feeds
itself?
Ahead of October’s Battle of Ideas session, How will we feed Britain after Brexit?, Rob Lyons talks to Guy Smith, vice-president of the National Farmers Union, about the future of farming in the UK.
You can find out more about this Battle of Ideas session here.
To keep up with the Institute’s podcasts subscribe here.