About this event

This Data for Impact event will bring together researchers from across the university, and a range of career stages, to explore how data can be used for impact. We will hear from academics using diverse forms of data to address pressing issues across a range of domains, including climate change, education and poverty. Speakers will reflect on the successes and challenges of using data when working with stakeholders to create impactful research. The session will be interactive with lots of opportunity to ask questions of our speakers.

Please look at our Code of Conduct which we follow at all virtual and in-person events.

Programme 

Ailish Craig (School of Geographical Sciences)

Jamie Evans (School of Geographical Sciences)

Cathryn Knight (School of Education)

Neo Poon (Bristol Medical School)

Zahraa Abdallah (School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology)

Discussion 

Networking lunch (so we can cater for the right numbers, please book this separately).

Audience Level:

Beginner  

Learning Outcomes:

Learn about the diverse forms of data being used to address a range of crucial issues 

Left to right: Ailish Craig, Jamie Evans, Cathryn Knight, Neo Poon, Zahraa Abdallah

Dr Ailish Craig (she/her), 

My current research explores how climate change information is used in adaptation planning in southern Africa. A key focus of my work is to bridge the gap between climate model data and national decision makers. This work will ensure decision makers have access to understandable and accurate climate information that can be used to inform national climate adaptation plans. Through the research I will explore how climate science can be used in the policy arena and test different ways of communicating uncertain, complex climate projections. The research is interdisciplinary, taking theories and methods from geography, risk communication and psychology.

Jamie Evans (he/him), Research Fellow at the Personal Finance Research Centre (PFRC) within the School of Geographical Sciences

Jamie is a Research Fellow at the Personal Finance Research Centre, based at the University of Bristol. His research focuses predominantly on the financial wellbeing of low- and middle-income households in the UK, exploring issues of financial inclusion, fintech, the poverty premium and consumer vulnerability. He has conducted research for a range of organisations including the Money and Pensions Service, Financial Conduct Authority, UK Finance, and charitable foundations such as the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust. He was also previously seconded on a Parliamentary Fellowship to the House of Commons Library, producing briefings for MPs on topics related to household finances.

Dr Cathryn Knight (she/her), Senior Lecturer in Psychology in Education, School of Education

Dr Cathryn Knight is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology in Education at the University of Bristol. Her research is predominately focuses on neurodivergence in education. In particular, she is interested in system level approaches to inclusive education and the barriers towards this within the education system. Cathryn uses mixed methods approaches to explore these topics and has a particular expertise in the use of secondary and administrative data. Cathryn is currently working with the Department for Education and Skills in the Welsh Government on a project to support inclusive education initiatives in Wales.

Dr Neo Poon (He/Him), Senior Research Associate, Bristol Medical School 

Neo is a behavioural data scientist. He is currently a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, and his research focuses on understanding personality traits from massive transactional data and predicting sociopolitical behaviours. His doctoral research (PhD Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School) covered a range of topics related to human decision making, including consumer choices and public opinions. He also has research experience in public health and patient well-being, as well as teaching experience in statistics and behaviour economics that led to multiple awards. Neo is experienced in R, Python, SQL, Bash, and JavaScript (React).

Dr Zahraa Abdallah (she/her), Senior Lecturer in Data Science, School of Engineering Mathematics

Zahraa Abdallah is a Senior Lecturer in Data Science at the School of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol. Her research interest is in machine learning, specifically temporal data, adaptive models and multi-modalities. Her research focuses on developing new methods for temporal data analysis, applying ML techniques to the healthcare domain, and expanding learning to other modalities. She is actively involved in various multidisciplinary projects including healthcare projects such as investigating biomarkers for early-stage detection of Alzheimer's disease, early detection of Cancer, analysing EEG data for Parkinson’s disease, and unhiding clinically unknown patterns in insulin needs for diabetic patients. Before joining Bristol, Zahraa received her PhD from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Her thesis was awarded the Mollie Holman award for the best dissertation in the School of Information Technology.

Bristol Data Week 2024

This event is part of Bristol Data Week 2024, organised by the Jean Golding Institute. Running from Monday 3rd June – Friday 7th June 2024, this will be our 7th annual Data Week; an interactive programme of speakers, training and workshops open to all and completely free of charge.

Keep up to date with sessions happening throughout Bristol Data Week on the Jean Golding Institute website follow us on Twitter @JGIBristol and use #BristolDataWeek.