Day 1 - Tues 24th March, 09:35 - 10:00

Prof Philip James - Professor of Data Science, Newcastle University

Title of Talk: Research in the Age of AI

Phil is a Professor of Data Science and Director of the Newcastle Urban Observatory, one of the largest programmes of urban environmental monitoring in Europe. He is an internationally recognised leader in the development of systems for urban monitoring.

Phil’s research sits at the intersection of computing, engineering and society, thinking how we can improve and understand our cities and regions through data supported intervention, monitoring and prediction. His work encompasses the use of urban data, especially real-time data, in addressing urban challenges such as urban mobility, air pollution, carbon reduction. He work closely with a large number of industrial stakeholders including Northumbria Water, Siemens, the Ordnance Survey, the Environment Agency and others.

In 2019, Phil was part of the Newcastle team that won “Smart City of the Year” awarded in London by the Digital Leaders organisation. Newcastle was noted for its collaborative and innovative use of technology across the city to deliver services more efficiently and make life more liveable. The Newcastle Smart City Partnership aims to deliver better transport, cleaner air, more responsive local services and creating more independence for people in their own homes through the exploitation of big data and technology.

Day 2 - Wed 25th March, 09:35 - 10:00

Prof Sallie Bailey - Chief Scientist, Natural England

Title of Talk: TBC

Sallie is Chief Scientist at Natural England, the UK Government’s adviser for the natural environment in England. She leads the Chief Scientist’s Directorate to ensure science, evidence and expertise are at the heart of decision-making, partnerships and community action to achieve nature recovery.

Previously, she was Deputy Chief Science Advisor for Scottish Government in the areas of environment, natural resources and agriculture, bringing scientific evidence to the centre of decision-making and policy. She developed the First Minster’s Environmental Council to advise Scottish Government on international best practice and response to the climate emergency and ecological decline. She has experience working internationally, with the EU, pan UK and in Scotland across science, evidence-based policy, regulation and delivery within the spheres of natural resource management, biodiversity and the environment.

Sallie has held leadership roles in the UK state forestry sector, is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and the British Ecological Society, also holding an Honorary Professorship at the University of Stirling. Following her MSc in GIS and remote-sensing and PhD in woodland ecology and biodiversity loss at the University of Nottingham she completed a post-doctorate at the Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University considering biodiversity and natural capital.