The Data Lab: Supporting Transformative Projects Parliamentary Event

3 Feb

Written By Data for Children Collaborative with UNICEF

The Data Lab held an event at the Scottish Government, showcasing how their various transformative projects are helping to address complex global issues through the use of data.

We were delighted to be invited to The Data Lab’s ‘Supporting Transformative Projects’ event at the Scottish Government on Tuesday 21st January. The evening was a fantastic opportunity for us to share information about our current projects, progress and next steps, as well as discussing the benefits of working collaboratively.

The event began with a welcome from Clare Adamson MSP, followed by a short speech by Gillian Docherty OBE, CEO of The Data Lab. She mentioned how the Data for Children Collaborative is a key example of a transformative project - bringing together industry, public sector and academics to achieve lasting and valuable outcomes for children through data science. Kate Forbes MSP discussed the power that data has to deliver impactful results and help tackle global issues. Following this, Peter MacLean, Clinical Director for Cancer NHS Ayrshire & Arran, brought the idea of a ‘transformative project’ to life by presenting the Cancer Innovation Challenge and the testimonies of those whose lives had been benefited as a result of the project. Guests were also able to learn more about Scotland’s AI Strategy, another innovative and transformative project hosted by The Data Lab.

After the speeches, we were able to meet with the various attendees and talk about the Collaborative in more depth. Popular discussion points centred around the outputs of our various projects, what it is like to work with global partners across different sectors and the ethical challenges of working with both children and data. It was encouraging to see such a buzz around our work, and lots of excited chatter about what could happen next!

Overall, it was a really enjoyable event and a great chance for us to showcase our ways of working. We’re very grateful to The Data Lab for having us along and look forward to providing updates as our projects enter their next phases.