Podcasts

NEW podcast: Biscuit Bytes
Dstl’s biscuit books are guides to enjoy with tea and biscuits. They are organized into digestible sections on various topics, aiming to inform without being technical, helping Dstl collaborators understand their work better.
Biscuit Bytes is a podcast series that starts in January. Its philosophy echoes that of the biscuit books. Each episode presents a topic of interest to the international defence community in informal chats that inform without technical expertise.

Panel Discussions Series
Navigating Finance, Sustainability, and Innovation
In this podcast series, join our Professor Alan Brown and colleagues in conversation with a panel of experts, as they unravel the complex threads of technology, finance and sustainability, offering insightful perspectives and thought-provoking discussions.
Nonverbal Cues to Deception Prof Norah E Dunbar University of California, Santa Barbara
17 October 2024
Norah Dunbar studies credibility and deception in a variety of contexts. In particular, she studies how dominance, nonverbal synchrony, and other nonverbal behaviors affect the impressions we make in our interpersonal relationships. She has examined interpersonal power as it relates to credibility and persuasion and has pioneered the methods of measuring nonverbal behaviors.
This presentation explores nonverbal cues associated with deception, challenging common myths and providing a comprehensive overview of various analytical methods. The discussion begins with an examination of prevalent misconceptions, such as the belief that nervousness or avoiding eye contact reliably indicates dishonesty. By contrasting these myths with evidence-based findings, the presentation aims to clarify the complex relationship between nonverbal behaviour and deception. It further delves into diverse analytical techniques, including facial recognition systems, gesture analysis, and the emerging use of AI as a detection tool. Attendees will gain insights into the strengths and limitations of each method, enabling a more nuanced understanding of how nonverbal cues can be effectively employed in detecting deception.
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About the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC):
The DDRC is committed to enhancing the application of data science and AI across defence sectors and beyond. Through its collaborative efforts led by a consortium including the University of Exeter, Surrey and Liverpool, the DDRC focuses on addressing critical data and AI challenges. The Centre's initiatives aim to optimize the use of data for artificial intelligence applications, ensuring data readiness and accessibility. ...
Public and Organisational Attitudes to the Use of Data and AI – Part Two
8 August 2024
As part of the Defence Data Research Centre's (DDRC) successful Research Community Hub initiative, we are excited to invite you to a live-stream discussion, focusing on the vital topic of "Attitudes Surrounding Data." This event is dedicated to exploring how individuals, groups, and societies perceive, understand, value, and interact with data from a social science perspective.
Discover research findings from the 44 workshops conducted across six sectors in Great Britain!
Recent articles from the presenters:
Attitudes towards data LSP® Workshops
Can playing with LEGO® help us understand our data? ...
Data Resilience in Cyber Security: Insights from the SolarWinds Breach
2 May 2024
Welcome to the Defence Data Research Centre's (DDRC) Community Research Hub event, designed to foster collaboration and innovation among academics, industry professionals, and Ministry of Defence representatives. This gathering is an excellent opportunity to explore cutting-edge research, discuss real-world applications, and develop strategies for advancing data science and AI in support of national and global security objectives.
In this engaging and informative webinar, we explore the complexities of supply chain attacks, highlighted by an examination of the infamous SolarWinds breach that made headlines in December 2020. This major supply chain attack impacted approximately 180,000 clients, including critical US government agencies, underscoring the vast scale and potential damage such incidents can cause.
The session will begin with a recount of the SolarWinds incident as an entry point into a broader discussion on supply chain resilience. We will explore various aspects of supply chain reliance, the types of attacks that can occur, and the measures that can be implemented to strengthen and improve resilience in supply chains.
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Panellists
1. Professor Steve Schneider - Director of the Surrey Centre for Cyber Security, and Principal Investigator at the Defence Data Research Centre. Prof. Schneider's research focuses on security protocols, verification techniques and voting security, bringing an in-depth understanding of theoretical and applied aspects of cyber resilience.
2. Professor Glenn Parry - Serves as the Professor of Digital Transformation and Head of the Department of Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He is also a Co-Director at DECaDE: Centre for the Decentralised Digital Economy. With a rich academic background, including a PhD from Cambridge, Parry specializes in blockchain applications within supply chains and various digital business models. His work emphasizes creating value and understanding what 'good' means in business contexts.
3. Dr Rizwan Asghar - Serving as a Reader at the Surrey Centre for Cyber Security (SCCS), previously held the position of Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland. With a PhD in ICT (Security and Privacy) from the University of Trento, Italy, and an MSc in Computer Science and Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Dr. Asghar has made significant contributions to cybersecurity research and education.
This webinar is designed to cater to a wide range of professionals from academia, industry, and government sectors, particularly those involved with or interested in the intricacies of data and cyber security and resilience. Engage with our experts to gain insights into protecting and strengthening your supply chain systems against unforeseen threats.
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Agenda
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
Setting the stage for the discussion and introducing the panellists.
2. Overview of the SolarWinds Breach (10 minutes)
A succinct exploration of the breach impacts and key detection points.
3. Panel Discussion on Supply Chain Resilience (35 minutes)
Addressing the scale of supply chain reliance and potential attack vectors.
Discussing methodologies and best practices for enhancing resilience.
4. Audience Q&A (10 minutes)
Engaging with the audience to address specific concerns and clarify discussed points.
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About the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC):
The DDRC is committed to enhancing the application of data science and AI across defence sectors and beyond. Through its collaborative efforts led by a consortium including the University of Exeter, Surrey and Liverpool, the DDRC focuses on addressing critical data and AI challenges. The Centre's initiatives aim to optimize the use of data for artificial intelligence applications, ensuring data readiness and accessibility. ...
Public and Organisational Attitudes to the Use of Data and AI
2 May 2024
As part of the Defence Data Research Centre's (DDRC) successful Research Community Hub initiative, we are excited to invite you to a live-stream discussion, focusing on the vital topic of "Attitudes Surrounding Data."
This event is dedicated to exploring how individuals, groups, and societies perceive, understand, value, and interact with data from a social science perspective.
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Speakers:
1. Prof. Simeon Yates, Professor of Digital Economy, Deputy Director, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor University of Liverpool
2. Eleanor Fielding, Programme Manager at Civic Data Coop
3. Emily Rempel, Public Participation Manager at Civic Data Coop
4. Dr Suzanne McClure, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, INDEX at University of Exeter
5. Dr Alex Hardy, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Liverpool
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Agenda:
Introduction: Prof. Simeon Yates (5 minutes)
Civic Data Cooperative on Civic Engagement Data and AI (20 minutes)
Prof. Simeon Yates on Data and AI, people, and skills (5 minutes)
Dr. Suzanne McClure on Language of Data Workshops (5 minutes)
Dr. Alex Hardy on Key Concepts from Data Workshops (5 minutes)
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About the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC):
The DDRC is committed to enhancing the application of data science and AI across defence sectors and beyond. Through its collaborative efforts led by a consortium including the University of Exeter, Surrey and Liverpool, the DDRC focuses on addressing critical data and AI challenges. The Centre's initiatives aim to optimize the use of data for artificial intelligence applications, ensuring data readiness and accessibility. ...
Mastering Best Practice in Data Management (Live Stream)
8 March 2024
#DataManagement Join us for an insightful session where we delve into the evolving landscape of laboratory data management. This event is designed for professionals eager to enhance their data management skills in a laboratory setting.
Host: Jon Holt, DDRC's Data Management Strategist.
Panellists:
Professor Veronica Bowman OBE: Principal Statistician, DSTL. Who now has a broader role in data strategy/transformation for the agency.
John Sheridan, Digital Director at the National Archives. One of the leading thinkers in government data, and has played a prominent role in the digitisation/democratisation of the legislature via his work on legislation.gov.uk.
George Carter, Data and analytics leader, RAF. Working on transformation programmes to ensure that our Air Force can improve, and profit from new technologies.
James Herbert, CEO, Pivotl. Former army officer, ex-Cabinet Office data leader and now CEO of a data company, currently advising MOD, MOJ, Cabinet Office et al. ...
AI’s Data Dilemma: Confronting the Paradox of Poor Quality Data in the Age of AI
21 March 2024
As AI permeates our lives, the quality of data upon which it is trained becomes increasingly crucial. However, in the current era of data abundance, a paradox emerges: while we have access to more data than ever before, much of it is of poor quality, leading to AI models that are biased, inaccurate, and ultimately flawed. This session will explore the intricacies of AI’s data dilemma, exploring the causes of poor data quality and examining its far-reaching consequences. We will discuss the common pitfalls of data collection, annotation, and preprocessing, uncovering ways in which low-quality data can derail AI applications. Through sharing case studies and real-world examples, we will highlight the tangible impacts of poor data quality on AI performance, and debate which actionable solutions can help. In this session we will encourage discussion to share knowledge and insights on ways that AI systems can be built upon reliable foundations, ensuring they add value and deliver meaningful impact.
Joining us on the panel are distinguished experts in their respective fields:
Stefan Crossfield CEng CMgr brings over 30 years of leadership experience from the Armed Forces, known for his innovative approach to complex project management and his adeptness in leading teams under pressure. His expertise in managing technological integrations in challenging environments offers invaluable insights into the application of AI in structured and high-pressure settings.
Rashik Parmar, a contemporary technical leader, adds 35 years of experience in implementing cutting-edge technologies. An author of several articles in esteemed publications like Harvard Business Review, Rashik’s insights into the practical application of AI in business contexts are both deep and wide-ranging, providing a unique perspective on how AI can drive tangible business outcomes.
Yvonne Gallagher, with over 25 years in IT, business change, digital services, and cyber and information assurance, brings a wealth of experience to the panel. Her roles as CIO in government departments, Chief Digital Officer, CIO in the private sector, and her current position at the NAO, equip her with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in implementing AI within both public and private sectors. As a Fellow of the BCS and Chair of their Organisation and Employer Board, her perspective is particularly valuable in understanding the intersection of AI, data quality, and organisational effectiveness.
Christine Ashton FBCS CISSP, a globally recognised CIO and strategic business leader, was voted the 36th most influential in UK tech in 2023. With a strong background in digital business strategies and transformation across various sectors, she’s a notable figure in IT and business transformation. Christine also contributes as an advisor to DIGIT Lab and Vice-chair of BCS FTAG, enhancing the BCS’s mission of ‘Making IT good for Society’. ...

Synthetic Data Workshop Series
In today’s data-driven world, privacy is paramount. Our discussions explore synthetic data generation, using real data sets to create new, anonymized ones. These sets maintain statistical integrity without compromising privacy. Join us as we explore synthetic data’s potential to transform research and business.
Exploring Quality Metrics in Generative Systems
2 May 2024
Part of our #SyntheticData Workshop Series.
Join us for the Defence Data Research Centre's (DDRC) Synthetic Data Workshop Series, dedicated to enhancing the generation and evaluation of synthetic data. This workshop gathers academia, industry experts, and representatives from various sectors to focus on the pivotal role of quality metrics in generative systems.
Generative models are key to producing high-fidelity synthetic data by capturing and replicating the intricate structure of real datasets, creating new samples that closely mirror the characteristics of the original training set. Despite significant advancements, accurately assessing the quality of this synthetic data remains a substantial challenge—especially with structured outputs like graphs and networks, where visual assessment by humans is particularly difficult.
During this workshop, we will explore the characteristics that make a quality metric effective for synthetic data and discuss strategies for its implementation.
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Speaker:
Dr. Fabrizio Costa, a Senior Lecturer in Data Analytics at the University of Exeter, specializes in enhancing machine learning applications within structured domains. His research centers on integrating expert knowledge into machine learning systems at multiple abstraction levels, facilitating a deeper understanding and extraction of knowledge from these systems. Additionally, Dr. Costa works on Constructive Machine Learning (CML), where he designs algorithms capable of creating objects with specific properties. These innovations have a wide range of applications, from drug design to the automation of software generation.
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Agenda:
1. Introduction to Quality Metrics in Generative Systems
2. Challenges in Quality Evaluation Across Model Types
3. Interactive Discussion: Applying Today's Insights to Your Field - How can the concepts discussed earlier in this presentation be integrated into your specific domain? Let's explore potential applications and connections with your own systems.
4. Audience Q&A
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About the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC):
The DDRC is committed to enhancing the application of data science and AI across defence sectors and beyond. Through its collaborative efforts led by a consortium including the University of Exeter, Surrey and Liverpool, the DDRC focuses on addressing critical data and AI challenges. The Centre's initiatives aim to optimize the use of data for artificial intelligence applications, ensuring data readiness and accessibility. ...
Synthetic Data and the Insurance Industry: Impacts and Opportunities
2 May 2024
Part of our #SyntheticData Workshop Series.
The insurance sector is a heavily regulated industry meaning that protecting customer data is of utmost importance to companies. However, this can pose a challenge when working on cutting-edge innovative data science solutions with often messy, imbalanced, and skewed tabular datasets. Synthetic data has the potential to shape the future of data science within the insurance sector; impacting the way models are built and tested to the way data is shared across teams, externally, and used for research or training purposes. As the Allianz Personal data science team, we have been investigating these potential uses of synthetic data through a series of internal research projects and guidelines. This talk will cover the synthetic data journey so far, talking about the challenges the team has faced, along with its current outlook and future hopes.
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Speakers
• Lorna Sumption – Lead Data Scientist, LV= General Insurance
Dr Lorna Sumption obtained her PhD in developmental genetics before transitioning into the data science industry, joining Allianz Personal/LV=GI in 2020. As a lead data scientist, she has worked on several research-led projects including all phases of synthetic data work carried out within the team. These phases included investigating the practicalities of using synthetic data to address imbalanced datasets and for testing purposes.
• Merve Alanyali – Head of Data Science Academic Partnerships and Research, LV= General Insurance
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Agenda
1. Who are we & what do we do?
2. Why are we interested in synthetic data?
3. Data sharing (within company and externally within other group companies), modelling performance improvement, testing, training
4. What work have we done internally with synthetic data?
5. Guidelines, imbalanced data, testing data
6. Current outlook & future goals?
7. Privacy, performance improvement
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About the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC):
The DDRC is committed to enhancing the application of data science and AI across defence sectors and beyond. Through its collaborative efforts led by a consortium including the University of Exeter, Surrey and Liverpool, the DDRC focuses on addressing critical data and AI challenges. The Centre's initiatives aim to optimize the use of data for artificial intelligence applications, ensuring data readiness and accessibility. ...
Delving into Synthetic Data An Introduction (Live Stream)
8 February 2024
Part of our #SyntheticData Workshop Series.
Join us for the inaugural workshop series at the University of Exeter, focusing on the evolving and intriguing domain of Synthetic Data. This series welcomes a diverse set of speakers and audience members from academia, industry, and governmental sectors.
Synthetic Data is an evolving field of data science, pushing the bounds of what is possible with AI and machine learning. This seminar introduces our series on synthetic data, with an overview of the topic, and a look at research currently underway.
We focus on use cases of synthetic data for data augmentation, and for privacy, looking at current and emerging methods for synthetic data creation and validation. Synthetic data for privacy enables private data to be shared anonymously while retaining key characteristics and statistical features. Augmenting datasets allows machine learning models to be trained on larger and broader datasets, addressing imbalances and minimising the requirement for real-data collection.
This is an opportunity for learning and engagement amongst professionals interested and working with the science of synthetic data.
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Speakers
• Prof. Richard Everson – Professor of Machine Learning, University of Exeter
Prof. Everson's research interests are in machine learning, statistical pattern recognition, multi-objective optimisation and the links between them. Particular current interests are in optimisation in wireless and mobile networks to maintain quality of service, in automatic analysis of video and accelerometer data for inferring behaviour of animals (funded by NERC and the Open Innovation Platform) and people (with the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital), and in modelling big data storage systems (with the Met Office).
• Andrew Kennedy – Graduate Research Assistant, University of Exeter
Andrew Kennedy is a researcher for the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC), primarily focusing of the science and application of synthetic data within the UK's defence sector.
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Agenda
1. What is synthetic data?
2. Different data types – images, audio, other media, tabular, text
3. Main use-cases
4. Privacy
5. Augmentation
6. Data creation methods – geometric methods e.g. SMOTE, discriminatory methods e.g. GANs, DDRC's work with ImageGPT
7. Validation methods
8. Other case studies
9. Alternatives to synthetic data
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About the Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC):
The DDRC is committed to enhancing the application of data science and AI across defence sectors and beyond. Through its collaborative efforts led by a consortium including the University of Exeter, Surrey and Liverpool, the DDRC focuses on addressing critical data and AI challenges. The Centre's initiatives aim to optimize the use of data for artificial intelligence applications, ensuring data readiness and accessibility. ...