The Gem of all Mechanisms: Recent Episodes
The British Computer Society
The Gem of all Mechanisms podcast is an interview series, where we talk to people in the know from many different disciplines: academics, computer scientists, policy makers, philosophers and more about the complexities of 21st century tech and how it affects us all.
It is produced by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. BCS is on a mission to ensure everyone’s experience with technology is positive. We support the people who work in the industry and aim to make IT good for society. Our members shape policy, influence change and raise standards to realise the potential of technology.
How can smaller organisations create a positive culture, encompassing genuine diversity of perspective? Melissa Sabella talks about her approach with the Honeycomb Works, where she has recently worked with RAEng on a new equity platform for start-ups and scale-ups. She also gives some practical tips, for example: how much time should you spend with your direct reports, and who should - or shouldn't - you give stretch assignments to?
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What is the mindset IT professionals require to really harness the potential of computing for social good? Our panel discusses ambition, boldness, capability, determination and entrepreneurism. Rashik Parmar MBE, Group CEO of BCS, Charlene Hunter MBE, CEO & Founder of Coding Black Females, Professor Andy Stanford-Clark, Distinguished Engineer, IBM UK, and Dr Kitty Hung, BCS Fellow and author talked about this with Brian Runciman MBCS at the launch of a new series of films from BCS and Content with Purpose.
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In January 2024, Professor Ruth Misener was presented with the Needham Award for her exceptional contribution to identifying and solving fundamental computer science research challenges at the intersection of computational optimisation and machine learning. A special panel discussed the complexities of optimisation as a research discipline and how algorithms can help businesses make good decisions in the face of uncertainty and complexity. Ruth was joined by Michael Huth, Professor of Computer Science Head of Department of Computing, Imperial College London; Timo Berthold, Director at FICO and Lecturer at TU Berlin; Claire Adjiman, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London and Director of the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering at Imperial and UCL; and Darren Budd, Commercial Director UK and Ireland, BASF.
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Lisa Ventura MBE has been on a fascinating journey from mainstream TV to a cybersecurity career. Alongside this she has had a developing diagnostic journey. She talks to Brian Runciman MBCS about neurodiversity, her autism diagnosis and more. As she says... 'we are all generation cyber.'
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Professor Jane Hillston, one of the winners of the Lovelace Award for 2023, discusses her work in formal languages. She talks to Brian Runciman MBCS about resource use in systems and performance modelling - measuring how much resource is used and when, from a mathematical viewpoint. It has applications in biology and transport systems in smart cities such as bike-sharing. She is also involved in smart techniques, using ambient sensors and associated data to give people later-life benefits. Also discussed: tracking and husbanding data in AI models, double stochasticity in quantum, and is computer science post-colonial?
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Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder, speaks to Brian Runciman about the site's progress over the last 22 years; fakes news; reliable sources; the Wikipedia community and funding model; and being a pathological optimist. With bonus content on stochastic differential equations…
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If you like combining live music with discussions about science and technology, there’s now several summer festivals that tick that box. At the Dot Festival at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, and at WOMAD festival, you can hear expert talks and bands. Claire Penketh went to another festival - How the Light Gets In - to find out more, in this special edition of the Gem.
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Felix Ryan speaks to Brian Runciman about a specialist area of IT - pen testing in the context of embedded systems. He talks careers, inspirations and why he launched a podcast on such a niche area.
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Professor Wendy Dearing discusses her passion for digital health and her career path from Nurse to Dean. She also tells Brian Runciman about enabling nursing careers through NVQs, the development of Digital Health and Care Wales, the problems with social care and the benefits of the NHS app.
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Professor Tom Crick speaks to Brian Runciman about Wales’ science and technology reform and what our aspiration should be for digital skills and achieving a digitally competent population. In the context of Palantir and other large organisations interest in health data, how can and should we protect health records? What role should ethics take in curriculums?
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'The best founders see something in the world they want to fix'. Entrepreneur and start-up investor Barrie Heptonstall talks to Brian Runciman about agritech and education start-ups, the crossover between doing good in society and capitalism, and what he looks for in people he would invest in.
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In the final episode of our six-episode Net Zero: A Digital Journey podcast series, we continue to explore the essential role that the IT professions hold in addressing the climate crisis and achieving net zero targets with guests from across the community. One of the biggest challenges faced by the IT sector is the training and education of the existing workforce with the new digital skills required in order to meet its sustainability goals, along with attracting and inspiring the next generation of IT professionals. Join guests Rashik Parmar, CEO, BCS and Annette Almark, Director of Learning and Development, BCS as they discuss how the industry can tackle this issue.
Sponsor: Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton
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In the fifth episode of our six-episode Net Zero: A Digital Journey podcast series, we continue to explore the essential role that the IT professions hold in addressing the climate crisis and achieving net zero targets with guests from across the community. Effectively managing e-waste requires a shift from our existing one-way consumption model of IT hardware to a more sustainable circular economy. Join guests James Derrick, Risk and Compliance Officer, Blackmore UK, and Margaret Bates, visiting Professor, University of Northampton, and Executive Director, On-Pack Recycling Label as they address the innovations and behavioural changes needed within the sector.
Sponsor: Restore Technology
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Late March 2023 saw over 1,000 experts - the Future of Life Institute – write a letter calling for a six-month pause on AI development, the UK government publish a new white paper on AI regulation, and Italy banning ChatGPT. Do we need new legislation? BCS’s Adam Leon Smith speaks to Merve Hickok of the Centre for AI and Digital Policy, who submitted an FTC complaint about the safeguards for AI governance, on a huge week in AI.
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In the fourth episode of our six-episode The Net Zero: A Digital Journey podcast series, we continue to explore the essential role that the IT profession has in addressing the climate crisis and achieving net zero targets with guests from across the community. Synergistic relationships between industry, academia, practitioners and governments are needed in order to advance Green IT and deliver the digital data solutions we all need for a net zero future. Join guests Chris Adams, ClimateAction.tech and Green Web Foundation, and Dr Alvin Orbaek White, Associate Professor, the Energy Safety Research Institute at Swansea University, as they discuss how collaboration is at the heart of solving the climate crisis.
This Episode is sponsored by the School of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow.
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In the third episode of our six-episode The Net Zero: A Digital Journey podcast series, we continue to explore the essential role that the IT profession holds in addressing the climate crisis and achieving net zero targets with guests from across the community. Research and innovation within the sector are helping to advance the science of climate forecasting, and develop technologies such as energy efficient computers. Join guests Alex Bardell, Chair, BCS Green IT Specialist Group and Professor Penny Endersby, CEO, Met Office.
This Episode is sponsored by Newcastle University.
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In the second episode of our six-episode The Net Zero: A Digital Journey podcast series, we continue to explore the essential role that the IT profession holds in addressing the climate crisis and achieving net zero targets with guests from across the community. Reducing the energy impact of IT infrastructure and technologies through Green IT practices will play an important role in the sector’s journey towards climate neutrality by 2030. Join guests Dr Bill Mitchell, Director of Policy, BCS, and Dr David Pugh, Head of Sustainability, Digital Catapult as they discuss the progress already underway.
This Episode is sponsored by eFutures Network.
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The Net Zero: A Digital Journey podcast is a six-episode podcast series exploring the essential role that the IT profession has in addressing the climate crisis and achieving net zero targets with guests from across the community. Climate change is firmly on the public agenda, and with our increasing reliance on digital and data technologies, the IT sector has a critical role to play in supporting the transition to net zero. Digital and data technologies have a critical role to play in supporting the transition to net zero and responding to climate impacts. Join guests Mayank Prakash, President, BCS, and Adam Turner, Head of Sustainable Digital and ICT, UK Govt + Defra as they discuss why the time to seize the sector’s potential is now.
This Episode is sponsored by Wipro.
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In the first mini-episode of 2023, CEO of OpenUK Amanda Brock tells Brian Runciman MBCS about open source software, hardware and data - and how February 2023's conference will help the open source cause. Its associated 'unconference' will also provide much needed face to face opportunities.
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A new campaign from BCS looks at the IT industry’s effect on net zero, and what it can do to ameliorate the effects of climate change. This launch debate covers the increasing use of AI, the digital divide, what top 3 things computer science graduates need to know, the role of data centres, our view of data… and how we should define progress. Brian Runciman MBCS speaks to BCS CEO Rashik Parmar, Good Things Foundation CEO Helen Milner, author Suzanne Maxted and Founder of Circularity First, Anthony Levy.
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The internet's libertarian roots are important, but it's added a European bourgeoise aspect, developed an American commercial approach and now has the Chinese paternalist version. Kieron O'Hara, author and Emeritus Fellow at Southampton University discusses where the internet goes next, the choices India and Africa face, the influence of political ideologies and the potential for the UK to fill a leadership vacuum.
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OpenUK's Amanda Brock and Smooth Media's Jennifer Barth talk to Brian Runciman about their open source software research for 2022. Open source use is maturing - over 90% of respondents take a collaborative approach, billions are now invested in open source software with millions of downloads per year. What does this mean for the UK government's approach? What are the geopolitical implications? And what about the new role of curation and the importance of communities?
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The BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium is an annual one day conference for women and non-binary students of computing and related subjects. Johanna Hamilton MBCS speaks to organiser Hannah Dee and also some of the students, poster prize winners and more.
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Jamillah Knowles talks to Brian Runciman about incongruous AI images - from the Terminators that do no favours to AI stories, to the embodied AIs when we are actually talking about software. She talks about using depictions that work for multiple audiences, colour usage, visualising networks and AI functions - and how we can do a better job of really communicating what AI is and does.
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Open source software economic evaluation needs far more than a total cost of ownership calculation. A new survey looks at its value in broader terms, alongside compliance, legal issues and other aspects of the journey to maturity. Amanda Brock from OpenUK and Jennifer Barth at Smooth Media discuss the commitment of the community and the aims of the forthcoming report. You can get involved too - the survey closes 12 June 2022. https://bit.ly/OpenUKStateofOpen2022
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Matthew Bellringer, Chair of the newly formed NeurodiverseIT Specialist Group speaks to Brian Runciman about the unique talents of the neurodiverse. The group's design philosophy of 'nothing about us without us', and the importance of deciding explicit use cases for products. He also stresses the value of co-design and co-development whilst acknowledging that, whilst there can be no best practise, there is great wider value to taking neurodiversity into account.
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New BCS President Mayank Prakash talks about reimagining business and whether if all companies are tech companies we should view all workers as technologists. He also discusses that fact that every manager has a responsibility to understand and apply technology, his view of learning from many sources, his ongoing geekiness and the vital role of diversity.
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Weather prediction contributes to important issues - for example, feeding emission scenarios into the COP agenda to assess climate change impacts. For people in general, it has made today's five day forecast as good as the one day forecast from 40 years ago. This modelling has traditionally been driven by brute force computing, based on Moore's law, but where is it going next? Professor Penny Endersby CEO of the Met Office and BCS' 2021 Society medal winner, speaks to Brian Runciman between storms Dudley and an embryonic Eunice about supercomputers, cloud, the surprising role of quantum and her career to date.
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Jacqueline de Rojas CBE discusses her journey from a take-away in Folkestone to President of Tech UK. Along the way she discusses the problems with the BAME bucket, tech-enabled abuse, the importance of neurodiversity, her roots in Swindon and tech as a people business.
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60% ROI, reductions in churn, creativity boosts for the workforce... AI expert Sarah Burnett talks about the autonomous enterprise, how to start the journey to get there and why job losses won't be a problem.
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Sharon Moore MBE is Chief Technology Officer Public Sector at IBM. As co-author of the BCS Women in Tech book she talks about the frustration of saying the same things over and over again, and whether it is worth being 'one of the guys'.
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Clem Herman is Professor of Gender and Technology at the Open University. As co-author of the BCS book on Women in Tech, she looks at translating research into action, the impact of career breaks and the unsuitability of the ladder climbing analogy in women's careers, and what we can learn from other cultures.
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Chair of BCS Women Andrea Palmer (And No. 4 in Computer Weekly's Top 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech 2021) talks about the importance of different ways of thinking, how to attract more women into tech and creating the right culture.
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Hannah Dee is a Computer Science Lecturer and started the BCS Women Lovelace Colloquium. She talks about her part in the new BCS book on women in tech, cross-disciplinary use of robot submarines and the experience of young women in schools and at university to better understand the (problematic term alert!) pipeline.
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Shilpa Shah is a contributor to the new BCS book ‘Women in Tech - a practical guide’ and leads the Deloitte women in technology group. She talks about her inspiration from old tech, the importance of practical tips and guidance and her 3 c’s - care about the subject, call it out when diversity is lacking, and commit…
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Gillian Arnold talks about editing the new BCS book ‘Women in tech - a practical guide’. Bigger companies can get it right, but culture issues are key - as her stripper experience exemplifies. As she says, equality is not only a moral imperative - it’s good for business.
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Dame Wendy Hall talks about her role as UK AI skills champion, the February 2021 road map for AI update and subsequent UK national strategy and how the UK is already a superpower in science and can be the same for AI and data ethics. She also discusses diversity, how she would like to see people from under-represented groups paid to do degree courses, and her new book - Four Internets - with India's potential role as the internet's swing state.
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Dr Sue Black talks about the success of TechUPWomen, retraining women from under-served backgrounds, how Durham University doubled its number of female computing undergraduates and how diversity has gone from a tick-box exercise to good business sense. She also discuses her personal journey of overcoming fear of conferences and public speaking, her social mobility experience and impostor syndrome, alongside her inspiring work in saving Bletchley Park.
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How could your home look after you if you suffer from dementia or have had a stroke? How sophisticated should home sensors be to balance health requirements and privacy? The UK’s only black (Afro-Caribbean) female professor of computer science, Dorothy Monekosso, a BCS Honorary Fellow from Leeds Beckett University, discusses her work on smart homes, diversity in the tech sector and her lifelong passion for engineering.
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Amanda Brock is CEO of OpenUK - she talks to Brian Runciman about open source and whether business understands its value, whether the public need to know more, the three reasons Microsoft are so big in OS now, popstar Imogen Heap and her mini-moo glove and the importance of free speech in code.
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Grady Booch - Turing Award medal winner, IBM Alumni and creator of UML - speaks to Brian Runciman about embodied cognition, inclusive language in IBM’s code base, the computing version of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, GPT 3 passing the Trump test but not the Turing test and more. Along the way we are not libellous about Elon Musk, but name check MC Hammer!
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We speak to investigative journalist Geoff White on how the web from reflecting a hippy utopian ideal of communal living to the dark web - and we touch on the role of the US government, the Grateful Dead and how a barium-style trace could help our personal data use.
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Dr Suzanne Doyle-Morris, CEO of Inclusiq and author of The Con Job, talks to Brian Runciman MBCS about competence versus confidence; imposter syndrome as a super power, the role of humility and what useful confidence looks like.
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Cecilia Harvey CEO of @hyvedynamics in conversation with BCS' Olivia Wolfheart. They talk leadership, responsibility and culture in technology.
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What should the stewardship of our health data involve - including biometrics and genomic data? What is stretch collaboration and how can it help combat group-think? Thorny issues like the use of healthcare data, AI, the diversity agenda, face recognition - and influencing policy and practice in these areas - are discussed by Reema Patel from the Ada Lovelace Institute and BCS's Olivia Wolfheart MBCS.
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Olivia Wolfheart MBCS speaks to the inspirational entrepreneur. From coming to the UK in 1939 on the kinder transport, and championing women in IT through highly successful software businesses to becoming the UK’s first ever national ambassador of philanthropy and her campaigning for autism, Dame Stephanie also touches on Nietzsche, Fermat’s last theorem, being a founder member and Past President of BCS and more.
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Adding an 'A' to STEM, the pains and pleasures of moving large functions to the cloud, a single blockchain-enabled user ID, multiple neurotypes, Emmanuel Kant and whistle-blowing all come up as Brian Runciman speaks to the government's Chief People Officer
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IT doesn't have a gender or ethics problem... it's about smart, thoughtful, caring people building tech. Brian Runciman discusses innovating responsibly, social media whack-a-mole, meeting the needs of the furthest first and the role of 'uninventors' with Catherine Miller, CEO of doteveryone
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Are IT professionals ethical enough... and what about diversity? Brian Runciman speaks to Rebecca George OBE, incoming BCS President and Managing Partner of Public Sector Practice at Deloitte Europe
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Are AI ethics problems just bad engineering? Brian Runciman speaks to philosopher Luciano Floridi
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