The Data Lab would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to as you join our MSc programme. We are delighted to fund you through your further study, and hope that our course helps bolster your data science education. 

The Launch Event will bring together all 155 of The Data Lab funded students with university course leaders, The Data Lab MSc Team, as well as industry partners. This will be an opportunity to meet your new classmates and find out more about The Data Lab and the MSc programme. A range of inspiring guest speakers from industry, start-ups, academia and public sector will be there to discuss Data Science in Scotland. This provides an early networking opportunity to get your foot in the door with some industry leading organisations and learn what it takes to be the best data scientist you can.

Draft Agenda

10:30 – 11:00

Registration and Refreshments

11:00 – 11:15
Welcome and Overview of The Data Lab

Brian Hills, Head of Data at the Data Lab

11:15 – 11:30
What is the The Data Lab MSc programme?

Marian Dunbar, Skills Co-ordinator at The Data Lab

11:30 – 11:50

Keynote address: How Data and AI Influence the BBC

Colin Burns, Chief Design Engineer at the BBC

11:50-12:05
The value of The Data Lab MSc placements

Robin Huggins, Head of Business Development at MBN Solutions12:05 – 12:30

Networking exercise: Meet your coursemates

12:30 – 14.00

Group Photo followed by Lunch

14:00 -14:15

Data Science in the Private Sector

Ali King, Data Engineer at Spiritus

14:15- 14:45
Panel discussion – Stories from MSc Alumni: Where are they now?

Facilitator: (Brian Hills, Head of Data at The Data Lab and) Thanos Tsiaras, Data Scientist at The Data Lab and The Data Lab MSc 2015-16 alumnus

The Data Lab Alumni:         Cynthia Morel, Anita George, John Bell, Laura Hepburn, Kostas Gavriilidis

14:45 – 15.00
A Day in the Life of a Data Scientist
Matthew Higgs Head of Product at Streamba Ltd

15:00 – 15.10
Closing Remarks 
Brian Hills, Head of Data at The Data Lab

15:10 – 16:00
Networking and Drinks
Playfair Library Hall