Last month, the Centre for Data Science and AI hosted our first Festival of Data Science & AI. Rather than a standard conference, we wanted to offer a new, flexible platform to celebrate and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration across UofG. Over three days, the Advanced Research Centre became a vibrant meeting ground for colleagues from across Colleges and University Services to showcase and explore the use of AI and data science in their lives and work. Through a mix of interactive workshops, game-play sessions, creative installations, panels, and even a debate co-hosted with the Glasgow University Union Debating Society, participants navigated diverse themes — from political economy to ethics, social AI to Human AI relationships, and even an interactive death-bot. The festival created space not only for showcasing cutting-edge work, but also created space for colleagues who might never interact, to connect over previously unknown shared or complimentary interests and expertise. 

The festival culminated in a debate on “AI in academia: resist or embrace” which was run as part of the ARC conversations series, and featured 3 academics presenting on both sides of the motion, chaired by Pauline McNeil and assisted by the Glasgow University Union Debating society. The debate was extremely well attended and was made even more lively by audience participation. A huge thank you to our participants, Ana Basiri (CDSAI Director), Bridgette Wessels, David Lowe, Win Vanderbauwhede, Michael Townsen Hicks, and Tim Barker, who provided insights that will certainly linger with everyone in attendance.  

First published: 20 May 2025

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