Data impact events

Discussion and debate, as well as bringing together diverse voices, has been the focus of our Data Impact events which support the expansion of ideas around data impact.

The UK Data Service 2024 impact event Poverty in Data took place across three days in April. It was linked to our Poverty in data impact theme.

Each of the three sessions sought to create opportunities for people to come together to discuss the opportunities, challenges and needs when looking at research and data in the area of poverty.

This included an Early Careers Researcher Workshop which gave those starting out their research and careers in this space to come together and network and engage in discussions and talks on the topic of poverty and data.

A pre-recorded session titled Perspectives on Poverty included presentations on the need for public and youth engagement on this issue, a novel dataset that can be used to look at poverty across diverse groups and the role of lived experience in poverty-related research.

The final session was a series of short presentations and a Q&A with representatives from charities and think tanks that make use of data in their work combating poverty and it’s outcomes.

You can find all of the recordings and other resources on the dedicated event page.

2021’s event Identity In Data – Who Counts? Visibility, voice and culture in data collection and use focused on representation, inclusivity and definitions of self in data. The event started with a moving keynote by poet, author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay MBE.

The event also included presentations and panel discussion by researchers working with data in the fields of ethnicity and health; religion; LGBT+ communities and disability, as well as a representative of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The panel discussed that, even with increasing availability of data, there are some protected characteristics for which data is not as easily available.

2018’s event Realising the potential of research data was run jointly with the Office for National Statistics, and discussed how to embrace the data revolution to respond to the social and economic challenges facing the UK.

Data Impact 2016 was held in Glasgow while Data Impact 2015 took place in London. At both, leading data innovators explored data re-use in policy and research, sharing their experiences of demonstrating data-enhanced impact.