Data
We are helping to manage, analyse, and understand the potential of data to unlock innovation, drive experimentation, and find solutions for the benefit of all.
Unlocking potential
The amount of data available is growing at an exponential rate, and there is huge opportunity in this information that surrounds us. However, as a society we are not yet confident in the best ways to use it safely and effectively.
Scepticism and mistrust around data is widespread, especially when considering the inherent risks around data if not used responsibly. Concerns around the risk of compromised identities and excess behavioural tracking lead to low social acceptance.
Where there is acceptance, individuals are becoming increasingly aware of the value of our own data. Exploring the importance of using data for public good is key.
Artificial intelligence is also dramatically changing the information landscape. As the need for knowledge and greater understanding increases, guidelines for ethical and responsible usage of data are more crucial than ever.
Access to the benefits surrounding data is inconsistent across communities. There is a need to enable fairer access, to ensure equality of opportunities.
We’re unlocking the power of data to discover solutions and drive innovation.
Newcastle data
We are home to a large community of academics, researchers, students, and partners working in data.
There is great strength and depth to our work in data across our University including:
- biomedical informatics
- data for manufacturing
- data visualisation
- spatial analytics
- streaming data modelling
- text in a digital age
- regulation of data driven technologies
- artificial intelligence, automation and digitisation in the manufacturing and engineering sectors
We use data to transform research across the University, train future data science leaders, and share data expertise for societal, economic, and academic advancement.
We are also part of the Turing University Network. The Alan Turing Network is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.
National Innovation Centre for Data
We host the National Innovation Centre for Data. It helps organisations gain new skills and innovate through data. The centre works to support businesses and organisations in harnessing the power of their data and becoming more productive, through:
- providing insights that make organisations aware of the value of data
- delivering and transferring technical and practical skills into organisational workforces
- connecting organisations to data skills networks and ecosystems
The National Innovation Centre for Data allows the University's deep expertise in data science and AI to directly benefit society and the economy. It has completed more than 80 successful projects with a wide range of external organisations, helping them grow, and played a key role in creating 700 new jobs in the region.
Professor Paul Watson
Director of the National Innovation Centre for Data
Education for life
Our Education for Life strategy aims to provide an outstanding educational experience. We bring data research and teaching together through a number of courses and initiatives. Courses include:
- Data Science MSc, PGCert, created in collaboration with industry leaders to address a skills shortage in data analytics
- Data Science MSc with specialisation in AI, Statistics or Visualization
- MSc Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship (Data Analytics), to upskill practising professionals in current and evolving issues of data analytics
- Business Analytics MSc, designed to meet the increasing demand for expertise in business analytics across diverse academic backgrounds
We partner with the National Innovation Centre for Data to run an annual Data Insights Bootcamp for current students. The bootcamp offers experiential learning to students. It provides the opportunity to work on real-world data problems with industry partners.
View our collection of teaching case studies from computing and mathematics, statistics and physics.
Research infrastructure
Our research infrastructure includes institutes, centres, schools, and facilities that unlock the potential of data. They include:
- Newcastle Data
- National Innovation Centre for Data
- Centre for Doctoral Training in Geospatial Systems
- Centre for Doctoral Training in Cloud Computing for Big Data
- Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science
- Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Civics
- School of Computing
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Open Lab
Newcastle Helix
The Newcastle Helix site brings together academia, the public sector, communities, and business. It is a global centre for urban innovation in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. The site hosts:
- The Catalyst Building, home to the National Innovation Centre for Data as well as a community of SMEs, corporates, researchers, and innovators working in data
- The Urban Sciences Building, a living laboratory designed for teaching, research, events and testing real-time smart technologies
- The Urban Observatory, thousands of environmental data streams curated and made available to inform improved planning
Meet some of our researchers and innovators
- Professor Paul Watson, Professor of Computer Science and Director, National Innovation Centre for Data
- Professor Rachel Franklin, Professor of Geographical Analysis and Head of Newcastle Data
- Professor Nick Wright, Turing Fellow, School of Engineering
- Professor Anil Wipat, Professor of Integrative Bioinformatics
- Professor Lilian Edwards, Professor of Law, Innovation and Society
- Professor Phil James, Professor of Urban Data
- Professor Paul Burton, Professor of Data Science for Health
- Dr Cristina Neesham, Associate Dean of Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability
- Professor Daniel Archambault, Professor of Data Science/Visualisation
- Professor Chris Oates, Professor of Statistics
Who we work with
We are members and partners in a wide range of data-related networks such as:
- The Alan Turing Institute through the Turing University Network
- National Centre for Cyber Security Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR)
- founding member of the Institute of Coding, a £20M industry-academic joint effort to boost future digital skills
- National Innovation Centre for Data
- Red Hat - a global provider of enterprise open source solutions
