The Last Question DataFest

Is our understanding of genomics changing the future of medicine? What are the ethical considerations when mapping the genomes of newborns? And have we finally settled the nature versus nurture debate? In this fascinating conversation we tackle genomics, epigenetics, and how AI fits into the future of medicine with Vivienne Parry.
Vivienne Parry is a writer and broadcaster.  A scientist by training, Vivienne hosts medical programmes for BBC Radio 4, writes widely on health, presents films, facilitates many high level conferences and trains young researchers.  She has a part time role as Head of Engagement at Genomics England which delivered the 100,000 Genomes Project.  She has recently completed her terms as a board member of UK Research & Innovation which is responsible for the strategic spend of the UK’s £7 billion research budget.
Also in this episode, we read a listener mail from David Chart about how artificial intelligence may affect the future of Shinto.
You can email us at DataFest@thedatalab.com or keep up to date with DataFest at https://datafest.global.
Your hosts are Gordon Johnstone - Head of DataFest at The Data Lab, Scotland's innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence hosted by the University of Edinburgh - and Lily Higham, Software Engineer at the BBC World Service.
Music provided by Post Coal Prom Queen.

What can we learn from indigenous people about our stewardship of space? Are we on the cusp of discovering extra-terrestrial life? And will Homo Machina replace Homo Sapiens? Find out in this fascinating conversation with Moriba Jah.
Moriba Jah is an astrodynamicist, space environmentalist, and all-round space renaissance man. Moriba is an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, a Fellow at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a world-renowned expert in astrodynamics. 
Also in this episode, we read a listener mail from Sara Spaargaren - Program Manager, AI, Media and Democracy Lab at the University of Amsterdam - about whether or not we live in a post-truth society.
You can email us at DataFest@thedatalab.com or keep up to date with DataFest at https://datafest.global.
Your hosts are Gordon Johnstone - Head of DataFest at The Data Lab, Scotland's innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence hosted by the University of Edinburgh - and Lily Higham, Software Engineer at the BBC World Service.
Music provided by Post Coal Prom Queen.

How is Russia deploying disinformation following its full scale invasion of Ukraine? What's the difference between disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda? Can memes win wars? Check out this fascinating interview with Olga Tokariuk - journalist and disinformation researcher - to find out.
Olga Tokariuk is an independent journalist, non-resident fellow at CEPA (Center for European Policy Analysis) and former fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in Oxford, where she is currently based. Her main professional interests are international affairs and research on disinformation. 
Olga has vast experience in Ukrainian and international media. Her reports and op-eds have been featured in TIME, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, NPR, BBC, Monocle, EFE (Spain), Il Foglio, ANSA (Italy). She is a former head of foreign news desk at the independent Ukrainian Hromadske TV.
Also in this episode, we read a listener mail from Dr. Sreevas Sahasranamam about how artificial intelligence may influence the future of the Hindu faith.
You can email us at DataFest@thedatalab.com or keep up to date with DataFest at https://datafest.global and on Twitter @datafest_
Your hosts are Gordon Johnstone - Head of DataFest at The Data Lab, Scotland's innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence hosted by the University of Edinburgh - and Lily Higham, Senior Automation Engineer at the BBC World Service.
Music provided by Post Coal Prom Queen.

How is religion keeping pace with the developments in AI? If we achieve transhumanism, what becomes of god? Are we heading for a 'semantic apocalypse'? We spoke to Paolo Benanti - adviser to Pope Francis on all things AI - about these questions and more in a truly fascinating conversation.
Father Paolo Benanti is an academic of the Franciscan of the Third Order Regular, a theologian, teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and is advisor to Pope Francis on issues of artificial intelligence and technology ethics.
You can email us at DataFest@thedatalab.com or keep up to date with DataFest at https://datafest.global and on Twitter @datafest_
Your hosts are Gordon Johnstone - Head of DataFest at The Data Lab, Scotland's innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence hosted by the University of Edinburgh - and Lily Higham, Senior Automation Engineer at the BBC World Service.
Music provided by Post Coal Prom Queen.

We're back for a second season! With NASA's Artemis missions (hopefully) returning humanity to the moon in the near future and space exploration entering a new golden age, the realities of human beings existing in space are more pronounced than ever. So what is lunar psychophysics and how will it affect astronauts' ability to function in non-Earth environments? And why do things look different on the moon than they do on Earth? We chatted to NASA scientist Katherine Rahill about all of this and more. 
Dr. Katherine (Katt) Rahill is the Senior Scientist for the Office of the Chief Scientist of NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX. She provides direct support and expert recommendations to the Chief Scientist relating to all scientific elements of the HRP program. She leads assessments to inform NASA’s decisions concerning approaches and strategies to mitigate the risk of deleterious physiological effects associated with long duration spaceflight. 
You can email us at DataFest@thedatalab.com or keep up to date with DataFest at https://datafest.global and on Twitter @datafest_
Your hosts are Gordon Johnstone - Head of DataFest at The Data Lab, Scotland's innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence hosted by the University of Edinburgh - and Lily Higham, Senior Automation Engineer at the BBC World Service.
Music provided by Post Coal Prom Queen.

What happens at the intersection of technology and magic? How has storytelling shaped humanity? And why do airships have such an enduring influence on our imaginations? We talk to author Ken Liu about all of this through the lens of silkpunk - a technology aesthetic of his own invention based on a science fictional elaboration of traditions of engineering in East Asia’s classical antiquity.
A winner of the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards, Ken Liu (http://kenliu.name) is the author of the Dandelion Dynasty, a silkpunk epic fantasy series (starting with The Grace of Kings), as well as The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories and The Hidden Girl and Other Stories.
You can email us at DataFest@thedatalab.com or keep up to date with DataFest at https://datafest.global and on Twitter @datafest_
Your hosts are Gordon Johnstone - Head of DataFest at The Data Lab, Scotland's innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence hosted by the University of Edinburgh - and Lily Higham, Senior Automation Engineer at the BBC World Service.
Music provided by Post Coal Prom Queen.