“Big data” and “data science” are terms we hear more and more these days. The idea that we can use these vast amounts of information to understand and analyse phenomena, and find solutions to problems, is gaining prominence, both in business and academia. Cathie Sudlow, Professor of Neurology and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, has been at the forefront of enabling health-related research using ever-increasing datasets. She tells presenter Jim Al-Khalili why this type of research matters, how the COVID-19 pandemic changed attitudes towards data in healthcare, and why the NHS gives the UK a big advantage when it comes to population-wide studies. Over the course of her career, Cathie has held a variety of roles at different organisations, and she is currently Chief Scientist and Deputy Director at Health Data Research UK. She believes that there is no room for prima donnas in science, and wants her field to be open and collaborative, to have the most impact on patients’ lives. Produced by Florian Bohr.
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Tracey Rogers on leopard seals and Antarctica
Jennifer Doudna
Tamsin Mather on what volcanic plumes reveal about our planet
Tim O'Brien on transient stars and science and music festivals
Ottoline Leyser on how plants decide what to do
Fay Dowker on a new theory of space-time
Ann Clarke on The Frozen Ark
Graham MacGregor on tackling the demons in our diet
Liz Sockett on friendly killer bacteria
Nick Fraser on Triassic reptiles
Daniel Dennett on the evolution of the human brain
Alison Woollard on what she has learnt from mutant worms
Alan Winfield on robot ethics
Simon Wessely on unexplained medical syndromes
Sean Carroll on how time and space began
Alison Smith on algae
Sadaf Farooqi on what makes us fat
Jan Zalasiewicz on the Age of Man
Michele Dougherty on Saturn
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