January’s Predictions meet-up marked a personal milestone for me – it was my first Data Lab Community event as the new Chair. While I’ve been a member of the Community for years, this was my first opportunity to introduce myself in this new role – and to do so in front of 300+ registered attendees, […]
Guest Blogs
Reflections on 2025: A Data Scientist Dives into Mainframe (and lives to tell the tale)
In this guest blog, we’re joined by Sarah Burne James, Client Adoption Specialist (Z Software) at IBM, who brings a fresh, fun perspective to the world of mainframes—complete with misconceptions, “aha!” moments, and a lot of cool tech. *record scratch* *freeze frame* Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here. You know that […]
Reflections on Black History: Innovation, creativity and courage
Guest blog by Abel Aboh, Board Member, The Data Lab Scotland Did you know that the iconic “Thin White Duke” persona of David Bowie was created by a Black woman? Her name was Ola Hudson, an extraordinary costume designer who worked with the Pointer Sisters, John Lennon, and David Bowie himself. Hudson’s creative genius shaped […]
From Data to Decisions: Building Trustworthy AI in Financial Services
In this guest blog, we’re pleased to welcome insights from David Bull, Senior Consultant at Talan. With over 15 years of experience across Retail, Commercial, and Investment Banking, as well as industries including Transport and Renewable Energy, David has led projects spanning data analytics, regulatory change, and remediation. Drawing on his expertise in data governance […]
Beyond the AI Hype: Scaling Financial Intelligence That Delivers
In this guest blog, we’re pleased to welcome insights from Simon Axon, Global Financial Services Strategist at Teradata. Simon explores the challenges financial institutions face in scaling AI beyond proof-of-concept. He examines how banks can move from traditional data management to real-time, signal-oriented AI applications that support fraud prevention, personalisation, risk management, and regulatory compliance. […]
Smart, Sustainable and Safe: How Data & AI Are Transforming Housing
Across the UK, the housing sector stands at the crossroads of three urgent challenges: decarbonisation, demographic change, and deteriorating infrastructure. Meeting these demands requires more than traditional approaches – it calls for smarter, data-driven solutions. From improving energy efficiency and supporting healthy ageing to delivering faster, predictive repairs, data and AI are reshaping what homes […]
Mapping the Future: The Role of Geospatial Data in Scotland’s Tech Ecosystem
Geospatial data is becoming an invisible yet vital part of our daily lives, shaping how we navigate cities, manage properties, and tackle everything from climate change to urban planning. At its core, geospatial data is information connected to a place, whether tracking how many people move through a city, mapping whether flooding might happen, or […]
How AI Makes Finding Safe Medicines Faster
In this guest blog, we’re pleased to welcome insights from Dr. Angelo Pugliese, Associate Director of In Silico Discovery at BioAscent. As part of Life Sciences Month at The Data Lab, Dr. Pugliese explores the critical role Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing in transforming drug discovery. The Challenge of Developing New Medicines Bringing a new […]
The Future of Drug Development: How AI and Data are Revolutionising the Pharmaceutical Industry
We’re thrilled to share insights from Dr. Zahra Rattray, Senior Lecturer in Translational Pharmaceutics at the University of Strathclyde. In this guest blog, Dr. Rattray explores how AI and big data are transforming the pharmaceutical industry, speeding up drug discovery, and enabling personalised treatments. From improving preclinical development to enhancing clinical trials, AI is paving […]
Seven Years with The Data Lab: Reflections by Marian Dunbar
Marian joined The Data Lab in 2018 and has been a key part of the team ever since, playing a central role in the growth of The Data Lab Academy. As we approach our tenth anniversary, she’s taking a moment to look back on the past seven years – sharing her experiences, highlights, and the […]