data crunch

Traditionally, the Data Studies group gathers every Monday 9AM at La Touche on Streatham Campus, together with IDSAI's data governance, for discussions as well as occasional readings (detailed below). Anybody interested in these topics is cordially invited to come along, if you happen to be on campus!

While the Covid19 pandemic lasts (and maybe longer as we've found it convenient with many of us working away), sessions are over Zoom instead (email to get sign-in details), but still Mondays 9:00–10:00AM (UK time).

The majority of sessions are devoted to a different group member leading discussion on their current area of work, so that the whole group keeps informed on all aspects of the Exeter data studies research. Most of the remaining sessions are lead by visiting researchers to discuss their work.

Note that some of the readings are author’s manuscripts that are kindly shared with the reading group; please get in touch with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for access to manuscripts or any other inquiry.

2022

26 September

Catch-up, and proposals of topics for the coming term

28 March

Rose Trappes on open science

21 March

Metin Uzun on the regulatory policy on AI and biometric system

14 March

Silvia Milano on her work in progress on fairness recommendation systems

7 March

Celso Neto on the widespread concept of scaffold in biology — is it more than a suggestive metaphor?

28 February

James Anthony-Edwards on the role of open resources in education

21 February

Federico Botta on using data science for policy making in the UK government

14 February

Denise Hossom on classification practices in conservation and domestication

7 February

Chico Camargo on the data science of touchy subjects: language, algorithms, and censorship.

31 January

Esther Reed: "Can / should AI-enabled machines make moral / ethical decisions? Conversation to include discussion of religious and diverse cultural voices in this public debate"

24 January

Adrian Currie on how the past might differ from the present, and the epistemic consequences of those differences.

17 January

Kirsten Walsh on replication and reliability in Newton’s prism experiments; and Stephan Guttinger on his BSPS session.

10 January

Catch up and introduction of new participants

2021

6 December

Brian Rappert on public engagement through work with museums

29 November

Hugh Williamson on democratic concerns raised by model integration for environmental interventions

22 November

Kevin Donkers on uses of data to represent/voice marginalized farmers

15 November

Elizabeth Williamson on exclusions and gaps in digital footprint stored in cultural archives

8 November

Adrian Currie and Andra Meneganzin on demographic data driving research in the historical sciences

1 November

Stephan Guttinger on data reliability and quality checks in laboratory settings

25 October

Nathanael Sheehan on open data use in the private sector

18 October

Sabina Leonelli on the shift away from strong data protection in the UK

11 October

Avon Huxor on insights from media studies on perceptions of AI

4 October

Ana Beduschi and Oliver James, on the UK’s national AI Strategy

27 September

Catch-up and introduction of new faces, and setting agenda for this term. Bring your proposals for discussion!

14 June

In-person event! With Ernesto Schwarz-Marin on experiences with gaming as a way into data studies, and Richard Everson and Tim Dodwell on personal data re-use in urban planning.

7 June

Timothy Lang on the power of social media and the implications of recent changes in Terms and Conditions of Agreement to their use (e.g WhatsUp, Google services)

31 May

(No crunch, bank holiday)

24 May

Chico Camargo on Public opinion, social information, and what people are thinking about

17 May

Ana Beduschi — follow-up discussion on immunity passports

10 May

Ozlem Yilmaz on plant data

3 May

(No crunch, bank holiday)

26 April

Margaret Bolton on cultural aspects of biological concepts used as keywords to collect and analyse biodiversity data

22 March

Georgina Wood on the development of the South-West Institute for Technology

15 March

Cassandra Bird on methods to integrate socio-ethical considerations into mathematical modelling

8 March

Ana Beduschi on the Digital Services Act

1 March

Arely Cruz-Santiago on how to frame evidence-based policy reports vis-a-vis predetermined political agendas

Arthur Vandervoort on new developments in data-centric grassroots advocacy

15 February

Peter Dahlin on issues of access and re-use of large datasets found online, including how cloud/web services manage data access and what ethical and social implications this may have

8 February

Mohsen Mosleh on the role of data vis-a-vis the relation between misinformation and democracy [part 2]

1 February

Jason Reifler on the role of data vis-a-vis the relation between misinformation and democracy [part 1]

25 January

Sabina Leonelli on the "Great Reset” position statement of the World Economic Forum

18 January

Research updates from all team members

2020

7 December: James Anthony-Edwards on the university Data Management Roadmap
30 November: Hugh Williamson on PlantDBMap and possible use of data on data infrastructure histories
23 November: Jane Elliott on gender and university employment
16 November: Arthur Vandervoort on gendered analysis of social media data
9 November: Timothy Lam on interdisciplinarity in data science
2 November: Ernesto Schwarz-Marin on the use of documentaries to raise public consciousness of data governance in social media (and elsewhere)
26 October: Brian Rappert on going beyond transparency in data sharing and governance
19 October: Jane Elliott & Sabina Leonelli introducing a discussion on the new UK Data Strategy
12 October: Ana Beduschi on immunity passports for COVID
5 October: First meeting of the year: Catching up and planning a schedule for the term. Make sure you raise the topics you want to see discussed!
15 June: Rosa Barciela (MET Office lead on Human Data) — last Crunch of the academic year
8 June: Timothy Lam discussion
1 June: Ozlem Yilmaz discussion
18 May: Zhimin Xiao discussion
11 May: Dana Wilson-Kovacs discussion
4 May: (No crunch, bank holiday)
27 April: Sabina Leonelli on data ethics in time of crisis
20 April: Peter Dahlin discussion
23 March: Dana Wilson-Kovacs discussion. [COVID-19!]
16 March: Peter Dahlin discussion. [COVID-19!]
9 March: Ozlem Yilmaz discussion. [Planned industrial action!]
2 March: TBD [Planned industrial action!]
24 February: TBD [Planned industrial action!]
10 February: Caitlin Wylie discussion.
3 February: Arely Cruz-Santiago discussion.
27 January: Edward Skidelsky discussion.
20 January: Ernesto Schwarz-Marin discussion.
13 January: Edmond Awad discussion.

2019

2 December: Arthur Vandervoort discussion.
25 November: Ernesto Schwarz-Marin discussion.
18 November: Sabina Leonelli discussion.
11 November: Hugh Williamson discussion.
4 November: Niccolò Tempini discussion.
28 October: James Anthony-Edwards discussion.
14 October: Kirsten Walsh discussion.
7 October: Lorien Jasny draft paper: What should be some standards for reporting back to individuals about data collected on them?
30 September: Adrian Currie draft presentation: Technology, Zombie-Data and the Open-Endedness of Historical Science.
23 September: Decide reading schedule for the year, plus visitor: Prof. Anne Beaulieu.
10 June: Reading: Etienne S. Benson (2017). A Centrifuge of Calculation: Managing Data and Enthusiasm in Early Twentieth-Century Bird Banding. Osiris, 32(1): 286–306.
3 June: Cancelled!Reading: Mirjam Brusius (2017). The Field in the Museum: Puzzling Out Babylon in Berlin. Osiris,32(1): 264–285.
20 May: Reading: W. Patrick McCray (2017). The Biggest Data of All: Making and Sharing a Digital Universe. Osiris, 32(1): 243–263.
13 May: Visit by Robert Challen and Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova (Prof. of Maths), to discuss their paper on safety of health AI applications:
Robert Challen Et al (2018). Artificial intelligence, bias, and clinical safety. BMJ Quality & Safety, 28(3): 231–237.
6 May: Reading1: David Sepkoski (2017). The Database before the Computer? Osiris, 32(1): 175–201.; Reading2: Hallam Stevens (2017). A Feeling for the Algorithm: Working Knowledge and Big Data in Biology. Osiris, 32(1): 51–174.
25 March: Reading: Christine von Oertzen (2017). Machineries of Data Power: Manual versus Mechanical Census Compilation in Nineteenth-Century Europe. Osiris, 32(1): 129–150.
18 March: No DataCrunch.
11 March: Reading: Staffan Müller-Wille (2017). Names and Numbers: “Data” in Classical Natural History, 1758–1859. Osiris, 32(1): 109–128.
4 March: Reading: Dan Bouk (2017). The History and Political Economy of Personal Data over the Last Two Centuries in Three Acts. Osiris, 32(1): 85–106.
25 February: Reading: Markus Friedrich (2017). Genealogy as Archive-Driven Research Enterprise in Early Modern Europe. Osiris, 32(1): 65–84.
11 February: Reading: Joanna Radin (2017). "Digital Natives": How Meidical and Indigenous Histories Matter for Big Data. Osiris, 32(1): 43–63.
4 February: Reading: Rebecca Lemov (2017). Anthropology's Most Documented Man, Ca. 1947: A Prefiguration of Big Data from the Big Social Science Era. Osiris, 32(1): 21–42.

2018

10 December: TBA.
3 December: TBA.
26 November: TBA.
19 November: Reading: Sabina‘s introduction to the Data Journeys book.
12 November: TBA.
5 November: TBA (PSA/HSS in Seattle — Sabina absent).
29 October: Reading: Adrian’ Manifesto paper.
22 October: Discussion on data ‘expertise’ and data provenance (relation between scientific and other sources).
15 October: Discussion on justice/fairness.
8 October: Discussion on methods.
1 October: Breakfast without reading.

2017

7 December: Breakfast without reading.
30 November: Breakfast without reading.
23 November: Breakfast without reading.
16 November: Discussion of Data Journeys book chapter drafts.
9 November: Breakfast without reading.
26 October: Breakfast without reading.
19 October: Sabina Leonelli and Niccolò Tempini, draft Where Health and Environment Meet: Geolocation as Invariance Strategy for Integrating Diverse Data Sources.
12 October: Breakfast without reading.
5 October: Breakfast without reading.
28 September: Breakfast without reading.
21 September: Breakfast without reading.
22 June: Sandra Mitchell. Biological Complexity and Integrative Pluralism. Chapters TBA.
1 June: Niccolò Tempini and David Teira’s (joint) early chapter draft for data journeys book.; Niccolò Tempini’s (other) early chapter draft for data journeys book.

25 May: Breakfast without reading.

11 May: Brian Rappert’s early chapter draft for data journeys book.; Sabina Leonelli’s early chapter draft for data journeys book.

4 May: Xan Chacko (2017). Rendering Life Bankable (dissertation chapter; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a draft PDF).

20 April: Robert Chapman and Alison Wylie. Evidential Reasoning in Archaeology. Chapters: Introduction, Chapter 3, and Conclusion.

30 March: Adrian Currie Method Pluralism, Method Mismatch, and Method Bias.

23 March: Staffan Müller-Wille’s early chapter draft for data journeys book.

16 March: Broadbent, Alex. Philosophy of Epidemiology. Chapters 2 & 10.

23 February: Breakfast without reading, exceptionally starting at 10am.

9 February: Breakfast without reading.

2016

15 December: Breakfast without reading.
24 November: Solomon, M. (2015). (Chapter 1) Introduction: Beyond the Art and Science of Medicine & (Chapter 7) What is Translational Medicine? In: Solomon, M., Making Medical Knowledge. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
10 November: Ribes, D. & Polk, J.B. (2015). Organizing for Ontological Change: The Kernel of an AIDS Research Infrastructure. Social Studies of Science, 45(2): 214–241. doi: 10.1177/0306312714558136.
Ribes, D. & Polk, J.B. (2014). Flexibility Relative to What? Change to Research Infrastructure. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 15(5): 287–305.
21 October [Friday!]: Morgan, M. S. (2014). Resituating Knowledge: Generic Strategies and Case Studies. Philosophy of Science, 81(5): 1012–1024.
13 October: Breakfast without reading.
6 October: Eschenfelder, K.R. & Shankar, K. (2016). Designing Sustainable Data Archives: Comparing Sustainability Frameworks. doi: 10.9776/16243.
Ostrom, E., Hess, C. (2011). A Framework for Analyzing the Knowledge Commons. In: Hess and Ostrom (Eds.) Understanding Knowledge as a Commons. Cambridge MA: MIT Press, pp. 41–82. (Get a fresher copy from Niccolò, link is 2005 draft.)
7 July: Chat with our guest (and temporary Egenis fellow) Richard Carter.
30 June: Discussion without reading.
23 June: Reading TBA.
9 June: Discussion without reading.
2 June: Reading TBA.
19 May: Discussion without reading.
12 May: Eschenfelder, K.R. & Shankar, K. (2016). Designing Sustainable Data Archives: Comparing Sustainability Frameworks. IConference 2016 Proceedings, pp 1–7.; Shankar, K., Eschenfelder, K. R., & Downey, G. (forthcoming). Studying the History of Social Science Data Archives as Knowledge Infrastructure. Science and Technology Studies.
5 May: Discussion without reading.
28 April: Morgan, M.S. (2014). Resituating Knowledge: Generic Strategies and Case Studies. Philosophy of Science, 81(5), 1012–1024.
14 April: Chat with our visitors Inge De Bal, Phyllis Illari, Julia Sánchez-Dorado and David Teira.
24 March: Chat with our visitor Najko Jahn.
17 March: Reiss, J. (2015). A Pragmatist Theory of Evidence. Philosophy of Science 82(3): 341-362.
10 March: Discussion without reading.
3 March: Rosenberg, D. (2013). Data Before the Fact. In: Gitelman, L. (Ed.), "Raw Data" is an oxymoron. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. Pp. 15-40.
25 February: Gieryn, T.F. (1983). Boundary-Work and the Demarcation of Science from Non-Science: Strains and Interests in Professional Ideologies of Scientists. American Sociological Review 48: 781–795.
18 February: Discussion without reading.
11 February: Coopmans, C. (2014). Visual Analytics as Artful Revelation. In: Coopmans, C., Vertesi, J., Lynch, M, and Woolgar, S. (Eds), Representation in Scientific Practice Revisited. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.; Chat with our visitor Catelijne Coopmans.
4 February: No meeting.
27 January: Chat with our visitor Etienne Vignola-Gagné, focus on genomics-driven clinical cancer research.; NB: this meeting will be on a Wednesday, and will be at 11.30am in Byrne House.
21 January: Chat with our visitor Ashraful Islam Khan, focus on Open Software.

2015

11 June: Reading TBA.
21 May: Daston, L. (1991). Marvelous Facts and Miraculous Evidence in Early Modern Europe. Critical inquiry 18(1):93–123.
30 April: Whewell, W. (1833). On the Use of Definitions. In: The Philological Museum 2, pg 263–272; plus as a background McOuat, G.R.(2009). The Origins of “Natural Kinds”: Keeping “Essentialism” at Bay in the Age of Reform’. Intellectual History Review 19(2):211–30.
2 April: Elder-Vass, David (2005). Emergence and The Realist Account of Cause. Journal of Critical Realism 4(2):315-338.
5 March: Introduction and first chapter of DeLanda, M. (2002). Intensive Science and Virtual Philosophy. Bloomsbury Academic, London.
19 February: Büscher, M., Perng, S. and Wood, L. (2014). How to Follow the Information? A Study of Informational Mobilities in Crises. Sociologica 1, 1–37. doi:10.2383/77044
29 January: Fleck, L. Genesis and development of a scientific fact. Chapters 1 and 2.

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The Data Crunch: Weekly Data Studies breakfast gathering