Leeds Digital Festival has announced the full schedule for its latest instalment of the tech showcase, with over 200 events taking place from Tuesday 20 to Friday 30 September.
More than 160 individuals and organisations across the Leeds City Region and beyond will present events as part of the open, collaborative festival, and the University of Leeds will be hosting a range of events during Leeds Digital Festival (LDF).
It’s great to see such multi-faceted involvement from our colleagues sharing their expertise throughout the festival, creating an exciting line-up of University events as part of the packed programme.
LDF’s events will span 19 tech categories in total, celebrating digital culture in all its forms, with events covering everything from artificial intelligence to arts and culture; coding and software to cyber security; sustainability to start-ups and social events – and everything else in between.
Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee, Dean of Digital Transformation, said: “Digitally-anchored innovations to transform research and education is at the heart of what we do here at the University of Leeds. As such, we are proud to be a Premier Sponsor for this year’s Leeds Digital Festival, which promises to be the most diverse edition yet.
“It’s great to see such multi-faceted involvement from our colleagues sharing their expertise throughout the festival, creating an exciting line-up of University events as part of the packed programme.
“Supporting Leeds Digital Festival helps us to not only connect and embed within a wider audience in promoting the benefits of a digital culture, but also allows us to create a local community of practitioners who can collectively help tackle local, as well as global, challenges using digital innovations.”
Digital collaboration
Our colleagues in Nexus – the University’s innovation community – are staging a wide mix of events, including the inaugural ‘MedTech Showcase’, an opportunity for medical and tech professionals to connect, share knowledge and advance innovation.
The Nexus community will also be sharing their opportunities for collaboration in the third event in the flagship Nexus Connect series, which is an opportunity for people to find out more about the businesses based at Nexus.
Nexus Director Dr Martin Stow said: “Leeds is an outstanding hub of innovation and digital excellence, and we’re delighted to once again celebrate the vibrant digital scene across our region, as part of the Leeds Digital Festival.
We’re back this year, with arguably our strongest offer to date, bringing together innovators from across the city, the Nexus community and beyond.
“We’re back this year, with arguably our strongest offer to date, bringing together innovators from across the city, the Nexus community and beyond. The power of the Leeds City Region continues to inspire me and we’re proud to play our part.”
Selected University of Leeds events
Sharpening the cutting edge: Research Computing at the University of Leeds
Location: Online
Date: Tuesday 20 September, 10-11am.
Scientific research has come a long way from Galileo’s first telescope. Now more than ever researchers are looking to computational tools to accelerate their work and drive innovation. At the University, the Research Computing team of research software engineers work to facilitate better computational research practices from improving the performance of large-scale modelling on our local high-performance computing system to delivering training around software engineering, GPU toolsets, machine learning, and providing bespoke consulting services for research projects.
Come and learn more about how research software engineering is transforming the pace of innovation at the University of Leeds with case studies from researchers at the cutting edge of their fields.
Nexus Connect
Location: Nexus Building, Discovery Way, LS2 3AA
Date: Tuesday 20 September, 4.30-6.30pm.
Nexus are bringing MedTech and digital health leaders and innovators together. Members Wellola, Toxseek, See AI and Inovus Medical will be sharing opportunities for collaboration across the Nexus Community, the University and the wider innovation ecosystem. Medipex, Bionow, the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Innovation Pop Up will be exhibiting their latest innovation services and opportunities. SingFit will also be flying over from Los Angeles to share neurological, physical and emotional health benefits of music.
This event provides an opportunity for all members of the Nexus community and innovators across the wider innovation ecosystem to network and collaborate.
Hack for Good
Location: Nexus Building, Discovery Way, LS2 3AA
Date: Friday 23 September, 8.30am to 5.30pm.
This Hackathon calls for thinkers and doers of all backgrounds and skill levels to participate in co-designing ethical and innovative solutions using data and technology to positively impact the independence and quality of life of older people in Leeds. This session is perfect for academics, data analysts, developers, people accessing services, carers or if you work in the health and care sector. Everyone is welcome.
Innovations in Immersive Healthcare: Show and Tell
Location: Centre for Immersive Technologies, Seminar Room G.07, Charles Thackrah, University of Leeds
Date: Friday 23 September, 12 noon to 5pm.
Come learn about how the University and its partners are working at the forefront of the application of XR technologies in healthcare: from helping trainee GPs and nurses deal with challenging and complex patient consultations through to supporting millimetre precise brain tumour surgery.
In this hands-on event, coordinated by the Centre for Immersive Technologies, you will have a chance to try out some of the latest headsets and clinical experiences and get a taste of what the future of healthcare looks like.
The University of Leeds Data Strategy and Service
Location: Online
Date: Monday 26 September, 10.30-11.30am.
Delivered by Monica Jones, the University’s Chief Data Officer, this event is intended for professionals working with data, anyone who wishes to get to know more about data strategy, and people who are looking for work in data or wish to get into the sector. Find out how a data strategy can create the foundation for data-driven innovation in research, as well promote frameworks for data security, access and sharing that can be beneficial to organisations and individuals alike.
Digital Innovation in Inclusive Urban Design
Location: Leeds Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, LS2 7UP
Date: Tuesday 27 September, 10am to 7pm.
Put yourself in the virtual shoes of someone else and experience how digital technology and more inclusive data can be used to inform and improve the way we design urban space.
Hosted by Arup, you can engage in the conversation on how we improve accessibility, safety, and inclusivity in our cities and towns using inclusive data and digital innovation.
Professor Natasha Merat (School of Earth and Environment) is a guest speaker in the hybrid Leeds Industry Panel Discussion, from 4.30-5.15pm.
Digital Twins: Aspiring to Create a More Sustainable World
Location: Nexus Building, Discovery Way, LS2 3AA
Date: Thursday 29 September, 1.30-4.45pm.
In this free half-day event join us and the global members of the Digital Twin Consortium to meet industry pioneers in digital technology and take part in panel workshops and discussions. With drinks reception to follow!
You will hear from Digital Twin Consortium leadership and other pioneers in digital twin technology and methodology encompassing the three pillars of sustainability: Social, Economic, and Environmental. The presenters will look at ground-breaking digital twin applications and discuss today’s responsible computing opportunities and challenges with a view toward shaping a more sustainable future.
Attendees will have ample opportunity to network with the presenters and other guests.
How to found your tech start-up
Location: Riley Smith Lecture Theatre, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds
Date: Thursday 29 September, 5.30-7pm.
Join University of Leeds Union ShockSoc for a discussion on how to found a tech start-up.
Four tech leaders from across Leeds will give their personal experiences of founding a start-up and then answer questions from the audience.
This is a chance for university students who have a great business idea they want to develop but don’t know where to start.
MedTech Showcase
Location: Nexus Building, Discovery Way, LS2 3AA
Date: TBC
This event is the first of its kind in Leeds with support and participation from Nexus & University of Leeds, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), Leeds Digital Festival, and the wider MedTech community in Leeds.
The event will cover inspirational topics such as founders’ stories and innovative solutions already in place to impact patient outcomes, to practical knowledge-sharing on topics like procurement into the NHS, IP, patents, and funding.
MedTech Showcase is an opportunity for professionals in various aspects of the medical and tech industries to connect, share knowledge, support one another, and advance innovation.