Building ethical Artificial Intelligence

Professor John  Murray

As Artificial Intelligence (Al) becomes common place, we are becoming ever more reliant on these devices.  But how do they work?  What decisions are they making for us? Are these decisions the ‘correct’ ones?  How do we ensure Al works for and not against us and that the decisions made are ethical and correct? This talk will look at the question of ‘Trust in AI.

Dr John Murray is Professor of Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the University of Hull. He specialises in Cognitive Neuroscience and Robotics,  particularly the question of how Al relates to trust in Human-Robot Interaction.

“Now You’re Talking”

Professor Trevor Cox

It is easy to overlook how truly remarkable the voice is. Mixing biology, physics and psychology, Professor Cox explores the workings of the voice looking at accents and different singing styles. The human voice has always been in flux, but recently this has been accelerated by technology. Rich in sound examples his talk draws on his science book “Now You’re Talking”.

Professor Cox has presented numerous science documentaries on BBC Radio. He is author of Sonic Wonderland for which he won an ASA science writing award.

The Natural History of Christmas

Dr Michael  Leach

Dr Leach’s talk reveals  the pre-Christian roots of hanging mistletoe, that turkeys didn’t  come from Turkey, why the robin is our favourite Christmas bird and the origin of the Yule log.  Best of all, it reveals just why we imagine reindeer can fly.

Dr  Leach is a zoologist who has worked as a wildlife author, photographer and cameraman since 1977. He has filmed TV documentaries, working on more than 100 programmes and has written 32 books on subjects ranging from big cats and owls to great apes and bears.

35 years of Homicide: Reflections of a Forensic Pathologist

Dr William Lawler OBE

Dr Lawler worked at the Manchester Royal Infirmary before his appointment, in 1984 as a Home Office Pathologist for Greater Manchester. Over three decades he presented his findings on the causes of deaths to Crown Court juries and Coroners’ inquests. He helped to identify the bodies of those killed in a devastating earthquake at Christchurch New Zealand in 2013, was involved in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and the London bombings several months later.