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thedatalab.bsky.social
The Data Lab
@thedatalab.bsky.social
Scotland's Innovation Centre for Data and AI. We help companies, organisations and individuals capitalise on the opportunities that exist within data and AI. https://thedatalab.com/
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👋 Hello, Bluesky!

We’re The Data Lab - Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI.

We believe in a thriving, connected society powered by data and AI. We support responsible innovation across sectors to turn bold ideas into impact.

Follow for updates, insights, and ways to collaborate!
Have you checked out the new DataFest website yet? 👀

Stay up to date with speaker announcements, agenda updates, and all the latest on DataFest 2026 - Scotland’s leading data & AI festival.

While you’re there, don’t forget to secure your early bird tickets!

🔗 Explore now: https://datafest.global/
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
🚨 The Data Lab Community has announced its Monthly Themes for 2026!

Monthly, we'll focus on a key topic in data & AI, guiding events, discussions, & content around the latest trends.

Find out more about how you can get involved and register your interest here: https://ow.ly/pF0r50XxoRV
November 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by The Data Lab
"Join our lunchtime webinar 'Making the Most of a Student Placement', to discover how your organisation can benefit from The Data Lab's MSc Student Placement Programme. Taking place online on Wed 3 December 2025 12:00 - 13:00 GMT" @thedatalab.bsky.social

community.thedatalab.com/events/195671
The Data Lab Academy – Making the Most of a Student Placement
Image Credit: Lone Thomasky & Bits&Bäume / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Thinking about hosting a Data & AI student placement next year?  Join our lunch...
community.thedatalab.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
🏆 Ready to turn data into a winning story?

Our Data Visualisation Competition 2025 opens this Wednesday!

Enter for a chance to win:
🛍️ £300 in retail vouchers
🎟️ 1 x ticket to DataFest 2026
🎉 The Data Lab Goodie Bag

Register your interest and find out more, here: https://ow.ly/YkOa50XjF2l
Data Visualisation Competition: Exploring Climate Action - The Data Lab
Hone your data viz skills by entering The Data Lab Community's data visualisation competition. Over £1,000 worth of prizes to be won!
ow.ly
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Working with talented MSc students through our placement programme helps organisations across Scotland turn ideas into real outcomes.

If your organisation has a project idea for 2026, get in touch with our team at [email protected]

Find out more here: https://ow.ly/w7vQ50XinRU
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
An introduction to AI and its opportunities

Our final executive briefing for the year is on 1 Dec (10–11AM). For leaders in SMEs or social enterprises, this free online session will help you build awareness & leadership capacity around AI.

🔗 Spaces are limited — apply: https://ow.ly/9vZi50Xin7r
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Join us for a webinar on 'Accessible Data Visualisation in the Age of AI'.

Jen Gates will explore how accessibility practices in data visualisation have progressed and whether AI tools are helping or hindering accessible visualisations.

📅 Fri 28 Nov, 12:30–13:30
👉 : https://ow.ly/Y84550Xic0U
November 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Speaker Announcement 🎤

We’re excited to kick off the DataFest 2026 lineup with the return of Colin Jarvis, Head of Forward Deployed Engineering at OpenAI.

🎟️ Get your early bird tickets now: https://datafest.global/tickets
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
📢 Interested in hosting a Data and AI student placement next year?

Join our webinar to learn how your organisation can benefit from our MSc Student Placement Programme. Hear from past hosts and student alumni and learn about the recruitment process.

🕛 3 Dec, 12-1PM
🔗: https://ow.ly/lmY250XtqrP
November 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by The Data Lab
You can now catch up on last week's @thedatalab.bsky.social session where Jason Swan talked about the business case for good #DataViz, and I discussed designing charts for a broad audience 📊

www.youtube.com/live/wW7UfM9...
Know Your Audience: Communicating with Data Viz
YouTube video by The Data Lab
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
🎓 Last chance to apply!

Fully funded MSc scholarships for January starts are still available. Don’t miss your opportunity to boost your data skills and kick-start your career.

👉 Find out more: https://thedatalab.com/students/scholarships/
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
🚀 Applications are now open for the 11th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.

This year, we’re proud to partner with Interface to launch a brand-new Trailblazing AI Collaboration category.

🏆 Applications close: 5pm, 11 December 2025
👉 : https://ow.ly/XmBl50XqB2J
November 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
📣 Free online data & AI transformation course for SMEs - Access AI readiness, identify opportunities, & build strategic roadmaps aligned with your goals.

📅 26 Nov (Intro), 3-4 Dec (Module 1), 10-11 Dec (Module 2)
https://thedatalab.com/business-support/ai-adoption/data-and-ai-transformation-course/
November 14, 2025 at 9:00 AM
🚀 DataFest 26 tickets now live!

Scotland’s leading data & AI festival returns for 2 days of innovation, world-class speakers, & networking.

✨ This year’s theme: Intelligent Futures – exploring how data & AI are shaping the industries, systems, & societies of tomorrow.

🔗 https://ow.ly/Neoy50XqYZE
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🌍 This year’s Data Viz Competition theme: climate action.

📊 The challenge is to use data from the UK Co-Benefits Atlas to visualise how climate action can improve lives across the UK, and shift perspectives for your chosen audience.

🔗: https://ow.ly/wgI650XjEmA
November 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Boost your digital skills with the Digital Learning Initiative from @skillsdevscot.bsky.social, in partnership with Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, Salesforce, IBM and Business Gateway. Access free online courses to help you develop in digital www.myworldofwork.co.uk/digital-lear...

#ScotCareersWeek25
November 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
We're at CPD Expo today and tomorrow - come and say hi! 👋

Swing by stall C230 to chat about how we can support your professional development goals and help take your career to the next level.

Don't miss Michelle's seminar today at 3:30 PM - “Understanding AI and Current Trends in Business".
November 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Join The Data Lab Community next Wednesday for our webinar 'Beyond Graphs: The Art of Data Storytelling'. Discover how to turn your data visualisations into compelling stories that connect with your audience.

📅 19 Nov, 12:30–13:30
👉 Register: https://community.thedatalab.com/networks/events/193978
Beyond Graphs: The Art of Data Storytelling
In today's data-rich environment, presenting data isn't enough. The most impactful visualisations go beyond showing the numbers — they craft narratives that resonate, persuade, and inspire action. In this webinar, you will discover how to transform your visualisations from simple reporting tools into powerful communication vehicles.   This session will take you beyond basic charting to explore the psychology of how people process and respond to data stories. You'll learn about the storytelling arc that turns insights into compelling narratives, discover advanced techniques for...
community.thedatalab.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
🎓 Funding opportunity for Scottish universities

The Data Lab invites Scottish universities to apply for SFC-funded scholarships to support students on data and AI-related Masters programmes for academic year 2026/27.

Learn more and apply by 16 January 2026: https://ow.ly/Rovc50XpP4S
November 11, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Understanding AI and Current Trends in Business

Michelle Scott will be speaking at CPD Expo this Wednesday, exploring how AI is reshaping industries — from personalisation in marketing and customer service to boosting efficiency and cutting costs.

📅 12 Nov, 3:30–4:00pm
📍 ExCeL London
November 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Join a webinar on 17 Nov to find out how you can boost efficiency & confidence with AI & access fully-funded project support.

‘Hands-on Data and AI support for SMEs’ provides practical, bespoke support for Scottish SMEs & social enterprises.

Register: community.thedatalab.com/networks/eve...
Intro to The Data Lab's hands-on AI Support for Businesses
Cover image by Jamillah Knowles & Digit / Building Corp / Licenced by CC-BY 4.0 Practical one-one help for businesses looking to boost efficiency, cut costs, and build confidence with data and AI Are ...
community.thedatalab.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:47 AM
⏳ Still time to apply!

Fully funded MSc scholarships for January starts are still open at top Scottish universities.

✨ Don’t miss this chance to boost your data skills and accelerate your career!

👉 Check eligible courses and apply: https://thedatalab.com/students/scholarships/
November 7, 2025 at 9:00 AM
“Know Your Audience: Communicating with Data Viz”

We’ll explore how great data visualisation bridges the gap between analytics and impact, covering both the creativity and strategy of visual storytelling.

📅 Wed 12 Nov, 17:30 - 19:30
📍 Bayes Centre, Edinurgh + Online
🔗: https://ow.ly/qX1650XjC8B
Know Your Audience: Communicating with Data Viz
Image Credit: IceMing & Digit / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Whether it’s your most recent board report recounting last quarter’s successes, or bringing the latest headlines to life in your favourite newspaper, great data visualisation can bridge the gap between analytics and impact. At this event we’ll cover both the creativity and strategy of visual storytelling, examining how to harness data to its fullest potential while tailoring it to the needs of your audience.   Jason Swan, joins us from Talan Data x AI, to discuss the...
ow.ly
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
An introduction to AI and its opportunities

For leaders in SMEs/social enterprises, this free online session will help you build awareness & leadership capacity around AI.

🗓️: 19 Nov, 1 Dec
🔗: https://thedatalab.com/business-support/ai-adoption/executive-briefing-for-senior-leaders-and-managers/
November 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Ready to Boost Your Professional Development?

We'll be exhibiting at the CPD Expo 2025 in London next week!

Visit us at stall C230 to chat about how we can help you achieve your professional development goals & take your career to the next level.

📅 12 - 13 Nov
📍 ExCeL London

#CPDExpo #CPD2025
November 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM