The IDEMS Podcast

In this episode, Michele and David discuss the development and impact of an AI tool for authoring STACK questions. They explore the potential of AI to enhance educational resources, make technology development more accessible, and address inequalities in low-resource environments. The conversation highlights both the opportunities and challenges presented by rapid advancements in AI.

Recently back from the World Statistics Congress, David and James reflect on the significance of this event, which brings together statisticians and the broader statistics community to share knowledge, foster collaborations, and advance the field. They discuss the evolving relationship between statistics and data science, highlighting the importance of both fields in the era of big data. They also explore the role of the International Association for Statistical Education (IASE) and the International Statistics Institute (ISI) in enhancing statistical education and integrating data science into curricula.

In this special 200th episode, Santiago and Johnny discuss how the podcast gets made. They consider the inspiration that led to its creation, the team members involved, and the evolution in production quality over the past 100 weeks. They also highlight the technical aspects, including the software and tools used, the editing process, and the role of AI in simplifying their workflow.

James Musyoka interviews David Stern, about his attendance at the Pan-African Convening on the Future of Biodigital Technologies in Food and Agriculture. Held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and organized by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), the event focused on the impact of digital technologies on African agriculture and data sovereignty. David shares insights about a declaration formed during the event and discusses the three models of technology development presented by Million Belay. They draw parallels between these topics and IDEMS' African Data Initiative and the R-Instat project, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in achieving local ownership and collaborative development of technology in Africa.

David is joined by Michele Pancera, an Impact Activation Fellow at IDEMS. Michele shares his journey from a high school maths enthusiast to member of IDEMS, via being a teacher and beekeeper. The conversation covers Michele's passion for making mathematics engaging through games, his experience of societal perceptions of maths education, and his various professional pivots. The discussion emphasises the value of generalists in a world that often prioritises specialists, and touches on Michele's ongoing contributions at IDEMS including developing an AI assistant for STACK questions and his woodworking ventures.

Santiago and David explore the transformative potential of gamifying education. They discuss how rethinking exams to be more like driving tests could shift the educational landscape away from high-stakes differentiation to a mastery-based model.

David and Lucie discuss ongoing efforts to responsibly use AI to assist smallholder farmers in the Sahel region. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers in identifying pests and diseases and the shortcomings of commercial AI tools. They highlight the work of Digital Green, a non-profit organisation developing an AI tool for farmers that emphasises relevance, local language integration, and responsible AI practices. They explore the potential for collaboration and future advancements in AI tools tailored for low-resource environments.

Lily and David discuss the old adage “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”, and how it applies to the realm of research, particularly in the context of statistical analysis and methodology. Emphasising the importance of having a diverse set of tools, they explore how narrow training in data skills can limit the effectiveness of research. They consider how methodologies from different disciplines can benefit from cross-disciplinary approaches, including medical science, climate, education and agriculture.

Wrapping up the series of episodes marking twenty years of research method support for the Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems, Lucie and David Stern consider the complexities of research planning. They explore the shifts in their roles towards structural change, particularly in the West African region. David shares his experiences with building local capacity and structurally embedding research methods within organisations like FUMA Gaskiya. They also reflect on the challenges of meeting researchers where they are and the importance of involving both qualitative and quantitative methods in research planning.

Lily and George discuss their personal experiences of using generative AI in their work. They explore how AI assists in course development, coding, and writing tasks, sharing insights on how these tools can enhance productivity and creativity.