The IDEMS Podcast

Continuing their ongoing discussions on data, Lily and David consider data literacy, its importance, and the different skills required to interpret and work with data effectively. They explore the challenges of demystifying data science when teaching it to non-specialists. They consider the example of New Zealand's innovative approach to embedding data literacy in school curriculums.

David Stern introduces Dr. James Kaleli Musyoka, a Postdoctoral Impact Activation Fellow at IDEMS from Kenya, now based in Finland. They reminisce about their first meeting in 2008 at Maseno University, where David's involvement transformed James' experience with applied statistics. They discuss James' decision to pursue a local PhD, his teaching innovations, and his current work supporting African met services with historical climatic data analyses to improve forecasts for agriculture.

David is joined by George Simmons, an impact activation postdoctoral fellow at IDEMS. In collaboration with CASAS Global, George has spent a year working on their Physiologically Based Demographic Modelling (PBDM) system, a style of modelling used to account for the ecosystem level dynamics that happen in a farm field. They elaborate on the project's integration with more modern mathematical techniques, the influence of the TOPOS Institute’s collaborative approach, and the broader implications of the work.

David and Kate discuss David's recent trip to Kuwait, focusing on the development of digital technologies for the Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) programme. They explore the contrasts and similarities between high-resource environments like Kuwait and low-resource contexts where PLH typically operates. The conversation highlights the integration of app technologies in Kuwait's Ministry of Health initiatives, cultural tolerance, women's empowerment, and the unique challenges and opportunities of adapting tech-based parenting support systems across different socio-economic landscapes.

As Santiago prepares to return to teaching, he and David discuss the evolving role of technology in shaping the future of education. They consider the integration of educational technologies for formative assessment, such as STACK, in secondary maths education, focusing on personalised feedback and the challenges of balancing varied student abilities. They also explore the potential of AI in the classroom, the implications of integrating AI in the context of centralised exams, and the role of innovative teaching methods that could lead to higher order skills, aligned with Bloom’s Taxonomy.

AI chatbots are seemingly everywhere right now, but are they safe and reliable? In this episode, Lily and David compare traditional deterministic chatbots and modern AI-based chatbots. They explore the limitations and frustrations of traditional chatbots, like those used in online banking and other services, and highlight the potential of generative AI technologies, like ChatGPT, to enhance the user experience. They discuss how AI could be used responsibly to improve deterministic chatbots by making them more comprehensive and interactive while maintaining their reliability.

Lily and David discuss the evolution of R-Instat, an open-source front-end statistical software for R. They explore the development of the back-end calculation system, which aims to simplify complex data analysis and enhance reproducible research. David explains how R-Instat addresses the challenges of multi-level data and automates calculations, making it accessible to users who may not have coding expertise.

Lucie and David discuss what IDEMS’ “service mentality” is and how it differs from providing services. They explore what this means for the company, in its external partnerships and its internal management.

The idea of “Community Tech” is central to many of IDEMS’ initiatives, and in this episode Lucie and Kate explore its meaning. They contrast the exciting possibilities of developing community tech with the challenges of effectively managing the communities and technologies involved.

Lucie and David reflect on the last 2 years of the organisation mentoring scheme and how it might continue to evolve to suit the needs and interests of employees. The scheme is shared between the 3 sister companies: IDEMS, INNODEMS and most recently, GHAIDEMS, and brings together colleagues from different continents and countries to support personal development and growth.