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Beauty Gabriela Szczepanska investigates Kendall’s dubious Vogue shoot Page 21
Monday 12 November 2018 Issue 1377 Free
Housing pullout Your Welfare Officer, Jack Green, takes you through housing top tips Page 9-12
Will.I.Am visits Newcastle University The independent voice of Newcastle students
Molly Greeves News Editor
“To trust or not to trust?” That was the question posed by Atom Bank and Newcastle University as they discussed their three-year research project at the Urban Sciences Building on the 5th of November. Atom is the UK’s first bank that works exclusively on smartphones and tablets. With the aim of improving digital banking, they are collaborating
With the aim of improving digital banking, Atom are collaborating with Newcastle University to create FinTrust
with researchers from Newcastle University to launch FinTrust, “a million-pound multidisciplinary project launched to explore trust in financial services.” The scheme aims to use insights from both social and digital science to improve artificial intelligence and create more “human” interactions. This idea was discussed at the event by three main speakers: Professor Aad Van Moorsel, Professor of Cyber Security at Newcastle University, Edward Twiddy, Chief Innovation Officer at Atom Bank, and the musician and philanthropist Will.I.Am, who was made the strategic board adviser of Atom Bank last April. FinTrust was formed by the idea that “people are becoming more reliant on technology”, but in spite of this, “distrust of technology continues to grow... social media has the potential to manipulate and people worry about the safety of their personal data. Understanding how to design credible services and build customer trust is vital to the future success of digital financial services”. As Atom’s strategic board adviser, Will.I.Am visited Newcastle University to announce what he believed would be an “awesome” project. His involvement in the project appeared to be based on an interest in data protection, a topic he finds “fascinating”. He opened his speech enthusiasm for the future of technology, saying: “In 2021, we’re going to be living in a day and age where we own our data. “I own my songs, but I don’t own my facial map. I own my DNA and blood, and I can
sell it... but I can’t sell my data. Other people can access (and use) my data, but I can’t. He identified what was, for him, a key issue: the fact that companies can profit off of our data, but we cannot own it ourselves. “If I’m signing a contract, I need people there. If I’m giving away my data online, ain’t nobody signing no contract! “Data is money,” he said, “but not for people, not for communities... and that’s going to change. “In the near future, (selling data) is going to be a reality. There’s going to be systems in place that don’t exist right now. Right around the corner tomorrow is really awesome.” Due to the rising distrust of technology, one of FinTrust main aims is to develop artificial intelligence that customers feel they can trust. Presumably referencing the 2016 elections in the US., where the Russian government interfered with the presidential race, Will.I.Am stresses that protecting our data is becoming more important than ever. “I come from an awesome country and data was breached... hopefully that’s the last time something like that happens. But it probably won’t be the last time something like that happens.” One of the fundamental questions that the project aims to answer is: can we understand
As Atom’s strategic board adviser, Will.I.Am visited Newcastle University to announce what he believed would be an “awesome” project.
bias? IBM Research states that there are over one hundred and eighty human biases such as race, gender and sexuality, and these can find their way into the AI systems that are designed. The existence of these implicit biases can “erode trust between humans and machines that learn”. All three speakers identified that this is a huge hurdle to overcome. Edward Twiddy stated that these biases are “based on the past and not what we want to create in the future”. Eliminating biases whilst maintaining security is one of the main things that the project aims to achieve.
The event took place in the Uni’s new Urban Sciences Building Image: Atom Bank
10 years of Singapore graduations Last month saw Newcastle University’s Singapore campus celebrate 10 years of graduations from the faculty. Newcastle University embarked on its teaching project in Singapore 11 years ago, in 2007. Over 1,000 students have walked out of Newcastle University’s Singapore set-up as skilled young professionals, and this year’s 10th anniversary is another great step forward. Newcastle University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Chris Day, was present at this year’s graduation ceremony and told the University: “Congregations are a highlight in our University calendar. For our students, it is a time to celebrate with the family, friends and tutors who have supported them throughout their University studies; a time to look back and reflect with pride on all that has been learned and achieved; and a time to look forward to all
that the future holds in store.” Alongside Day were two other guests of honour in Scott Wightman, the British High Commissioner to Singapore, and Dr Bicky Bhangu, the President at Rolls-Royce for South East Asia, Pacific & South Korea and President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Far from The Arches here in Newcastle, the ceremony took place at the Nanyang Polytechnic Auditorium. The event was led by the Deanship of Professor Ian Postlethwaite, who returns to the UK at the end of 2018, the control engineer has a first class reputation for his research contributions to engineering. “It’s been a great privilege to be the Dean and CEO of Newcastle University in Singapore”, Postlethwaite reflected when speaking to the University. “The growth of our operations here includes a new partnership model with
A turn of events...
Long distance journeys
the Singapore Institute of Technology, and we have opened our own research institute demonstrating our commitment to education and research in South East Asia.” The degrees available on Newcastle’s Singapore campus are developed in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology and with the facilities of Ngee Ann and Nanyang Polytechnics. Diplomas include ‘chemical engineering’, ‘electrical power engineering’, ‘marine engineering, offshore engineering and naval architecture’ and ‘mechanical design and manufacturing engineering’. For its 10th anniversary, more than 369 students graduated from Newcastle University Singapore, joining the community of over 200,000 Newcastle alumni worldwide. More than 50 prizes were presented to students in recognition of outstanding achievements and projects.
Inside today >>>
Review: Under Milk Wood Nothern Stage’s Geordie take on the Dylan Thomas classic is reviewed by Carys Rose Thomas Arts, page 34
Science, Beauty & Fashion A double page spread on the ethics of our style choices and whether we’re all being ripped off Feature, pages 26,27
Blind date with a twist this week, as our lovely lady tells us about her run-in with a mystery man Blind Date, page 17
Going somewhere exotic soon? Dominic Lee fills you in on some invaluable long-haul flight tips Travel, page 25
North-South Divide
The Courier Comment writers investigate the divisions in British society Comment, page 15