Industrial Strength Data Science

The newsletter of the Royal Statistical Society’s Data Science and AI Section

The Data Science and AI Section of the Royal Statistical Society is the membership group representing data and AI scientists in the UK. It was established in 2017 to ensure the long-term success of data science as a profession. To find out more about the section and its activities, visit the RSS website.

Newsletter archive

cursed webpage

October 2025

Well September certainly seemed to dissapear rapidly, as did the sun- I’m still hoping for a few warm days before the darkness kicks in! Time to sit back with some reading materials on all things Data Science and AI.

Oct 1, 2025
five ghost knights ride white horses

September 2025

It’s been quite a summer so far with something for everyone- from the Lionesses conquering all (fingers crossed for the Red Roses), to heat waves, wildfires and the ever traumatic/engaging spectacle of the Trump White house! Time to find a quiet spot in the sun and relax with some reading materials on all things Data Science and AI.

Sep 1, 2025
birds in a bar drinking beer and then going to the cinema

July 2025

Wimbledon tennis, Test Match cricket- summer is in full swing! Time for some outdoor reading materials on all things Data Science and AI to keep you occupied during the lulls in the action… Lots of great content below and I really encourage you to read on, but here are the edited highlights if you are short for time!

Jul 1, 2025
old sailor with a knitted blue hat

June 2025

Well May flew by in a whirlwind of bank-holidays here in the UK and even some glimpses of sunshine! Now June is here, it’s definitely time for some ‘summer is coming’ distraction with a deep dive into all things Data Science and AI.

Jun 1, 2025
drone descending on landing pad on a rooftop of a shopping mall on Meituan.

May 2025

Hope you all enjoyed the recent Easter weekend, and are managing to avoid thinking too hard about the current geopolitical turmoil… Definitely time for some distraction with a deep dive into all things Data Science and AI.

May 1, 2025
Collage of different images

April 2025

Spring in the air, daffodils out - a vague inkling that the winter gloom might be coming to an end finally. Time to find a comfy spot outside and immerse yourself in some fun AI and Data Science

Apr 1, 2025
Androids putting things inside fridge

March 2025

March is here but not much sign of spring yet in London (apparently we had zero minutes of sunshine for seven consecutive days for the first time in nearly 50 years clearly time to bury yourself in some fun AI and Data Science.

Mar 1, 2025
miniature kitten on a human finger.

February 2025

Hope you have survived dry (or non-dry…) January and the cold greyness that seems ever present this time of year… Lots of great AI and Data Science reading materials below to distract and entertain and I really encourage you to read on (some particularly good fun projects this month), but here are the edited highlights if you are short for time!

Feb 1, 2025
a pair of hands slicing cooked steak

January 2025

Happy New Year to you all! 2024 was quite a year for data science, machine learning and AI in general, and I have a feeling 2025 will be just as exciting if December’s news is anything to go by

Jan 1, 2025
Street in China

December 2024

A tumultuous November in geopolitics, but somewhat less traumatic in the world of AI, Machine Learning and Data Science- although still eventful!… Lots of exciting AI and Data Science news below and I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

Dec 1, 2024
koala surfing

November 2024

I hope October went well for you all and the increasingly dark mornings are not too painful… Lots of exciting AI and Data Science news below and I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

Nov 1, 2024
Newsday Crossword

October 2024

I hope you’ve had a good September… Lots of exciting AI and Data Science news below and I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

Oct 1, 2024
robotic orange fish

September 2024

I hope you’ve all been having an excellent summer… there’s certainly been lots to keep us occupied. How about some thought provoking AI and Data Science reading materials to fill the daily Olympics highlights hole! I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

Sep 1, 2024
Japanese robotic fish typing on computer

July 2024

It’s all go… Elections, Euros, Olympics about to start- perhaps time for some quiet AI and Data Science reading, maybe even in the sun!… I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

Jul 1, 2024
robots in a meeting discussing a flowchart

June 2024

Another month flies by and as always lots going on in the world of AI and Data Science… I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

Jun 1, 2024
robotic orange fish flying in a street somewhere in Asia

May 2024

Another month flies by and as always lots going on in the world of AI and Data Science… With the bank holiday weekend ahead, I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

May 1, 2024
Predicted proetin structures from a single Evo-generated sequence

April 2024

Another month flies by and as always lots going on in the world of AI and Data Science… I really encourage you to read on, but some edited highlights if you are short for time!

Apr 1, 2024
Example alt text

March 2024

Well, I don’t know about you, but February was a bit of a blur even with the extra day – we should be used to it now I guess – certainly less confusing than Julius Caesar’s 445 day long ‘year of confusion’ in 46 B.C. … Progress of sorts! Definitely time to lose ourselves in some some thought provoking AI and Data Science reading materials!

Mar 1, 2024

February 2024

Well, we’ve made it through January… continuing violence in the Middle East and Ukraine, depressingly ineffective politics set against a backdrop of dramatically fluctuating temperatures (at least in the UK)… Definitely time to lose ourselves in some thought provoking AI and Data Science reading materials!

Feb 3, 2024

January 2024

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great festive period catching up with friends and family and are suitably energised for 2024… or not! Either way, how about easing gently into January with some thought provoking AI and Data Science reading materials…

Jan 2, 2024

December 2023

Well, we’ve seen snow for the first time in a while in the UK… winter coat and big jumper definitely required! High time to curl up in the warm with some thought provoking AI and Data Science reading materials…

Dec 3, 2023

November 2023

Well, the clocks have recently changed in the UK – a sure sign of darker nights and colder weather… so high time to curl up with some thought provoking AI and Data Science reading materials!

Nov 4, 2023

October 2023

Well, we had a great week of sunshine in early September in the UK – but with the mornings increasingly dark and the temperature dropping it feels like summer is now officially over… So high time for some in depth AI commentary. Don’t miss out on more generative AI fun and games in the middle section!

Oct 2, 2023

September 2023

I hope you have been enjoying the summer… we’ve had the world’s hottest July ever, although sadly this seems to have translated into rain for the UK… At least we’ve had the World Athletics Championships for inspiration… But high time for some in depth data science commentary – a bumper issue this time after our month off! Don’t miss out on more generative AI fun and games in the middle section!

Sep 4, 2023

July 2023

July in the UK… when the shorts properly come out (sun or not…) and ‘Test Match Special’ becomes the soundtrack to the summer… hopefully plenty of time to catch up on the data science and AI developments of the last month. Don’t miss out on more generative AI fun and games in the middle section!

Jul 3, 2023

June 2023

One final bank holiday in the rear-view mirror and June is here… and hopefully some warmer weather. We’re mixing things up this month and having an Open Source special… we still have our regular sections on bias and ethics and generative AI but then focus on recent developments in the open source community, specifically focusing on LLM… if you’re curious about finetuning your own 30 billion parameter large language model on one gpu, don’t miss this!

Jun 2, 2023

May 2023

Another month flies by and May is here… and this year in the UK, May is richly blessed with Bank Holidays so… hopefully plenty of time to catch up on the data science and AI developments of the last month. Don’t miss out on more generative AI fun and games in the middle section!

May 1, 2023

April 2023

March is finished… and I may be mistaken but it feels slightly less cold and wet and the daffodils are out so… spring must be here!… Time to celebrate with a wrap up of data science developments in the last month. Don’t miss out on GPT4 excitement in the middle section!

Apr 1, 2023

March 2023

February may technically be the shortest month but it certainly can feel long… I think I sensed a slight brightening in the morning light but I may have been mistaken… Maybe time for a bit of distraction with a wrap up of data science developments in the last month. Don’t miss out on more ChatGPT fun and games in the middle section!

Mar 5, 2023

February 2023

January reminded us (in the UK at least) of the joys of a ‘big coat’ with 2023 definitely off to a cold start… No great change to the depressing headlines though so hopefully time for a bit of distraction with a wrap up of data science developments in the last month. Don’t miss out on more ChatGPT fun and games in the middle section!

Feb 4, 2023

January 2023

2023 - Happy New Year!… Hope you had a fun and festive holiday season or at least drank and ate enough to take your mind off the strikes, energy prices, cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine and all the other depressing headlines… Perhaps time for something a little different, with a wrap up of data science developments in the last month. Don’t miss out on the ChatGPT fun and games in the middle section!

Jan 5, 2023

December 2022

December already… Happy Holidays to everyone! It certainly feels like winter is here judging by the lack of sunlight. But a December like no other, as we have a World Cup to watch - although half empty, beer-less, air-conditioned stadiums in repressive Qatar does not sit well…

Dec 3, 2022

November 2022

Another month, another UK Prime Minister it seems - certainly the rate of political dramas doesn’t seem to be slowing…

Nov 7, 2022

October 2022

Well, September certainly seemed to disappear pretty rapidly (along with the sunshine sadly). And dramatic events keep accumulating, from the sad death of the Queen, together with epic coverage of ‘the queue’, to dramatic counter offensives in the Ukraine, to unprecedented IMF criticism of the UK government’s tax-cutting plans.

Oct 1, 2022

September 2022

I hope you have all been enjoying a great summer. Certainly lots to engage with from heat waves, sewage spills, leadership elections, spiralling energy costs… and of course on a much more positive note the Lionesses winning the Euros for the first time (it’s come home…)! Apologies for skipping a month but it does mean we have plenty to talk about so prepare for a somewhat longer than normal read…

Sep 2, 2022

July 2022

Welcome to July! Inflation, union strikes, sunshine… lots of commentary drawing parallels to the mid-70s. One thing that is very different from that period is the world of data science (which didn’t even exist as a discipline) - crazy to think that the Apple II launched in ’77 with 4 KB RAM, 4 million times less memory than the laptop I’m writing this on…

Jul 3, 2022

June 2022

It’s June already - time flies - and in the UK an extra bank holiday! Perhaps the data science reading materials below might help fill the void now the Jubilee celebrations have finished…

Jun 5, 2022

May 2022

Another month flies by, and although we had that rarest of occasions in the UK - a sunny Easter weekend - the news in general continues to be depressing; law breakers at the highest ranks of government, covid infections high, and of course the devastating war in Ukraine. Hopefully the data science reading materials below might distract a little…

May 2, 2022

April 2022

The news from Ukraine is truly devastating and brings a huge dose of perspective to our day to day lives in the UK. I know I for one care rather less about fixing my python package dependencies when I see the shocking scenes from Mariupol… However, those of us more distant from the war do at least have the option to think about other things, and hopefully the data science reading materials below might distract a little…

Apr 1, 2022

March 2022

Another month flies by - at least it finally seems to be getting a bit lighter in the mornings although I fear sunny spring days are still a way off… I imagine you are suffering withdrawal from a lack of dramatic Olympics Curling action so perhaps some thought provoking data science reading materials to fill the void…

Mar 1, 2022

February 2022

Well, January seemed to flash by in the blink of an eye - certainly the holiday period seems a long time ago already. All is not lost - the Winter Olympics seems to have crept up on us and is just about to start which will no doubt provide some entertainment and distraction… as I hope will some thought provoking data science reading materials.

Feb 1, 2022

January 2022

Happy New Year! I hope you all had as relaxing a holiday period as possible and enjoyed the fireworks from around the world… London trumps them all as far as I’m concerned although I’m clearly biased. As we all gear up for 2022, perhaps time for some thought provoking data science reading materials to help guide plans for the year ahead.

Jan 3, 2022

December 2021

Properly dark and cold now in the UK, and even some initial sightings of Christmas trees so it must be getting to the end of year… perhaps time for some satisfying data science reading materials while pondering what present to buy for your long lost auntie!

Dec 2, 2021

November 2021

The clocks have changed - officially the end of ‘daylight savings’ in the UK - does that mean we no longer try and save daylight? Certainly feels that way… definitely time for some satisfying data science reading materials while drying out from the rain!

Nov 1, 2021

October 2021

I guess summer is over, what there was of it - I was hoping we might get a bit of autumn sunshine but it feels like it’s big coat weather already… definitely time for some tasty data science reading materials in front of a warm fire!

Oct 4, 2021

September 2021

I don’t know about you, but that didn’t feel particularly August-like… I miss the sun! Perhaps September will save the summer, together with some inspiration from the Paralympics… How about a few curated data science materials for perusing during the lull in the wheelchair rugby final?

Sep 1, 2021

August 2021

That was quick, August already, but at least we have had the occasional day when it properly feels like summer - and now we have some Olympics to watch which is always entertaining! … How about a few curated data science materials for reading in while watching the marathon?

Aug 1, 2021

July 2021

Not sure what happened to June - seemed to fly by - I know there were some lovely sunny days but then it got cold again… fingers crossed summer it’s not over already! … How about a few curated data science reading materials for reading in the garden, rain or shine?

Jul 1, 2021

June 2021

It’s a bank holiday weekend - again - so that means it’s June and hopefully some warmer weather as May has definitely not delivered on that front… perhaps a few curated data science reading materials might prove useful for sunshine in the garden?

Jun 1, 2021

May 2021

It’s a bank holiday weekend, so it’s probably May and another month has flown by… I hope the excitement of venturing out from our cave-like lockdown has not proved too overwhelming… perhaps a few curated data science reading materials might prove relaxing?

May 3, 2021

April 2021

Another month flies by… still cold, but I’ve definitely seen the sun once or twice… I hope the on-again off-again dreams of a proper summer holiday aren’t proving too painful… perhaps a few curated data science reading materials might ease the burden over the Easter weekend?

Apr 1, 2021

March 2021

Another month flies by… At least it’s getting a bit lighter in the mornings and I’ve even seen the sun once or twice. I hope you are staying as sane as possible despite home-schooling, home-working, home-everything else (delete as appropriate)… perhaps a few curated data science reading materials might lighten the mood?

Mar 1, 2021

February 2021

Well, January seemed to fly by. 2021 has certainly started with a bang (Brexit!, Impeachment!, New President!, Vaccinations!) and the holidays seem an age ago. I hope you are surviving lockdown 3.0 as best as you can… maybe there is room in the long dark evenings for a few curated data science reading materials?

Feb 1, 2021

January 2021

Happy New Year! I hope you have all had a festive holiday period and found some time to catch up on those deep learning research papers you had been meaning to dig into… Fingers crossed 2021 proves better than 2020… as a start, how about welcoming in the new year with a few curated data science reading materials!

Jan 4, 2021

December 2020

It’s hard to believe it’s December… in some respects the year has felt incredibly slow as we have watched the pandemic run its inexorable course; and then in other ways it feels like a blur of zoom calls and box sets that has gone by in a flash. Lets hope 2021 proves better… for the time being, how about hunkering down with some ‘home-improvement’ via a few curated data science reading materials!

Dec 4, 2020

November 2020

It’s all go… US Presidential Elections, second waves, third tiers and second lockdowns, all while struggling to maintain some semblance of professionalism for the next Zoom call… Definitely time for ‘self-care’ via some selected data science reading materials!

Nov 3, 2020

October 2020

As the rain pours down it definitely feels like winter has arrived - all the more reason to spend some time indoors huddled up with some good data science reading materials!

Oct 5, 2020

September 2020

Another month flies by… hard to believe summer is technically over although the coldest August UK bank holiday on record is one way to drive home the point!

Sep 3, 2020

August 2020

Let’s face it, July was a bit lacking in sunshine but at least ended with a couple of scorchers. Possibly not the best conditions to be pulling together a newsletter, but we’d always take the sun over rain!

Aug 3, 2020

July 2020

Well, we have made it to summer (at least the British variety) - and it’s time for the July edition of our Royal Statistical Society Data Science Section newsletter. Hopefully some interesting topics and titbits to feed your data science curiosity while enjoying a socially distanced day on the beach with everyone else…

Jul 6, 2020

June 2020

Another month flies by - somehow lockdown days seem to go slowly but weeks disappear - and it’s time for the June edition of our Royal Statistical Society Data Science Section newsletter. Hopefully some interesting topics and titbits to feed your data science curiosity…

Jun 2, 2020

May 2020

Well, April is now behind us, so it is high time to pull together the May edition of our Royal Statistical Society Data Science Section newsletter. Rather than dwell solely on COVID related data science topics (of which we know there are plenty) we thought we’d try and bring a more balanced assortment of updates and reading materials this month. We hope these prove entertaining or at least help pass the lockdown hours away.

May 4, 2020

April 2020

What a month… the end of February seems like an age ago, and life for everyone has changed beyond comprehension since then.

Apr 2, 2020

March 2020

Time flies- even with the extra day, February felt pretty short… Anyway, here’s round 2 of the Royal Statistical Society Data Science Section monthly newsletter - any and all feedback most welcome!

Mar 2, 2020

February 2020

We thought it could be useful (and fun) to pick the collective brains of our Data Science Section committee members (as well as those of our impressive array of subscribers and followers) and put together a monthly newsletter. This will undoubtedly be biased but will hopefully surface materials that we collectively feel is interesting and relevant to the data science community at large.

Feb 2, 2020
No matching items