Researcher cycling across England to get views of female farmers
'Hardest thing I've done'
Ms White is calling the journey "PhD by bike" and plans to stop at various points along the way to talk to people in farming communities. She said cycling was "a low-carbon, sustainable way to travel, which is important to me"."It will, most likely, be the hardest thing I've ever done," she said."But isn't that what they say about doing a PhD, too?"Nobody starts a PhD thinking it's going to be easy – so why not throw a 1,200-mile cycle ride into the mix?"
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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Machine that helped Neil Armstrong step on moon donated to Scottish museum
The Facit Model LX calculator, made in Sweden, belonged to Glasgow-born astronomer Professor Archie Roy A machine that helped Neil Armstrong make his "one small step" on the moon has been donated to a Scottish museum. The calculator was used by a Scottish scientist to help plot the path of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. The crucial gadget has been donated to National Museums Scotland ahead of the mission's 55th anniversary this month. The Facit Model LX calculator was built in Sweden between 1938 and 1954, and belonged to the late Professor Archie Roy, a renowned Glasgow-born astronomer and physicist. The machine played a key role in the calculations behind the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which saw Neil Armstrong become the first person to set foot on the moon, something he described as a "giant leap for mankind". Professor Roy was invited by NASA to act as a consultant on trajectory calculations, using the Facit to carry out work that helped guide the spacecraft to the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. The same calculator, which Roy first used during his PhD studies at Glasgow University in the 1950s, remained a key tool throughout his career until it was eventually replaced by electronic computers in the later 1960s. Professor Roy was educated at Hillhead High School before studying at Glasgow University, where he later became a lecturer and continued to teach for many years. His distinguished academic career spanned several disciplines, with research interests ranging from astrodynamics and celestial mechanics to archaeoastronomy and neural networks. He held numerous prestigious honours, including Fellowships with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Astronomical Society, and the British Interplanetary Society. Professor Roy also had a keen interest in psychical research, serving as a Member and past President of the Society for Psychical Research, and as Founding President of The Scottish Society for Psychical Research. The historic Facit machine has now been added to the science and technology collections at National Museums Scotland, where it will sit alongside other key artefacts related to space exploration and astronomy. These include a prototype camera developed for use on the moon, and an analogue calculator once used to solve Kepler's equation. Dr Tacye Philipson, senior curator of science at National Museums Scotland, said the calculator is 'a wonderful addition' to the national collection. 'It is a visibly well-used piece of kit, reflecting Professor Archie Roy's long and productive career,' she said. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'Moreover, when we think of the array of computational power at our fingertips today with our phones and laptops, it is evocative to look at this completely analogue machine and think that it was instrumental in one of the most extraordinary technological achievements in human history, one unsurpassed and even unrepeated in over 50 years.' She added: 'Professor Roy's calculator gives us a tangible link to Scotland's part in that achievement.' Following his retirement in 1989, the machine was kept by Roy's close friend, the former Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor John Brown, who recognised its historical value. It was recently donated to National Museums Scotland by Roy's widow, Margaret Roy.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
UK Government to create 'AI Growth Zone' in Scotland
Announcing the plans on Thursday, the UK Government said Scotland is in line for "billions of pounds of investment" in a move ministers hope will put the country at the "forefront of the UK's technological revolution". The AI Growth Zone is part of the UK Government's Compute Roadmap, which promises £1 billion to expand the country's AI research resource 20-fold over the next five years. It is understood several promising sites for the AI Growth Zone – which ministers hope will speed up the rollout of vital infrastructure like data centres – have already been identified in Scotland. READ MORE: Brian Leishman: 'Anas Sarwar hasn't spoken to me in six months' It is hoped researchers and businesses at the centres will be able to process huge amounts of data to deliver the next generation of breakthroughs and innovations – including potentially finding new ways to treat and beat diseases, speeding up how we can diagnose conditions like cancer, and even using AI to help in the fight against climate change. Confirmation of an AI Growth Zone for Scotland comes after the [[UK Government]] announced £750 million of funding to build the UK's new national supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh. As part of the Compute Roadmap, ministers have now also confirmed the capital will be home to the UK's first National Supercomputing Centre. This will be a dedicated centre of expertise, with individual sites hosting everything from large data sets to cutting-edge processing power. The Scottish Government has welcomed the news, as Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: 'With our world-renowned talent for research, innovation and ingenuity, Scotland is perfectly placed to capitalise on AI's rapid growth and be a supplier of this transformational technology, not just a consumer. Richard Lochhead (Image: PA) 'We are also home to vital supporting and enabling infrastructure – from good-quality digital connectivity to the abundant renewable energy supplies needed to power the huge demand from computer processing in a sustainable way. 'The UK Government's confirmation that an AI Growth Zone and National Supercomputing Centre will be established in Scotland is welcome. 'It will help unlock new opportunities for businesses, researchers, citizens and communities — supporting high-quality jobs through economic growth and boosting productivity.' READ MORE: More than 100 UK citizens' details leaked in MoD Afghan data breach The [[UK Government]]'s Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said: 'From the shipyards of the Clyde to developments in steam engine technology, Scottish trailblazers were central to the industrial revolution. 'AI is this generation's next great industrial leap, so who better to help drive that change than a nation with innovation hardwired in its DNA. 'We've set out an ambitious plan to cement our position as a global leader in AI, with Scotland set to play a key role – unlocking fresh investment and new opportunities. That's how we're putting our Plan for Change into action.' Scotland Secretary Ian Murray said: 'This is a landmark moment and will place Scotland at the forefront of the UK's technological revolution. 'The up to £750 million investment in Edinburgh's new supercomputer also places Scotland at the cutting edge of computing power globally. 'This will see Scotland playing a leading role in creating breakthroughs that have a global benefit – such as new medicines, health advances, and climate change solutions. 'This is the Plan for Change – delivering real opportunities and economic growth for communities across Scotland.'
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
AI to unlock 'billions of pounds of investment and thousands of new jobs' in Scotland
Scotland to be epicentre of 'next great industrial leap' as AI Growth Zone confirmed Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland is poised to be at the centre of 'this generation's next great industrial leap' with billions of pounds of investment and thousands of new jobs created after the UK government earmarked an AI Growth Zone to be established north of the Border. The country's booming offshore wind industry is set to power the strategy - which could see data centres and other crucial technology infrastructure built. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Data centres could be built in Scotland as part of an AI Growth Zone The UK government has pointed to Scotland's access to wind, hydro and solar power sources making up a renewable energy capacity of 17.6 GW – enough to power more than 10 million homes . Labour UK ministers see it as an ideal base to help drive forward the UK's AI agenda, but other emerging sectors, including low carbon hydrogen are hoping to take advantage of an excess in renewable electricity being generated. The Scottish Government has welcomed the announcement and it is understood that devolved enterprise agencies north of the Border are working with partners that are seeking to support credible investment proposals and ensure Scottish content can be maximised in the construction and operation of the facilities. AI Growth Zones were unveiled by the UK government in January – and will serve as dedicated hotbeds for AI that speed up the rollout of vital infrastructure like data centres which are crucial to the technology's development. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: New supercomputer for Scotland and funding for Acorn Project confirmed in Spending Review Concerns have been raised about the scale-up of AI - including around jobs, security, reliability and the sheer amount of energy required to power AI data centres amid the climate crisis when energy demand will need to be reduced. The UK government believes new data centres will allow researchers and businesses to process huge amounts of data to deliver the next generation of breakthroughs and innovations. It is hoped the technology can assist efforts to find new ways to treat and cure diseases, speed up how conditions like cancer can be diagnosed - while there are even ambitions to use AI to help in the fight against climate change. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad AI is being harnessed in Scotland to develop a 25-minute skin cancer diagnosis test - with artificial intelligence projects around skin and breast cancer diagnostics being pushed forward. The rollout will mean that permanent, high-skilled jobs alongside construction roles will be created with the UK government hoping to scale up the sector at pace. In a further boost for the Scottish economy, Edinburgh will be home to the UK's first national supercomputing centre after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced up to £750 million of funding for the project in last month's Spending Review. Previous plans for a supercomputer at University of Edinburgh's Advanced Computing Facility were shelved by the UK govenrment The centre, to be based at Edinburgh University, will work as a dedicated centre of expertise, with individual sites hosting everything from large data sets and cutting-edge processing power, to linking up researchers and academics with leading talent in their region. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is hoped the new supercomputer will give scientists from across the UK the capacity needed to carry out research – including related to personalised medical treatments, making air travel more sustainable or modelling climate change. The supercomputer plan was initially shelved by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government last August amid reported concerns the project was not focused enough on artificial intelligence. That move angered SNP First Minister John Swinney who claimed projects in Scotland were being neglected in favour of investment projects south of the Border. The supercomputer will work alongside an AI research resource (AIRR), a network of the UK's most powerful supercomputers, that were built to bolster scientific research. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The AIRR is already being used to research Alzheimer's vaccines and treatments for cancer by simulating how drugs work inside the body and 'testing' millions of potential drugs virtually to speed up the creation of new medicines. UK Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said: 'From the shipyards of the Clyde to developments in steam engine technology, Scottish trailblazers were central to the industrial revolution. Labour MP and Tech and Science Secretary | Getty Images 'AI is this generation's next great industrial leap, so who better to help drive that change than a nation with innovation hardwired in its DNA.' He added: 'We've set out an ambitious plan to cement our position as a global leader in AI, with Scotland set to play a key role – unlocking fresh investment and new opportunities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'That's how we're putting our plan for change into action.' Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, said the announcement was 'a landmark moment' that 'will place Scotland at the forefront of the UK's technological revolution'. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray | PA He added: 'The up to £750 million investment in Edinburgh's new supercomputer also places Scotland at the cutting edge of computing power globally. 'This will see Scotland playing a leading role in creating breakthroughs that have a global benefit - such as new medicines, health advances, and climate change solutions. This is the plan for change – delivering real opportunities and economic growth for communities across Scotland." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Labour plans form part of the new compute roadmap, a strategy aimed at reducing reliance on foreign processing power and transform the UK's public compute capacity. By 2030, the UK government expects this capacity to increase to 420 AI exaFLOP – the equivalent of one billion people spending 13,316 years doing what the system will do in one second. To support the plans, researchers, academics and tech bosses have been brought together to develop an AI science strategy to be published in the autumn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The group includes Google DeepMind vice-president Pushmeet Kohli, vice-president of the Royal Society Alison Noble and chairwoman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Charlotte Deane. Ms Reeves said the plans would 'transform our public services, drive innovation and fuel economic growth that puts money in people's pockets'. SNP Business Minister, Richard Lochhead, said the Westminster announcement was 'welcome', adding that Holyrood will work 'collaboratively with the UK government to make sure 'Scotland is at the heart of this globally-important industry'. Richard Lochhead He said: 'With our world-renowned talent for research, innovation and ingenuity Scotland is perfectly placed to capitalise on AI's rapid growth and be a supplier of this transformational technology, not just a consumer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are also home to vital supporting and enabling infrastructure - from good quality digital connectivity to the abundant renewable energy supplies needed to power the huge demand from computer processing in a sustainable way.' 'The UK government's confirmation that an AI Growth Zone and national supercomputing centre will be established in Scotland is welcome', he added. 'It will help unlock new opportunities for businesses, researchers, citizens and communities—supporting high-quality jobs through economic growth and boosting productivity. 'The Scottish Government and our enterprise agencies have been working with prospective Scottish AI Growth Zone projects to support high quality bids into the national selection process being led by the UK government. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
