Queer Data: who decides who counts?

Can we accurately count and capture everyone's identities, and do we always need to? Who does it help? And how can methodology for collecting data on LGBTQ+ people be used in other, completely unconnected fields?

In this episode we’re joined by Dr Kevin Guyan, a researcher and historian focusing on the intersection of data and identity, to talk about how his work answers these questions - and many more - through the lens of queer identities in Scotland and the wider world. 

So grab a hot drink and settle in for a fascinating conversation about improving censuses, who has power to decide which groups count, and the risks of being counted. And perhaps most importantly of all, Kevin talks to us about the effect of historical biases on the far future of machine learning and AI, and the power we have to make changes to ensure everyone who wants to be counted can be.

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Not Another Science Podcast was co-created by Helena Cornu and Tom Edwick, brought to you by Edinburgh University Science Media (@EUSci). The hosts are Kelsey Tetley-Campbell and Katie Pickup. The logo was designed by Apple Chew, and the cover art was designed by Elizabeth Carmichael.

You can visit our website at www.eusci.org.uk to check out the latest issue of the magazine, a ton of other cool science content by our student journalists, and to see how to get involved. You can also follow EUSci on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. All podcast episodes can be found at www.eusci.org.uk/podcasts/.

Music by Kevin Macleod:

https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama;

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/a

Music by Professor Colin Campbell:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZhfAZ-gCEQ&ab_channel=ChemistryEdinburgh