Two new smart data accelerators
7 November 2024
Smart Data Research UK is announcing funding for two additional research teams under its £2.3 million accelerator scheme.
The researchers will explore how to create, access, and use smart data more effectively.
Smart data comes from our everyday interactions with the digital world via mobile apps, satnavs, social media and online shopping. It offers a powerful opportunity to understand society and improve lives.
The two new research teams are joining seven other projects funded earlier in the year. Each team will be addressing a separate research challenge.
The newly funded projects
Data donation for climate action
Many people worry about climate change, but few studies have examined whether their concerns translate into actual behavioural change. Smart data from supermarket loyalty cards may be able to help. The project team will develop an Environmental Food Purchasing Index, identifying the types of food people often spend money on and the associated climate impact of that food. Participants will be asked to donate data from their Tesco and Co-op supermarket loyalty cards, which will be related to their self-reported perceptions about food and the environment. The team will also create a web portal for public use, where people can upload their own purchase card data and explore data about the environmental impact of their shopping, supporting pro-environmental behaviour change.
Led by Professor Alexa Spence, University of Nottingham
Digging into digital footprints data
Smart data is an exciting new resource for social researchers, offering valuable insights into human behaviour in real-time and at scale. However, many researchers struggle to access the processes behind how this data is created and collected, which is crucial for understanding its meaning and how to use it effectively and ethically. This project aims to change this by collaborating with partners from different sectors to make these processes more transparent. The team spans the University of Bristol and the University of Southampton. Its researchers will focus on three types of smart data: web archives, social media and synthetic data. The project will develop ‘data journeys’ and create an open framework to help researchers better understand and use these data sources in social research.
Led by Dr Jessica Ogden, University of Bristol
The new accelerator teams will contribute to Smart Data Research UK’s mission to support research that solves social and economic challenges. Joe Cuddeford, the Director of Smart Data Research UK, says,
“We’re delighted these teams are joining our cohort of accelerator projects. These innovative research teams are addressing challenges at the intersection of data and society. From understanding how our shopping choices impact climate change to making smart data more accessible to researchers, their work will help us unlock the potential of smart data for public good. We are excited to see what they discover”.
The two new accelerator teams will become part of the growing Smart Data Research UK community. Last month, we announced our four new data services, consisting of researchers from various UK universities. These teams will work to acquire, steward and enable safe access to smart data.
For more information, contact the Smart Data Research UK communications team at smartdataresearch@ukri.org.