Connecting Society: How everyday data can shape our lives

This month’s episode of the Connecting Society podcast looks a little different. ADR UK recently took part in Pint of Science, a worldwide science festival which brings researchers to the pub to share their knowledge with local communities. At the event, we recorded a special two-part live episode of the podcast. For part one, the audience heard from ADR UK Research Fellow Dr Alice Wickersham. Ali...

From revolutionising business to transforming the way we use the internet, AI is a story that just keeps growing. Innovation in AI technology has accelerated at an unprecedented rate in recent years. But as the day-to-day use of AI becomes embedded in everyday life, is the public along for the journey – or are we at risk of being left behind? In this episode, we're joined by Eleanor O'Ke...

Climate change can often feel overwhelming, distant, or abstract. We’re surrounded by data about rising temperatures, emissions targets and future risks – yet knowing the facts doesn’t always translate into action. And this can be true for many issues which feel beyond our control, such as the cost-of-living crisis or tackling child poverty. Increasingly, researchers are asking why the gap between...

Across Europe, governments are experimenting with new ways of using everyday data to understand society and improve people’s lives. In the Netherlands, a national infrastructure called ODISSEI has become a testbed for what can happen when information from different parts of life – like work, family, health and neighbourhood – is brought together safely to answer big social questions.  In this epis...

Evaluation is often seen as a neutral and technical process: collecting data, measuring outcomes, and judging whether a policy or programme “worked”. But what if the way we evaluate is shaping - and sometimes harming - the very systems and communities we’re trying to improve?   Dr Luke Roberts is a complexity theorist and evaluator who argues that traditional approaches to policy evaluation do not...

Good health is something we all need – but it doesn’t simply start and end with the body. Increasingly, we’re beginning to understand how different parts of our lives and circumstances can combine and interact to shape our health, including from before we’re even born. Economic circumstances, social inequalities and childhood experiences all have a role to play in public health.    Because adminis...

Time flies - and yes, we have returned with another festive episode. After a hiatus, hosts Shayda and Mark return for a one-off Christmas bonus ahead of Connecting Society series two launching in 2026. This episode flips the format and hands things over to you. Shayda and Mark answer listener questions and some of the most common queries that come up during ADR UK’s public engagement work, from fa...

On the first day of Christmas, your producers sent to thee… a bonus episode of Connecting Society 🎁 Mark and Shayda are coming together in person for the very first time to bring you this special festive episode. They answer some burning questions, including: what actually is their favourite statistic? Can we ever agree how to pronounce data? What are some surprising facts about the holiday seaso...

In a data-driven world, administrative data holds the power to tackle society’s toughest challenges - from improving healthcare and education to boosting the economy. But how do we ensure this data is used securely, ethically, and for the public good? Featuring Nikhil Harsiani, Data Ethics Policy Advisor at the UK Statistics Authority, and Mhairi Aitken, Senior Ethics Fellow in the Public Policy P...

How can co-producing research with historically excluded groups drive impact? In Northern Ireland, a unique partnership between the charity Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) and ADRC NI (Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland) has placed care experienced young people at the heart of research about their lives. These young people have shaped the research by defining priorities, p...

Wales’s health and care system is grappling with complex, interconnected issues and opportunities, including an ageing population, inequalities, and the rise of new healthcare technologies. Tackling these now and in the future will require evidence-based policies and strategies that connect health outcomes with broader social factors such as housing, education, and income. A recent Welsh Governmen...

Nursing and midwifery form the backbone of the UK’s healthcare system, but the sector faces significant challenges - impacting both professionals' wellbeing and the quality of care patients receive. Administrative data collected by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) holds the key to understanding these issues, and research using this data offers a path to evidence-based solutions. This e...

In this episode, we examine how data collected by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is being used to drive positive change in the justice system. Our discussion explores the types of data the MoJ collects, why it is collected, and how de-identifying, linking, and sharing this information securely for research can reveal new insights into the justice system. Amy Summerfield, Head of Evidence and Partne...

Administrative data is about real people and their lives. So in the first episode of Connecting Society, we’re diving into the big picture behind the vision of ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK): why does using administrative data for public good research matter? How can it make a meaningful difference to society? And is your data being stored and used securely? Joining us to unpack these qu...