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Timandra Harkness

{{short description|British writer, presenter and comedian}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| image = QED 20161015 159.jpg

| caption = Speaking at QEDcon in 2016

| name = Timandra Harkness

| nationality = British

| occupation = {{hlist |Writer |presenter |comedian}}

| alma_mater = {{hlist |Bulmershe College |Open University}}

| years_active = 2000–present

| notable_works = {{hlist |Big Data: Does Size Matter}}

| website = {{URL|https://timandraharkness.com}}

}}

Timandra Harkness is a British writer, presenter and comedian.{{Cite magazine |last=Santos |first=Patricia |title=Science, communication and women in networks |url=https://www.britishcouncil.org.br/sites/default/files/women_in_science_magazine_no1_eng_version_online.pdf |magazine=Women in Science |publisher=British Council |year=2019 |issue=1 |access-date=6 November 2020}}

She has contributed to several publications, including BBC Science Focus magazine and The Daily Telegraph, and authored the book Big Data: Does Size Matter?. Harkness has co-written and performed comedy shows related to science and mathematics, including collaborations with her mother Linda Cotterill and comedian Matt Parker. Since 2016, she has chaired the Data Debate series for the Alan Turing Institute and the British Library. She is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and a visiting fellow at the University of Winchester's Centre for Information Rights.

Education

Harkness has a BA in Film and Drama with Art from Bulmershe College{{when|date=November 2021}} and a BSc in Mathematics & Statistics from the Open University, awarded in 2017.{{cite web |url =https://bimshowlive.co.uk/speaker/timandra-harkness/|title =Timandra Harkness|website =BIM Show Live|publisher=Space Group|access-date =2022-01-21}} In 2021, she began postgraduate study in Philosophy at Birkbeck College, London, completing an MA degree in 2023.

Career

=Writer=

Harkness has written about technology for BBC Science Focus magazine,{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=Five key ideas you need to understand now if you want to be ready for the world of 2030 | work=BBC Focus Magazine | date=2019-04-08 | url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/five-key-ideas-you-need-to-understand-now-if-you-want-to-be-ready-for-the-world-of-2030/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=How will the NHS contact-tracing app work and how could it affect my privacy? | work=BBC Focus Magazine | date=2020-04-21 | url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/how-will-the-nhs-contact-tracing-app-work-and-how-could-it-affect-my-privacy/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=A level results: Why algorithms aren't making the grade | work=BBC Focus Magazine | date=2020-11-11 | url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/a-level-results-why-algorithms-arent-making-the-grade/ | access-date=2020-11-12}} about statistics for Significance (a popular science magazine published by the Royal Statistical Society),{{cite journal | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=Seduced by stats? | journal=Significance | volume=9 | issue=1 | publisher=Royal Statistical Society | date=2012-02-08 | pages=46–48 | doi=10.1111/j.1740-9713.2012.00549.x | doi-access=free }} and about motorcycles for The Daily Telegraph.{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=Angels | work=The Telegraph | date=2004-09-04 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/2730068/Angels.html | access-date=2020-11-12 }}

Harkness is the author of the book Big Data: Does Size Matter?{{Citation| first=Emma| last=Stoye| title=Big data: does size matter?| periodical=Chemistry World | publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry | url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/review/big-data-does-size-matter/1017462.article | date=2014-10-24 | accessdate=2020-11-09 }} Her second book{{Cite web |title=Writing – Timandra Harkness |url=https://www.timandraharkness.com/writing/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |language=en-GB}} Technology is not the Problem was published in May 2024.{{cite web|url = https://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/events/LF15 | title=From culture wars to misinformation: Why social media is not the problem' with Timandra Harkness | Selwyn College }}

=Broadcaster=

Harkness' work for BBC Radio 4 includes an afternoon play,{{Cite episode | title=No Future in Eternity | series=Afternoon Play | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=http://www.radiolistings.co.uk/programmes/n/no/no_future_in_eternity.html }} documentaries,{{Cite AV media| title=Data, Data, Everywhere | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2014 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03kqfzx }}{{Cite AV media| title=Personality Politics | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2014 | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b043wz27 }}{{Cite AV media| title=Supersense Me | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2017 | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08hnj2v }}{{Cite episode | title=Divided Nation | series=Archive on 4 | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ckt6 }} being a roving reporter for The Human Zoo{{Cite episode | title=Perfect People | series=The Human Zoo | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b060zr3d }} and presenting FutureProofing,{{cite web | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=What is FutureProofing? | website=BBC Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/33g0cvzTrsjTv8PWM313vQ7/what-is-futureproofing | access-date=2020-11-12}} a series about the future potential of science.

=Performer=

In 1999, Harkness co-wrote a comedy with her mother Linda Cotterill, called No Future in Eternity, about an astronomer who shares a flat with two angels.{{cite web | title=Astronomy meets angels in a divine comedy | date=2001-07-23 | website=Physics World | first=Kate | last=Pennicott | url=https://physicsworld.com/a/astronomy-meets-angels-in-a-divine-comedy/ | access-date=2020-11-12}} They received a grant from the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, John Campbell Brown, to perform the show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2000.{{cite web | title=Outreach: Public Understanding of Science Work | first=John | last=Brown | url=https://www.johncbrown.org/outreach.html | access-date=2020-11-12}} The show was subsequently broadcast as an afternoon play on BBC Radio 4.{{cite web | title=Afternoon Play: No Future in Eternity | url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3acf7b02755b47feba48767c59149d38 | website=BBC Genome | date=24 July 2001 | access-date=2020-11-12}}

Since 2004, Harkness has collaborated with Dr Helen Pilcher, as a comedy duo named the Comedy Research Project, writing and performing stand-up shows about science.{{cite web | title=Five Top Things in Science - Ever (Comedy Research Project) | website=The Lecture List | url=http://lecturelist.org/content/view_lecture/595 | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite news | title=The hidden comedy of science | newspaper=BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3787129.stm | date=2004-06-08 | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | title=Helen Pilcher | url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-pilcher-14090658/ | website=LinedIn | access-date=2020-11-12}}

In 2012, Harkness and fellow comedian Matt Parker co-wrote a comedy show called Your Days are Numbered: The Maths of Death. They performed the show in Australia, at the Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, on tour around England and in Scotland, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.{{cite web | title=Your Days are Numbered Tour Dates | website=Your Days Are Numbered | url=http://yourdaysarenumbered.co.uk/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}

Harkness returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019 to perform a one-woman show, called Take a Risk.{{cite web | first=Tim | last=Cornwell | title=Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 REVIEW Timandra Harkness: Take a Risk | website=The Edinburgh Reporter | url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2019/08/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2019-review-timandra-harkness-take-a-risk-%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85/ | date=2019-08-19 | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | first=Steve| last=Heald| title=Timandra Harkness – Edinburgh Fringe Festival | website=The Plus Ones | url=https://theplusones.com/edinburgh/2019/08/07/timandra-harkness-edinburgh-fringe-festival/ | date=2019-08-07 | access-date=2020-11-12}}

=Data engagement=

Since 2016, Harkness has chaired the Data Debate for the Alan Turing Institute and the British Library, a series of panel discussions about big data and its implications for society.{{Cite web| title=New Data Debates series with the British Library: Smart cities and fake news | last=Wood | first=Beth | website=The Alan Turing Institute | access-date=2020-11-12 | url=https://www.turing.ac.uk/events/data-debates-bots-polling-booth }} She has spoken at the Hay Festival,{{cite web | title=Big Data | website=Hay Festival | date=30 May 2017 | url=https://www.hayfestival.com/p-12276-timandra-harkness.aspx?skinid=16 | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | title=Creators and Consumers: What's our role in responsibly designing the future? | website=Hay Festival | date=27 May 2018 | url=https://www.hayfestival.com/p-13800-matt-hancock-helen-margetts-timandra-harkness.aspx | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | title=Can Artificial Intelligence Be Ethical? | website=Hay Festival | date=26 May 2018 | url=https://www.hayfestival.com/p-13765-timandra-harkness-harriet-kingaby-peter-lacy-rohit-talwar.aspx | access-date=2020-11-12}} the Battle of Ideas,{{cite web | title=Was it Big Data wot won it? Political campaigning today | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2017/session/was-it-big-data-wot-won-it/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | title=From AI to Big Data: can technology save the NHS? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2017/session/from-ai-to-big-data-can-technology-save-the-nhs/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | title=Rage against the machines: is automation a threat to jobs? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2017/session/rage-against-the-machines-is-automation-a-threat-to-prosperity/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | title=If data runs the world, who is in control? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2018/session/if-data-runs-the-world-who-is-in-control/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{cite web | title=Automatic lovers: should we be worried about sex robots? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2018/session/automatic-lovers-should-we-be-worried-about-sex-robots/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{excessive citations inline|date=March 2021}} TEDx,{{cite AV media | people=Timandra Harkness | title=What is Knowledge in the Age of Big Data? | medium=Presentation | publisher=TEDx Talks | location=London, England | date=2017-06-23 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdilkRC4YVw }} The Scotsman Data Conference{{cite news | first=David | last=Lee | title=World-leading experts headline Scotsman data conference on combatting Covid-19 | newspaper=The Scotsman | url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/world-leading-experts-headline-scotsman-data-conference-combatting-covid-19-2996827 | date=2020-10-29 | access-date=2020-11-12}} and the Cheltenham Science Festival.{{cite web | title=Cheltenham Science Festival Programme Announced | website=Cheltenham Festivals | url=https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/news/2018/04/cheltenham-science-festival-programme-announced/ | date=2018-04-18 | access-date=2020-11-12}}

Harkness is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), a founding member of their special interest group on Data Ethics.{{cite web | title=Data Ethics | website=Royal Statistical Society | url=https://rss.org.uk/membership/rss-groups-and-committees/special-interest-groups/data-ethics/ | access-date=2020-11-12}} She was elected to serve on the Council of the RSS from 2024,{{cite web|url = https://rss.org.uk/news-publication/news-publications/2023/general-news/rss-announce-new-council-members/|title = RSS announce new Council members|date=2 November 2023|publisher=Royal Statistical Society|website=rss.org} and took over the chair of the editorial board of their magazine Significance at that time.{{cite web|url = https://significancemagazine.com/significance-announces-new-editorial-board-chair/|title = Significance announces new editorial board chair|first= Anna |last=Britten| date=12 January 2024 |website=Significance}} Harkness is also a visiting fellow at the University of Winchester's Centre for Information Rights.{{cite web | title=Centre for Information Rights | website=University of Winchester | url=https://www.winchester.ac.uk/research/building-a-sustainable-and-responsible-future/centre-for-information-rights/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}

Awards

In 1997, Harkness won a column-writing competition, organised by The Independent newspaper.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Publications

  • Big Data: Does Size Matter (2016)

Radio

  • No Future In Eternity (2001)
  • Data, Data, Everywhere (2014)
  • Personality Politics (2014)
  • FutureProofing (2014–present){{Cite AV media| title=FutureProofing | medium=Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2014 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04gyx0t }}
  • Hindsight Bias (2015){{Cite episode | title=Hindsight Bias | series=The Human Zoo | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036tbly }}
  • Perfect People (2015)
  • Supersense Me (2017)
  • The Why Factor: Are You A Numbers Person? (2017){{Cite episode | title=Are You A Numbers Person? | series=The Why Factor | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p052801k }}
  • How to Disagree: A Beginner's Guide to Having Better Arguments (2018){{Cite AV media| title=How to Disagree: A Beginner's Guide to Having Better Arguments | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2018 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bf56gk }}{{Cite AV media| title=How to Disagree: A Beginner's Guide to Having Better Arguments | medium = Audio book | publisher=BBC Digital Audio| year=2018 | url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1117266/how-to-disagree/9781787533516.html }}
  • The Infinite Monkey Cage: Big Data (2018){{Cite episode | title=Big Data | series=The Infinite Monkey Cage | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=j1mSRJdJFHc }}
  • Divided Nation (2019)
  • What Has Sat-Nav Done to Our Brains? (2019){{Cite episode | title=What Has Sat-Nav Done to Our Brains? | series=Seriously... | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07ydwql }}
  • Five Knots (2020){{Cite AV media| title=Five Knots | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2020 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hmy1 }}
  • Steelmanning (2021) {{Cite AV media|title=Steelmanning | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4| year=2021| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rdzs }}

Comedy

  • The Comedy Research Project (2004){{Cite news| first=Elizabeth| last=Day| title=Scientists are serious about having a laugh | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/3324204/Scientists-are-serious-about-having-a-laugh.html | date=2004-06-13 | accessdate=2020-11-09 }}
  • Your Days Are Numbered - The Maths of Death (2012){{Cite news| first=Rosy | last=Moorhead | title=Timandra Harkness on her new comedy show Your Days are Numbered: The Maths of Death | url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/interviews/9525377.timandra-harkness-on-her-new-comedy-show-your-days-are-numbered-the-maths-of-death/ | date=2012-02-10 | accessdate=2020-11-09 }}
  • Brainsex (2013){{Citation| first=Peter| last=Ranscombe| title=BrainSex | periodical=The Lancet | url=https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laneur/PIIS1474-4422(13)70219-9.pdf | year=2013 | volume=12| issue=Nov | page=1047| doi=10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70219-9 | s2cid=208785167| accessdate=2020-11-09 }}
  • Take A Risk (2019){{Cite podcast | url=https://takeariskshow.com/podcast/ | title=Take A Risk | host=Timandra Harkness | date=2019 }}

References

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Category:Living people

Category:21st-century English comedians

Category:Alumni of Birkbeck, University of London

Category:Alumni of the Open University

Category:Data scientists

Category:English women comedians

Category:English comedy writers

Category:English radio presenters

Category:Fellows of the Royal Statistical Society

Category:People associated with the University of Winchester

Category:Women data scientists

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)