Postponed: 1.5.2020 Data Science Seminar: Digital Connectivity and Data in Refugee Governance

by Dr Lauren Martin (Geography)

Friday 1 May 2020, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/London

OC218 (Odgen Centre)

In this problem session, I introduce a new ESRC project on financial inclusion and digital connectivity in refugee reception to open a discussion around the role of data science in the project. Digital data and smart phone apps have become important tools in humanitarian and urban responses to refugee resettlement. Not only do apps package and communicate information about local services, but specific applications like VIPER, Skype, and Whatsapp have become requirements for accessing humanitarian assistance (Tazzioli 2018). Mundane banking tools like debit cards produce transaction data that can be used to analyse refugees' movements. In some cases, this data is used to enforce compliance with rules of behaviour, where refugees can live and where they are allowed to be. In addition, the security of this data is unclear, as refugees and migrants often do not have recognised political rights in their host countries. Our project uses qualitative research to explore these practices and how they are transforming relationships everyday life for refugees and humanitarian workers. I am keen to hear more about the possibilities for engaging data scientists in this project.