IDSB at the Bath Digital Festival 2025

The Bath Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour (IDSB) took part in the Bath Digital Festival, organised by TechSPARK, held from 13–15 May 2025. IDSB participated on 14 May, the "Sustain" themed day of the festival, which was sponsored by the University of Bath.

Morning: Sustain Showcase

In the morning, our researchers attended the Sustain Showcase, where participants explored a wide range of innovative projects:

  • The Carrier Tool by Dr William Smith and Dr Jiahao Yang – a developing digital tool designed to study how online conversations can shape opinions and beliefs.

  • Social Pulse by Dr Lukasz Piwek – a privacy-respecting tool capturing how people interact within physical spaces.

  • Threats and Trade-offs – a thought-provoking board game by Dr Joanna Syrda exploring decision-making in digital contexts.

  • Parenting and Digital Security – an investigation into balancing privacy and security in parenting environments by Katie Thomas.

  • Digital Gaming and Teens – research by Catherine Bostock examining the views and behaviours of UK teenagers around potential digital gaming harm.

  • Online Communities Engagement – research by Dessi Bocheva exploring how individuals engage with multiple online communities and why it matters.

Joanna Syrda presenting the Threats and Trade-offs game
The Carrier tool

Afternoon: Workshop on Bias and the Art of AI Systems Development

In the afternoon, Dr Julian Padget led a hands-on workshop titled "Bias and the Art of AI Systems Development: A Practical Guide". Aimed at AI professionals involved in developing, approving, or maintaining AI systems, the session began with a discussion on unintended biases in AI and methods to detect and mitigate them.

Participants were invited to reflect on biases in their own systems and engaged in a lively Q&A session exploring practical approaches to responsible AI development.

Discussion Panel: Growing Up in the Digital Age

The day concluded with a compelling panel discussion on "Growing Up in the Digital Age", featuring several IDSB researchers:

  • Prof Adam Joinson – expert in digital behaviour and privacy

  • Prof David Ellis – behavioural scientist studying technology and data in everyday life

  • Prof Danae Stanton Fraser – specialist in immersive technologies and human-computer interaction

  • Dr Olivia Brown – researcher on online behaviour, extremism, and group dynamics

  • Katie Thomas – doctoral researcher on privacy and security in family digital life

Key themes included methodologies for capturing digital behaviour, the dynamics of child–parent relationships, and how digital tools (such as parental controls in banking) can have both positive and negative impacts on children.

Prof Olivia Brown highlighted the risks young people face when entering online spaces and the need for honest conversations with parents. Prof Danae Stanton Fraser emphasized how well-designed digital tools can positively impact the lives of disadvantaged children.

Lukasz Piwek with Social Pulse

Thank you to all who joined us for an insightful day at the Bath Digital Festival — and to our IDSB colleagues for sharing your research and expertise! Special thanks to TechSpark for organising this wonderful event!

Credit for pictures: Tim Gander