BCS SPECIALIST GROUP ON AI (BCS-SGAI) AI for Health 2026 - Nov. 6th

Friday November 6th 2026 (all day event)

A special event showcasing the role of Artificial Intelligence for Health
Organised by BCS-SGAI

At the BCS London Office
Ground Floor, 25 Copthall Avenue, London, EC2R 7BP (near Moorgate underground)

Please see: https://www.bcs-sgai.org/health2026/

 

There are is an online registration form available from the event website.

BCS-SGAI, the British Computer Society Specialist Group on Artificial Intelligence was founded in June 1980. Its mission is: `To foster achievement, capability and awareness in both business and research in Artificial Intelligence, and to promote the interests of the related community`. It is one of Europe`s longest established groups working to support the community of artificial intelligence developers and users and is the organiser of one of the longest running annual series of AI conferences in Europe: the AI-20xx series.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) prioritising AI for health is crucial. The WHO also highlights that a healthy diet protects you against many chronic non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Quantum computing is gathering an enormous interest as a new paradigm of computing (see Quantum for Good at https://quantumforgood.eu/), which is already making an impact across industries like health and life sciences (agriculture, food and health). Classical (or current) AI relies in classical computers based on binary bits (zeros and ones), while quantum AI relies in quantum computers based on quantum bits (qubits). Quantum AI could dramatically accelerate research that requires processing vast amounts of data, contributing to human health by accelerating drug discovery or enabling earlier diagnostics. Quantum AI could be also instrumental in identifying early signs of crop diseases or optimising water use.

Come along to AI for Health 2026 if you are interested in cutting-edge AI for Health, using latest technologies with a promise of high impact.

SPEAKERS

 

Prof Brendan Delaney (Imperial College London)

 Medical diagnosis after LLMs

 

Mr Anirban Lahiri (Arndit Ltd. and Kainos Ltd., United Kingdom)

 AI in Mental Healthcare

 

Dr Marinos Ioannides (Head of Software and AI Medical Devices, MHRA, UK)

 Demystifying AI Regulation

 

Dr. Mercedes Arguello Casteleiro (SGAI)

 Hands-on Tutorial on Low-Code AI Agents for Health, Farming, and Food

 

Dr Oliver Thomson Brown (Quantum Software Lab, EPCC, University of Edinburgh)

 Introduction to Quantum Computing and its Relevance for Biomedical Science

 

Dr Saihong Li (University of Stirling)

 Translating Quantum Food Futures

 

Dr Aleksey Kozikov (Newcastle University)

 Emerging Opportunities for Quantum Technologies in Food and Health

 

Website: https://www.bcs-sgai.org/health2026/

 

Registration: https://www.bcs-sgai.org/health2026/?section=registration

ii The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

My source: https://x.com/UN/status/2111306457501331613?s=20

individual

|
INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES             

humanistic ------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL   

|

group

SAFETY psychological CHOICE DIGNITY  HEALTH CARE	SAFETY physical  FOOD SHELTER  HEALTH CARE
[PUBLIC] HEALTH CARE SOCIAL INCLUSION	POLITICAL INCLUSION INCOME [POLITICAL] HEALTH?

Previously: 'SDG' : 'security' : 'nutrition' (not just 'food')

Wirnitzer, KC. et al. (2025) Toward a roadmap for addressing today's health dilemma – The 101-statement consensus report. Frontiers in Nutrition. Volume 12. https://frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1676080 DOI:10.3389/fnut.2025.1676080

See also: 
Jones P, Wirnitzer K. Hodges’ model: the Sustainable Development Goals and public health – universal health coverage demands a universal framework. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 2022;5:doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000254

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

While the world has had enormous success in reducing poverty in recent years, new findings from UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative show that progress cannot be taken for granted.

The 2026 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) reveals that the number of people living in multidimensional poverty has increased for the first time since the index was launched in 2010.

At the same time, many countries continue to make progress against poverty, indicating that eliminating poverty in all its forms—the first Sustainable Development Goal—is possible.

Read more ...

'The Social Reckoning'

individual

|
INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES             

humanistic ------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL   

|

group

mental state self-image vulnerability true	algorithms     life
the SOCIAL	RECKONING

Stop tech companies endangering 
more teenagers like Molly

“Instagram helped kill my daughter. Too little has changed, promises to deliver safety have failed and algorithms still show streams of toxic content to children. We need to protect our children from the profit-driven business models that powers tech companies and puts the safety of children at the bottom of their priorities.” 

Ian Russell, Molly’s Dad and Chair of Molly Rose Foundation.

Molly Rose Foundation

My source: Times Radio 

Previously: 'social media' : 'algorithms' : 'law' : 'accountability'

Mental Health and Physical Activity

You know you're on the right (running) track when there is a journal that seeks to address the fundamentals of parity of esteem that is mental and physical health:

Robertson, R., Robertson, A., Jepson, R., and Maxwell, M. (2012) Walking for depression or depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Mental Health and Physical Activity, 5, 1, 66-75. ISSN 1755-2966 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2012.03.002.

Sometimes, geography matters too in terms of intervention choices and the population of a study:

Moran, R., Sperandei, S., Peel, N., Gray, T., and Reis, A. (2024) The long-term effect of surf therapy on posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety symptomology among current and former Australian defence force members - A nonrandomised controlled longitudinal study in a community setting. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 27, 100629, ISSN 1755-2966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100629.

While researchers seek an holistic view -

Ciaccioni, S. et al. (2026) Modifiable determinants of adolescents’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour in school, home and mixed settings: A DE-PASS systematic review and meta-analysis of self-reported data with a holistic analysis. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 31. 100803,
ISSN 1755-2966, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2026.100803.

- and the above journal 'Supports open access', I do not believe my individual circumstances would qualify for differential treatment of fees:

'Article Publishing Charge (APC): USD 3,190 (excluding taxes). Actual APCs may differ based on individual author circumstances.'

This is a pity, as surprisingly thus far, the journal does not appear to have explicitly referred to 'parity of esteem'? Clearly a soapbox for me, there is plenty of room for others to join in the debate. To acknowledge, however, severe mental illness is well represented.

Given the holistic scope of Hodges' model the lack of inclusion in such literature is a shame. 

Acutely so, as Hodges' model begs (demands!?) consideration of holistic bandwidth. The matter of exercise and activity as a therapeutic option in mental health care quickly gets intense and heated (even if the interlocutors are recumbent). Social prescribing seems well established. On social media ['X' still for me] voicing the benefits of exercise does not always go down well. 

Fabiano N, Puder D, Stubbs B. Could not prescribing exercise for depression be psychiatric malpractice?

British Journal of Sports Medicine 2025;59:1388-1389.

Ironically given the limitations of the bio-psycho-social model, the 'barricades' don't go up they are a permanent feature. As soon as we need to consider the political dimensions of health care, legal and professional accountability, policy, funding, accessibility, the minutiae of human rights (individual instances). Plus, in the UK the welfare benefits bill, the struggles of young adults not in employment, education or training; then division and oppositions are all that is. And, what can be individual and collective opportunities are missed.

My source:  https://x.com/NTFabiano/status/2103876655366521278?s=20

Informação Relevante | [Docentes] 8.ª Edição dos Projetos Semente da UC | 8th Edition of UC Seed Projects – Applications open from 26 October to 27 November

Caros Investigadores,
Caras Investigadoras,

A Universidade de Coimbra vai lançar a 8.ª Edição do concurso Projetos Semente de Investigação Interdisciplinar, financiado pela Fundação Santander Portugal.

As candidaturas estarão abertas de 26 de outubro a 27 de novembro de 2026.

O concurso destina-se a investigadores/as em início de carreira, até dez anos após a conclusão do doutoramento, que pretendam desenvolver projetos de investigação interdisciplinares e alinhados com as Áreas Estratégicas da UC, promovendo a independência científica, a colaboração entre diferentes áreas do conhecimento e o desenvolvimento de competências de liderança.

Nesta edição serão atribuídos cinco prémios, um por cada Área Estratégica da UC, no valor de 20 000 € por projeto, correspondendo a um financiamento total de 100 000 €.

À semelhança das edições anteriores, o concurso pretende incentivar a colaboração entre investigadores/as de diferentes áreas científicas. Cada equipa deverá integrar investigadores/as de pelo menos duas unidades de investigação distintas da Universidade de Coimbra.

Convidamos os/as investigadores/as elegíveis a conhecerem esta oportunidade e a explorarem a possibilidade de desenvolver uma proposta interdisciplinar com colegas de outras áreas.

A página da 8.ª edição, incluindo o regulamento, o modelo de candidatura e as restantes informações, estará disponível a partir de 26 de outubro, data de abertura do concurso, em: Projetos Semente da UC

Com os melhores cumprimentos,

João Ramalho-Santos
Vice-Reitor para a Investigação
_____________

[EN]

Dear Researchers,

The University of Coimbra is launching the 8th Edition of the Seed Projects for Interdisciplinary Research, funded by Santander Portugal Foundation.

Applications will be open from 26 October to 27 November 2026.

The call is aimed at early-career researchers, within ten years of completing their PhD, who wish to develop interdisciplinary research projects aligned with UC’s Strategic Areas, fostering scientific independence, collaboration across different fields of knowledge, and research leadership.

This edition will support five projects, one in each of UC’s Strategic Areas, with €20,000 awarded to each winning project, for a total funding of €100,000.

As in previous editions, the call encourages collaboration between researchers from different scientific fields. Each team must include researchers from at least two different research units from distinct domains at the University of Coimbra.

We encourage eligible researchers to learn more about this opportunity and consider developing an interdisciplinary proposal together with colleagues from other areas.

The 8th Edition webpage, including the call rules, application template and further information, will be available from 26 October, when the call officially opens, at:

UC Seed Projects

Kind regards,

João Ramalho-Santos
Vice-Rector for Research
_______________________________________________
Universidade de Coimbra • www.uc.pt
Com os melhores cumprimentos,

Marta Santos
(Pelo Secretariado)

Report - Health Misinformation: Public Perceptions of Threat to the UK

A London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine report

Published: 28 September 2026

Authors: Pete Wilton & Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush

Foreword

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has a long track-record of developing innovative approaches to countering false or misleading health information (health misinformation). While health misinformation has always been with us, in the last few years changes to the technological and political landscape have enabled it to spread further and faster around the world, threatening to undermine trust in health experts and institutions.

That was why in January 2025 LSHTM launched a new initiative focusing on fighting dangerous health misinformation in the UK through interventions in the media, online, and on social media. While misinformation is global the response often has to be national or even local and what we quickly realised is that there is still a lot we don’t know about the prevalence and impact of health misinformation in the UK.

How equipped are Britons to identify false or misleading health claims? What do they do to factcheck if these claims are true? Are our fears about the harms of health misinformation on the UK population justified? And, if they are, who is being harmed and how can we help them to protect themselves? These were just some of the questions we had.

Of course one survey was never going to give us all the answers, but we believe the findings detailed in this report are an important first step towards gathering some of the ‘missing evidence’ on health misinformation in the UK. We hope that this report will help to motivate and inform all those working to make ours a healthier, stronger society.

Professor Liam Smeeth
Director, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Continued . . .

My source: BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour - 36mins 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0032qn8

'How can medical misinformation harm women, and how do we combat dangerous myths? Nuala McGovern is joined by former consultant breast surgeon and cancer survivor Liz O'Riordan and Dr Rachael Kent, whose academic research focuses on the impact of digital technology on mental and physical health.' 

Ex Carta & The Writer's Map

'Ex Carta - The Nurse's Map'

The bookshop is lost to me now, but I have seen Huw Lewis-Jones's The Writer's Map before, and was well impressed. So it was worth leafing through the Times's Luxx supplement to learn of an exhibition on this theme:

Ex Carta - Zentralbibliothek Zürich

Includes:  Signposts for Navigating Moral Landscapes

Tuesday, 17. November 2026 - 18:00 - 20:00 o'clock

How do people find their bearings when faced with moral conflicts and life-changing decisions? 

Drawing on the ancient motif of Heracles at the Crossroads, Professor Emeritus Paul Michel explores the symbolic significance of paths, crossroads and choices of direction. The lecture examines how such visual and narrative motifs have been used since antiquity to illustrate questions of virtue, responsibility and the conduct of life. It also considers why these enduring images continue to resonate today. At its core is the question of what forms of guidance can help us navigate the moral landscapes of the contemporary world. 

Free of charge. Please register in advance. The event will take place on site at the Zentralbibliothek Zürich and will be held only in German. 

Huw Lewis-Jones, (2018) The Writer's Map - An Atlas of Imaginary Lands, Thames & Hudson.
https://www.thamesandhudson.com/products/the-writers-map

These two resources bring home the unique nature of care and caring and the journey of assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation, with the 'return' point often uncertain. Based on person-centredness alone this is unique. Of course, there is much additional variation and complexity as 'The Nurse's Map' may of course be that of another profession. The application of Hodges' is unique to the participants.

My source: Richard Askwith. Adventures into imaginary universes, Luxx. The Times, 3.10.26. pp.82-85.