Danil Mikhailov is the Executive Director of data.org — a nonprofit organization that is a platform for partnerships and is helping to build the field of data for social impact. They work with organizations from all over the world to increase the use of data in order to improve the lives of millions of people.
At data.org they embrace a socio-tech perspective and appreciate that it’s not just about the tech… it’s also about the humans… those who collect the data, those who use the data, those from whom the data is collected.
We look at the work of data.org, explore how data can be leveraged by small and large organizations alike and consider the implications of artificial intelligence, such as the recently-launched ChatGPT AI tool.
If you’d like to understand how to leverage data for social impact and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals this episode is perfect for you!
About Danil Mikhailov PhD
Danil Mikhailov is the Executive Director of data.org. He has more than 20 years' of experience setting up multiple start-ups and leading work across a range of diverse sectors, always investigating and innovating in the space where technology, culture and society converge.
Prior to data.org, Danil was at The Wellcome Trust, where he founded and directed the Wellcome Data Labs, an interdisciplinary team of data scientists, software developers, and social scientists, creating open-source data tools supporting Wellcome’s mission. While at Wellcome, Danil coordinated the data and data science aspects of the Trust’s Covid-19 pandemic response. Before joining The Wellcome Trust, Danil founded and chaired the Digital Strategy Forum for Science, Art, and Culture, in the United Kingdom.
Danil strongly believes in the power of interdisciplinarity and, in addition to his tech expertise, he brings a social sciences and humanities perspective to his work. Danil holds a PhD in Sociology and Communications from the University of Brunel, an MA in Philosophy, from Birkbeck, University of London, an MA in Chinese Studies, from SOAS, University of London, and a BSc in IT & Business Management, University of York.