Back to School: Readings on Open Data and New Technologies

Summer is coming to an end. August is winding down, and September is on the horizon, bringing with it the return to routine and all that it entails. The start of the school year and the end of vacations can be challenging. However, this time of year, along with January, is a time for fresh beginnings and resolutions. As you head back to school, we at datos.gob.es propose a challenge: to learn more about open data and new technologies. 

Whether you're looking for a career change, seeking to enrich your professional profile, or simply curious about this burgeoning field, we've selected content on disruptive technologies that we hope will pique your interest. In this post, you'll find articles, books, and even interviews covering data and the innovative technologies surrounding it. 

Take note and prepare your backpack with readings on open data! 

Piensa claro, Ocho reglas para descifrar el mundo y tener éxito en la era de los datos - Kiko Llaneras (2022)

In this compilation of data-based curiosities, El País journalist Kiko Llaneras offers practical advice for making reliable predictions, avoiding common mistakes, and questioning our intuition. 

• What's it about? The book uses data to highlight situations such as the fact that most footballers are born in January or to explain the relationship between data and the Chernobyl disaster. These and other topics serve as the starting point for the development of eight independent chapters, in which Llaneras provides advice, based on his experience, on the use and treatment of data to arrive at sound conclusions. 
• Who's it for? It's a very easy-to-understand book, and no prior knowledge of the subject is required. If the reader has an understanding of statistical topics and data analysis, they will enjoy some references. However, the examples the journalist uses to explain each piece of advice make the book an ideal choice for the general public. 

Yasmín Belén Quiroga: “Promoting Transparency and Confidence in the Justice System through Gender-Perspective Open Data”; UN Women; Interview (03/24/2023) 

The fifth United Nations Development Goal sets the target of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Open data plays a significant role in measuring its attainment and shaping the measures to achieve it. Lawyer and gender and data specialist Yasmín Belén Quiroga is one of the authors of "Gender-Perspective Open Data and Open Justice," a research project conducted within the framework of the Spotlight Initiative. In this project, the expert analyzes the experience of the court where she works and makes all the court's resolutions and judgments available through digital means. 

• What's it about? The lawyer discusses various topics such as the importance of having a gender-perspective open data observatory, the role of open justice in social development, or recommendations for ensuring ethical data reuse. It's a light read that takes no more than 5 minutes. 
• Who's it for? It may be of interest to anyone curious about the application of open data in the judicial system and gender perspective in the sector. 
• For further reading: The United Nations portal has published "Gender-Perspective Open Data and Open Justice: The Experience of Court 10," a research project in which Quiroga participated, analyzing the importance of having a source of open and accessible data to eliminate issues like gender inequality. 

"The Data Science Handbook: Advice and Insights from 25 Amazing Data Scientists"; Book (2020) 

In this book, authored by four professionals in the data field, you'll find 25 interviews with leading American data scientists, including several leaders from major companies. 

• What's it about? The book provides firsthand information from experienced data scientists and offers advice for a successful career in the field. 
• Who's it for? It's designed for data professionals, whether beginners or more experienced individuals. Each interview offers a professional and personal perspective on the world of data, as well as practical advice. 

"10 Breakthrough Technologies 2023"; MIT Technology Review; Article (01/09/2023) 

Every year, the world's oldest technology magazine publishes a compilation of the most disruptive technological advancements of the year. In the 2023 list, technologies such as gene-editing tools, generative AI and its possibilities, and expanded geospatial data analysis are highlighted more than ever before. 

• What's it about? It's a list of articles that delve into each technology in depth, discussing its current and future applications, as well as the contributions it can make to society. 
• Who's it for? Anyone curious about developments in the world of technology. 

The content on data and technology is endless, and the works mentioned above represent just a small sample intended to serve as an example. Therefore, with the aim of enriching this selection, we encourage you to complete this list in the comments. Would you like to recommend a book or article? We're all ears!