On 30th September 2020, the Blockchain Technology Lab hosted, “Advances in Blockchain Technology Scotland”, a half-day webinar event organised in partnership with the Bayes Centre. The event showcased the world-class research on blockchain technology taking place at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK.

The BTL is led by Prof Aggelos Kiayias, Chair of Cyber Security and Privacy at the University of Edinburgh. In his role at the BTL, considered to be the most influential blockchain laboratory in the UK in terms of basic research, Prof Kiayias leads a team of researchers studying all aspects of blockchain and distributed ledger technology and collaborates widely within the University, nationally and internationally on advancing the state of the art in the area.

During the webinar, members of the University of Edinburgh blockchain research community presented their research in areas of security, privacy, regulation, design and programming. We were also very pleased to have two keynote talks: the first by Charles Hoskinson, founder of R&D company IOHK through which the BTL was founded in 2017. Charles discussed his work alongside Prof Kiayias, notably the vast undertaking of the Cardano system. Our second keynote, Dale Chrystie, Business Fellow and Blockchain Strategist at FedEx, led a blockchain in industry session, during which each company offered a unique perspective on use of the technology. The speakers answered questions from event attendees at scheduled points throughout the afternoon and there was a networking session to close.

ABT-Scotland attracted over 260 registrations and 150 attendees.

To download a PDF of the agenda, click here

To watch a recording of the webinar, click the video below.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all the speakers, organisers, webinar and funding support for making this event a success.

Speakers 

Mirjam Wester – Senior Project Manager & Researcher, Blockchain Technology Lab, University of Edinburgh/IOHK

Michael Rovatsos – Director of Bayes & Deputy VP of Research in AI, University of Edinburgh

Aggelos Kiayias – Chair in Cyber Security and Privacy & Director of the Blockchain Technology Lab, University of Edinburgh

Markulf Kohlweiss – Senior Lecturer in Security and Privacy & Deputy Director of the Blockchain Technology Lab, University of Edinburgh

Emilios Avgouleas – Chair in Banking Law, School of Law, University of Edinburgh

Philip Wadler – Chair of Theoretical Computer Science, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Chris Speed – Chair in Design Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Ahmed El-Rayis – Business Development Manager, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Aikaterini-Panagiota Stouka – PhD student, University of Edinburgh

Orfeas Litos – PhD student, University of Edinburgh

Dimitris Karakostas – PhD student, University of Edinburgh

Thomas Kerber – PhD student, University of Edinburgh

Charles Hoskinson (Keynote 1) – CEO and Founder of IOHK

Dale Chrystie (Keynote 2) – Business Fellow and Blockchain Strategist at FedEx

Evangelos Pappas – CEO at Ocyan

Paul Roach – CTO at Zumo

Dinis Guarda – CEO and Founder of Ztudium

Duncan Johnston-Watt – CEO and Co-Founder of BTP

Organisers

Gareth Beedham – Senior Administrative Secretary (BTL) & PA to Prof Aggelos Kiayias, University of Edinburgh

Ahmed El-Rayis – Business Development Manager, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Ronnie Johnston – Events and Communications Manager, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Iain Muheim – Secretary & Administrator, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Craig Skeldon – Business Development Manager, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Lee Wilson – Director of Innovation Partnerships, Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh

Webinar support 

Andy Ashton – Webinar Experts

Lev Cribb – Webinar Experts

Catriona Elliot – Webinar Experts

Thom Gornall – Webinar Experts

David Harrison – Webinar Experts

Funding support

Jim Ashe – Director of Commercialisation & Industry Engagement, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

 

Oct 4, 2020