# Timandra Harkness
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Timandra_Harkness
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Timandra_Harkness.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timandra_Harkness
> Source revision: 1342071806
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{short description|British writer, presenter and comedian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image = QED 20161015 159.jpg
| caption = Speaking at [QEDcon](/source/QED_(conference)) in 2016
| name = Timandra Harkness
| occupation = {{hlist |Writer |presenter |comedian}}
| alma_mater = {{hlist |[Bulmershe College](/source/Bulmershe_College) |[Open University](/source/Open_University)}}
| years_active = 2000–present
| notable_works = {{hlist |''Big Data: Does Size Matter''}}
| website = {{URL|https://timandraharkness.com}}
}}
'''Timandra Harkness''' is a British writer, presenter and comedian.[{{Cite magazine |last=Santos |first=Patricia |title=Science, communication and women in networks |url=https://www.britishcouncil.org.br/sites/default/files/women_in_science_magazine_no1_eng_version_online.pdf |magazine=Women in Science |publisher=British Council |year=2019 |issue=1 |access-date=6 November 2020}}]
She has contributed to several publications, including ''[BBC Science Focus](/source/BBC_Science_Focus)'' magazine and ''[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)'', and authored the book ''Big Data: Does Size Matter?''. Harkness has co-written and performed comedy shows related to science and mathematics, including collaborations with her mother Linda Cotterill and comedian [Matt Parker](/source/Matt_Parker). Since 2016, she has chaired the Data Debate series for the [Alan Turing Institute](/source/Alan_Turing_Institute) and [the British Library](/source/the_British_Library). She is a [Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society](/source/Fellow_of_the_Royal_Statistical_Society) and a visiting fellow at the [University of Winchester](/source/University_of_Winchester)'s Centre for Information Rights.
== Education ==
Harkness has a BA in Film and Drama with Art from [Bulmershe College](/source/Bulmershe_College){{when|date=November 2021}} and a BSc in Mathematics & Statistics from the [Open University](/source/Open_University), awarded in 2017.[{{cite web |url =https://bimshowlive.co.uk/speaker/timandra-harkness/|title =Timandra Harkness|website =BIM Show Live|publisher=Space Group|access-date =2022-01-21}}] In 2021, she began postgraduate study in Philosophy at [Birkbeck College, London](/source/Birkbeck_College%2C_London), completing an MA degree in 2023.
== Career ==
===Writer===
Harkness has written about technology for ''[BBC Science Focus](/source/BBC_Science_Focus)'' magazine,[{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=Five key ideas you need to understand now if you want to be ready for the world of 2030 | work=BBC Focus Magazine | date=2019-04-08 | url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/five-key-ideas-you-need-to-understand-now-if-you-want-to-be-ready-for-the-world-of-2030/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=How will the NHS contact-tracing app work and how could it affect my privacy? | work=BBC Focus Magazine | date=2020-04-21 | url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/how-will-the-nhs-contact-tracing-app-work-and-how-could-it-affect-my-privacy/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=A level results: Why algorithms aren't making the grade | work=BBC Focus Magazine | date=2020-11-11 | url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/a-level-results-why-algorithms-arent-making-the-grade/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}] about statistics for ''[Significance](/source/Significance_(magazine))'' (a popular science magazine published by the [Royal Statistical Society](/source/Royal_Statistical_Society)),[{{cite journal | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=Seduced by stats? | journal=Significance | volume=9 | issue=1 | publisher=Royal Statistical Society | date=2012-02-08 | pages=46–48 | doi=10.1111/j.1740-9713.2012.00549.x | doi-access=free }}] and about motorcycles for ''[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)''.[{{cite news | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=Angels | work=The Telegraph | date=2004-09-04 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/2730068/Angels.html | access-date=2020-11-12 }}]
Harkness is the author of the book ''Big Data: Does Size Matter?''[{{Citation| first=Emma| last=Stoye| title=Big data: does size matter?| periodical=Chemistry World | publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry | url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/review/big-data-does-size-matter/1017462.article | date=2014-10-24 | accessdate=2020-11-09 }}] Her second book[{{Cite web |title=Writing – Timandra Harkness |url=https://www.timandraharkness.com/writing/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |language=en-GB}}] ''Technology is not the Problem'' was published in May 2024.[{{cite web|url = https://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/events/LF15 | title=From culture wars to misinformation: Why social media is not the problem' with Timandra Harkness | Selwyn College }}]
===Broadcaster===
Harkness' work for [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4) includes an afternoon play,[{{Cite episode | title=No Future in Eternity | series=Afternoon Play | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=http://www.radiolistings.co.uk/programmes/n/no/no_future_in_eternity.html }}] documentaries,[{{Cite AV media| title=Data, Data, Everywhere | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2014 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03kqfzx }}][{{Cite AV media| title=Personality Politics | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2014 | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b043wz27 }}][{{Cite AV media| title=Supersense Me | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2017 | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08hnj2v }}][{{Cite episode | title=Divided Nation | series=Archive on 4 | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ckt6 }}] being a roving reporter for ''The Human Zoo''[{{Cite episode | title=Perfect People | series=The Human Zoo | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b060zr3d }}] and presenting ''FutureProofing'',[{{cite web | last=Harkness | first=Timandra | title=What is FutureProofing? | website=BBC Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/33g0cvzTrsjTv8PWM313vQ7/what-is-futureproofing | access-date=2020-11-12}}] a series about the future potential of science.
===Performer===
In 1999, Harkness co-wrote a comedy with her mother Linda Cotterill, called ''No Future in Eternity'', about an astronomer who shares a flat with two angels.[{{cite web | title=Astronomy meets angels in a divine comedy | date=2001-07-23 | website=Physics World | first=Kate | last=Pennicott | url=https://physicsworld.com/a/astronomy-meets-angels-in-a-divine-comedy/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}] They received a grant from the [Astronomer Royal for Scotland](/source/Astronomer_Royal_for_Scotland), [John Campbell Brown](/source/John_Campbell_Brown), to perform the show at the ''[Edinburgh Festival Fringe](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe)'' in 2000.[{{cite web | title=Outreach: Public Understanding of Science Work | first=John | last=Brown | url=https://www.johncbrown.org/outreach.html | access-date=2020-11-12}}] The show was subsequently broadcast as an afternoon play on BBC Radio 4.[{{cite web | title=Afternoon Play: No Future in Eternity | url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3acf7b02755b47feba48767c59149d38 | website=BBC Genome | date=24 July 2001 | access-date=2020-11-12}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}]
Since 2004, Harkness has collaborated with Dr Helen Pilcher, as a comedy duo named the ''Comedy Research Project'', writing and performing stand-up shows about science.[{{cite web | title=Five Top Things in Science - Ever (Comedy Research Project) | website=The Lecture List | url=http://lecturelist.org/content/view_lecture/595 | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite news | title=The hidden comedy of science | newspaper=BBC News | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3787129.stm | date=2004-06-08 | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | title=Helen Pilcher | url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-pilcher-14090658/ | website=LinedIn | access-date=2020-11-12}}]
In 2012, Harkness and fellow comedian [Matt Parker](/source/Matt_Parker) co-wrote a comedy show called ''Your Days are Numbered: The Maths of Death''. They performed the show in [Australia](/source/Australia), at the ''[Adelaide Fringe](/source/Adelaide_Fringe)'' and ''[Melbourne International Comedy Festival](/source/Melbourne_International_Comedy_Festival)'', on tour around [England](/source/England) and in [Scotland](/source/Scotland), at the ''[Edinburgh Festival Fringe](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe)''.[{{cite web | title=Your Days are Numbered Tour Dates | website=Your Days Are Numbered | url=http://yourdaysarenumbered.co.uk/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}]
Harkness returned to the ''Edinburgh Festival Fringe'' in 2019 to perform a one-woman show, called ''Take a Risk''.[{{cite web | first=Tim | last=Cornwell | title=Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 REVIEW Timandra Harkness: Take a Risk | website=The Edinburgh Reporter | url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2019/08/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2019-review-timandra-harkness-take-a-risk-%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85/ | date=2019-08-19 | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | first=Steve| last=Heald| title=Timandra Harkness – Edinburgh Fringe Festival | website=The Plus Ones | url=https://theplusones.com/edinburgh/2019/08/07/timandra-harkness-edinburgh-fringe-festival/ | date=2019-08-07 | access-date=2020-11-12}}]
===Data engagement===
Since 2016, Harkness has chaired the ''Data Debate'' for the [Alan Turing Institute](/source/Alan_Turing_Institute) and the [British Library](/source/British_Library), a series of panel discussions about big data and its implications for society.[{{Cite web| title=New Data Debates series with the British Library: Smart cities and fake news | last=Wood | first=Beth | website=The Alan Turing Institute | access-date=2020-11-12 | url=https://www.turing.ac.uk/events/data-debates-bots-polling-booth }}] She has spoken at the ''[Hay Festival](/source/Hay_Festival)'',[{{cite web | title=Big Data | website=Hay Festival | date=30 May 2017 | url=https://www.hayfestival.com/p-12276-timandra-harkness.aspx?skinid=16 | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | title=Creators and Consumers: What's our role in responsibly designing the future? | website=Hay Festival | date=27 May 2018 | url=https://www.hayfestival.com/p-13800-matt-hancock-helen-margetts-timandra-harkness.aspx | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | title=Can Artificial Intelligence Be Ethical? | website=Hay Festival | date=26 May 2018 | url=https://www.hayfestival.com/p-13765-timandra-harkness-harriet-kingaby-peter-lacy-rohit-talwar.aspx | access-date=2020-11-12}}] the ''Battle of Ideas'',[{{cite web | title=Was it Big Data wot won it? Political campaigning today | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2017/session/was-it-big-data-wot-won-it/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | title=From AI to Big Data: can technology save the NHS? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2017/session/from-ai-to-big-data-can-technology-save-the-nhs/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | title=Rage against the machines: is automation a threat to jobs? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2017/session/rage-against-the-machines-is-automation-a-threat-to-prosperity/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | title=If data runs the world, who is in control? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2018/session/if-data-runs-the-world-who-is-in-control/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}][{{cite web | title=Automatic lovers: should we be worried about sex robots? | website=Battle of Ideas | url=https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2018/session/automatic-lovers-should-we-be-worried-about-sex-robots/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}]{{excessive citations inline|date=March 2021}} ''[TEDx](/source/TED_(conference))'',[{{cite AV media | people=Timandra Harkness | title=What is Knowledge in the Age of Big Data? | medium=Presentation | publisher=TEDx Talks | location=London, England | date=2017-06-23 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdilkRC4YVw }}] ''[The Scotsman](/source/The_Scotsman) Data Conference''[{{cite news | first=David | last=Lee | title=World-leading experts headline Scotsman data conference on combatting Covid-19 | newspaper=The Scotsman | url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/world-leading-experts-headline-scotsman-data-conference-combatting-covid-19-2996827 | date=2020-10-29 | access-date=2020-11-12}}] and the ''[Cheltenham Science Festival](/source/Cheltenham_Science_Festival)''.[{{cite web | title=Cheltenham Science Festival Programme Announced | website=Cheltenham Festivals | url=https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/news/2018/04/cheltenham-science-festival-programme-announced/ | date=2018-04-18 | access-date=2020-11-12}}]
Harkness is a Fellow of the [Royal Statistical Society](/source/Royal_Statistical_Society) (RSS), a founding member of their special interest group on Data Ethics.[{{cite web | title=Data Ethics | website=Royal Statistical Society | url=https://rss.org.uk/membership/rss-groups-and-committees/special-interest-groups/data-ethics/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}] She was elected to serve on the Council of the RSS from 2024,[{{cite web|url = https://rss.org.uk/news-publication/news-publications/2023/general-news/rss-announce-new-council-members/|title = RSS announce new Council members|date=2 November 2023|publisher=Royal Statistical Society|website=rss.org}}] and took over the chair of the editorial board of their magazine [Significance](/source/Significance_(magazine)) at that time.[{{cite web|url = https://significancemagazine.com/significance-announces-new-editorial-board-chair/|title = Significance announces new editorial board chair|first= Anna |last=Britten| date=12 January 2024 |website=Significance}}] Harkness is also a visiting fellow at the [University of Winchester](/source/University_of_Winchester)'s Centre for Information Rights.[{{cite web | title=Centre for Information Rights | website=University of Winchester | url=https://www.winchester.ac.uk/research/building-a-sustainable-and-responsible-future/centre-for-information-rights/ | access-date=2020-11-12}}]
== Awards ==
In 1997, Harkness won a column-writing competition, organised by ''[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)'' newspaper.[{{Cite web |title=Timandra Harkness - Our Writers - PSM Campaign |url=https://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/public-service-media-report/writers/timandra-harkness |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=The Children’s Media Foundation (CMF) |language=en-GB}}]
== Publications ==
* ''Big Data: Does Size Matter'' (2016)[{{Cite AV media| title=FutureProofing | medium=Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2014 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04gyx0t }}]
* ''Hindsight Bias'' (2015)[{{Cite episode | title=Hindsight Bias | series=The Human Zoo | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036tbly }}]
* ''Perfect People'' (2015)[{{Cite episode | title=Are You A Numbers Person? | series=The Why Factor | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p052801k }}]
* ''How to Disagree: A Beginner's Guide to Having Better Arguments'' (2018)[{{Cite AV media| title=How to Disagree: A Beginner's Guide to Having Better Arguments | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2018 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bf56gk }}][{{Cite AV media| title=How to Disagree: A Beginner's Guide to Having Better Arguments | medium = Audio book | publisher=BBC Digital Audio| year=2018 | url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1117266/how-to-disagree/9781787533516.html }}]
* ''The Infinite Monkey Cage: Big Data'' (2018)[{{Cite episode | title=Big Data | series=The Infinite Monkey Cage | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=j1mSRJdJFHc }}]
* ''Divided Nation'' (2019)[{{Cite episode | title=What Has Sat-Nav Done to Our Brains? | series=Seriously... | network=BBC | station=Radio 4 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07ydwql }}]
* ''Five Knots'' (2020)[{{Cite AV media| title=Five Knots | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | year=2020 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hmy1 }}]
* ''Steelmanning'' (2021) [{{Cite AV media|title=Steelmanning | medium = Radio broadcast | publisher=BBC Radio 4| year=2021| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rdzs }}]
== Comedy ==
* ''The Comedy Research Project'' (2004)[{{Cite news| first=Elizabeth| last=Day| title=Scientists are serious about having a laugh | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/3324204/Scientists-are-serious-about-having-a-laugh.html | date=2004-06-13 | accessdate=2020-11-09 }}]
* ''Your Days Are Numbered - The Maths of Death'' (2012)[{{Cite news| first=Rosy | last=Moorhead | title=Timandra Harkness on her new comedy show Your Days are Numbered: The Maths of Death | url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/interviews/9525377.timandra-harkness-on-her-new-comedy-show-your-days-are-numbered-the-maths-of-death/ | date=2012-02-10 | accessdate=2020-11-09 }}]
* ''Brainsex'' (2013)[{{Citation| first=Peter| last=Ranscombe| title=BrainSex | periodical=The Lancet | url=https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laneur/PIIS1474-4422(13)70219-9.pdf | year=2013 | volume=12| issue=Nov | page=1047| doi=10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70219-9 | s2cid=208785167| accessdate=2020-11-09 }}]
* ''Take A Risk'' (2019)[{{Cite podcast | url=https://takeariskshow.com/podcast/ | title=Take A Risk | host=Timandra Harkness | date=2019 }}]