The Irish Tech News Podcast

Really enjoyed chatting with Peter Cairns, and learned a lot from our conversation, you will enjoy this interview too -> Peter Cairns is Executive Director of rewilding charity, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and a co-founder of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. www.scotlandbigpicture.com Despite its beauty and drama, Scotland has become a nature-depleted nation. Many species that were once prolific now teeter on the edge; others have been hunted to extinction. Centuries of ecological decline have led to the complex living systems upon which we all depend to falter and fail. It doesn’t have to be this way. Rewilding seeks to return abundance and diversity of life to Scotland’s land and seas, so that wildlife flourishes and people thrive. SCOTLAND: The Big Picture works with a diverse range of people to make rewilding happen, at many different levels, across Scotland. It’s time to rewrite nature’s story. www.rewild.scot Imagine a Scotland where nature is reawakened. Where a rich tapestry of native woodlands, wetlands, wildflower meadows and grasslands is stitched back together. Where land and seas teem with life. Where people feel connected to the natural world, wherever they live. And where nature-based enterprises support thriving communities far and wide. This is our vision of rewilding. This is why we’re calling on Scotland to become the world’s first Rewilding Nation.

How to be part of a world first NFT? One Million NFT Seeks to Make Internet History with Artistic NFT Grid The one-million-pixel grid will be auctioned after completion One Million NFT is a project set up by Ben Allen, the man behind the project to offer the world’s first one-million-pixel grid. The company is producing a one-million-pixel user-generated grid online to create one piece of artwork, then minted as an NFT. Each of the grids in the One Million NFT is for sale and, once completed, will make a user-generated image that will be auctioned off as a non-fungible token (NFT) art piece. Each 10x10 grid will contain an image of the purchaser's choice. “We are blazing new trails in the worlds of art and technology, finding creativity and unique value in their intersection,” explained Ben Allen, founder of the One Million NFT project. “We are also reversing a century-old trend of technology deprecating the unique value of a work of art. Instead, we are leveraging technology to assert the right of the artist, or in this case, a community of creators, to make something unreproducible and distinctly valuable.” Each contributor can also add a website address to the contributor's list for the artwork. Squares are available to anyone, including artists, advertisers, brands, influencers, and entrepreneurs, as well as anyone who wants to contribute an image. The completed art piece will then be auctioned with the goal of mass exposure for all contributors. NFTs are data units on a blockchain digital ledger, including unique digital items such as collectibles or artworks, or game items. NFT's are valuable because they are rare digital art in being verifiably scarce on the Ethereum blockchain. There is a diverse range of very talented artists currently releasing amazing work atop Ethereum. For the artist, tokenizing work both ensures that the item is unique and branded as the artist's work. The actual ownership is blockchain-managed. The blockchain's encryption makes each NFT impossible to reproduce without its owner's permission. NFT is thus ideal for digital artworks and books. An article in the Economic Times stated, "Just like sports collectibles, the market for NFTs is estimated to have grown to $100 million while opening up myriad possibilities for artists. This includes greater autonomy and a fair share of the value upside according to those aware of the dynamics of this buzzing marketplace." Digital artwork by the artist Beeple recently sold for $69 million at a Christie's auction. "I'm a big believer in NFT artists and hope that over time, we see digital as the norm so that it can be appreciated," said Ben. "I thought this would be a great idea to bring awareness to many great digital artists. We are creating a timeless image that will reward contributors in this artwork." One Million NFT has already had more than 9,000 views from 97 different countries, and page views are growing. The project, which is only two weeks old, has already sold 3.3 percent of the squares, or 330 out of 10,000. For more information or to become part of this historical piece of art, visit onemillionnft.com

Important and interesting conversation with Gerald Kutney, battling to reduce the impact of climate change deniers. Gerald is a commentator on MSM and social media on the politics of the climate crisis. He has authored the book Carbon Politics and the Failure of the Kyoto Protocol and is currently working on #ClimateBrawl vs. Climate Denialism: The Politics of the Climate Crisis. Gerald is also known for having inspired the popular hashtag on Twitter: “#ClimateBrawl.” On Twitter, he is ranked in the top 💯 global influencers in Climate Science & Forecast, and the #1 global influencer for “Education & Public Awareness in the #ClimateChange Debate.” He has a Ph.D. in chemistry and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Northern British Columbia and taught the graduate course Climate Change & Global Warming. Now living in Ottawa, he has presented several guest lectures at Carleton University on climate change denial. A staff reporter from The Toronto Star wrote: “Canadian researcher Gerald Kutney, who has wielded his PhD in chemistry like a blinding blade of science in a relentless twitter campaign against climate denialism.”

Jamil catches up with Vaibhav Kadikar, CloseCross to learn more about this project Trust in Code: Moving from Traditional Financial Markets to Alternative, Decentralized Leveraged Markets, About Vaibhav Kadikar, Founder and CEO of CloseCross Inventor of the multi-party settlement mechanism and author of the Knowledge value of Time algorithms, Vaibhav Kadikar has been in this space since 1999 when he launched his first digital (not crypto) currency. In 2007 he wrote the paper on Financial Decentralization that turned into an approved patent from the USPTO in 2011 for the multi-party settlement. In 2017 he founded CloseCross to disrupt the financial predictions/derivatives market with an aim to open up the $1200 trillion p.a. market to the masses, by offering an alternative multi-party setup. He has an MBA from INSEAD and has previously held positions leading Global functions in M&A, Corporate Finance, Digitization and Corporate Development About Jamil Hasan Jamil Hasan is a Generation X Author and experienced data intelligence technology builder with two decades of experience leading data-based teams at Fortune 100 companies, including AIG, Prudential Financial, and Ingersoll Rand. Jamil believes that skill and experience, not just age, is the most important factor required to build and lead corporate organizations. His unique story, as someone on the ground floor of the 2008 financial crisis and his role to help repay the $180 billion AIG bailout, enabled him to come face-to-face with many of the societal ills facing Generation X today and their causes. As the result of his experience, Jamil has developed a path forward for his fellow Gen Xers to restore his generation’s financial standing in society today and to rebuild the American Dream for Generation X.

In the podcast today Melanie Boylan speaks to Martina Fitzgerald of Scale Ireland about the work they do to support business owners. Martina Fitzgerald is the CEO of Scale Ireland, the independent not-for-profit organisation which represents and advocates on behalf of Ireland’s tech start-up and scale-up companies. Martina has two decades senior communications experience, including as RTÉ’s political correspondent. She is the author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed book, ‘Madam Politician: The women at the table of Irish political power’. In 2019, Martina was a Visiting Fellow at Columbia University in New York, having earlier in the year delivered communications and empowerment training to pre-university women in Laos and Washington. She is a member of Ireland’s independent National Screening Advisory Committee and a board member of Dóchas. Scale Ireland is an independent not-for-profit organisation which represents and advocates on behalf of  Ireland’s tech start-up and scale-up companies. There are currently 2000 indigenous tech start-up and scale-up companies employing 47,000  people around the country. Website; www.scaleireland.org https://twitter.com/scaleireland https://www.linkedin.com/company/scale-ireland/ https://www.facebook.com/ScaleIreland.org

A combined approach of mass testing alongside contact tracing is the most effective way to suppress the spread and impact of the coronavirus, and avoid strong restrictions being implemented, according to new research from the Institute of Smarts Systems and Artificial Intelligence at Nazarbayev University. Ronan talks to Askat Kuzdeuov a data scientist at the institute of Smarts Systems and Artificial Intelligence at Nazarbayev University about this and more. Askat talks about the research being done on COVID-19, its recent findings, the COVID-19 simulator they developed, and what it does. Askat also mentions where you can get the source code for their COVID-19 simulator, why they used data from Lecco in the Lombardy region, zero covid, contact tracing, and vaccinations. More about the institute of Smarts Systems and Artificial Intelligence at Nazarbayev University. The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as the most severe public health crisis in over a century. As of January 2021, there are more than 100 million cases and 2.1 million deaths. For informed decision making, reliable statistical data and capable simulation tools are needed. Askat Kuzdeuov and his colleagues at the Institute of Smarts Systems and Artificial Intelligence at Nazarbayev University have developed an epidemic simulator that can model the effects of random population testing and contact tracing. Their simulator models individuals as particles with the position, velocity, and epidemic status states on a 2D map and runs an SEIR epidemic model with contact tracing and testing modules.

Excellent interview by Jamil with legendary investor and bitcoin advocate Tim Draper A World Filled with Heroes Tim Draper founded Draper Associates, DFJ and the Draper Venture Network, a global network of venture capital funds. Funded Coinbase, Baidu, Tesla, Skype, SpaceX, Twitch, Hotmail, Focus Media, Robinhood, Athenahealth, Box, Cruise Automation, Carta, Planet, PTC and 15 other unicorns from early/first rounds. He is a supporter and global thoughtleader for entrepreneurs everywhere, and is a leading spokesperson for Bitcoin and decentralization, having won the Bitcoin US Marshall’s auction in 2014, invested in over 50 crypto companies, and led investments in Coinbase, Ledger, Tezos, and Bancor, among others. He is regularly featured on all major networks as a proponent for entrepreneurship, innovative governance, free markets and Bitcoin, and has received various awards and honors including the World Entrepreneurship Forum’s “Entrepreneur of the World,” and is listed as one of the top 100 most powerful people in finance by Worth Magazine, the top 20 most influential people in Crypto by CryptoWeekly, #1 most networked VC by AlwaysOn, #7 on the Forbes Midas List, member of the Global Guru 30 Startup Gurus in the world, and #48 most influential Harvard Alum. About Jamil Hasan Jamil Hasan is a Generation X Author and experienced data intelligence technology builder with two decades of experience leading data-based teams at Fortune 100 companies, including AIG, Prudential Financial, and Ingersoll Rand. Jamil believes that skill and experience, not just age, is the most important factor required to build and lead corporate organizations. His unique story, as someone on the ground floor of the 2008 financial crisis and his role to help repay the $180 billion AIG bailout, enabled him to come face-to-face with many of the societal ills facing Generation X today and their causes. As the result of his experience, Jamil has developed a path forward for his fellow Gen Xers to restore his generation’s financial standing in society today and to rebuild the American Dream for Generation X.

The global pandemic may be a wake up call to a new age, one where the value of our work and the leadership we can provide is reflected back to the improvement to the community to which we belong. One way we can succeed in building a very different future — one much more equitable — is to appreciate how interdependent we really are, how everything in our life is a series of connected systems, both big and small. And that it is within our grasp to bend their functions toward a better way. Join us this week as Theo and Bradley talk about the global launch of their new book, Beyond Good.

We talk with Oonagh McCutcheon, Communications Manager to learn more about this positive new initiative from www.weare.ie The .IE Digital Town Awards 2021 are open to towns of various sizes across Ireland. This is the first pillar of activity under .IE Digital Town which has been developed to address digital enhancement and adoption in Ireland. The .IE Digital Town Awards promote awareness, knowledge, use and understanding of digital in Ireland by its citizens, businesses and communities. It also highlights the benefits and possibilities of digital and celebrates the digital achievements of local towns, big and small. There will be 14 awards in a number of categories with a total prize fund of €100,000 in 2021. 11 of the awards will be for digital projects and in addition there will be two special Award categories – Digital Changemaker and Digital Rising Star, which will chosen by an independent judging panel. We are also delighted to announce the totally unique Digital Hero Award. This will be a person in your community who is an unsung hero, who works tirelessly on initiatives to promote the digital enhancement of the town. There will be a special prize of €3,000 for this award. Applicants will be asked to provide information on their Digital Vision and Digital Projects underway. Entry to the awards is free. Enter via this link https://www.weare.ie/about-ie-digital-town-awards/

Interesting and informative conversation with Ambassador Patricia Cortés Ortiz about the technological and biological diversity of Colombia, and also its long standing links to Ireland also. Ambassador Patricia Cortés Ortiz is Colombia’s first Resident Ambassador to Ireland since August 2018. She is career diplomat with over 25 years of experience in the international relations area in the bilateral, multilateral, and high-level management. She has held the roles of General Director of America and Coordinator for the United States and Canada at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Minister Plenipotentiary and Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Colombia in Washington D.C.; and First Secretary at the Embassy of Colombia in Venezuela. She has a master’s degree in Contemporary International Political and Economic Analysis; and is a qualified Nutritionist-Dietitian. You can visit the Embassy of Colombia in Ireland website https://irlanda.embajada.gov.co or contact them via email at eirlanda@cancilleria.gov.co. You can stay in touch with the Embassy by signing up for their monthly newsletter here.