And as part of reflecting on many years working in creative technologies, I have shared a presentation I gave to a recent careers day at a local college in North West reflecting on my career to date, the people I work with, the work we do and also sharing opportunities / links for resources to help young people. Skills: #digitalinnovation, creative technologies, #researchanddevelopment, data science, #design #datascience publicservice, softwareengineering, productmanagement,machinelearning Impact: #Productdesign usercentreddesign #userresearch policy regulation #technology #regionaldevelopment Themes: AI, entertainment, mediadigital ethics, responsibleinnovation, publicvalues, #industryinnovation, data ethics, careers, apprentices

1. Working inTechnology, Media and
Research
Dr Adrian Woolard
Head of Applied Research
BBC Research & Development
@adew @bbcrd

2. 1. Anything that is in the world when
you’re born is normal and ordinary and
is just a natural part of the way the
world works.
Douglas Adams

3. 2. Anything that's invented between
when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is
new and exciting and revolutionary
and you can probably get a career in it.
Douglas Adams

4. 3. Anything invented after you're
thirty-five is against the natural order
of things.
Douglas Adams

5. Introduce yourself and
explain what your job role
entails.

6. Future Media & Technology
Both
©1979
Usborne
Books
written
by
Kenneth
Gatland
and
David
Jefferis.

7. 2004
1994
2014
2009
1999
2019
1989
PhD –Animatronics & Jim Henson’s
Games Company – mo’cap / 3D animation
Travel the globe
Motion Capture expert – Film, Games
BT Millennium Dome – Avatars – project mgmt
BBC Imagineering – multi-project mgmt. (games,
animation)
BBC Innovation – Consultant (web, iTV, mobile)
FXT – Group Head
Participate – UKTI collab project lead
MediaCity Lab Build – operations mgmt
UX research – research lead
Connected Studio - Innovation Head
https://www.businessinsider.com/most-important-inventions-of-last-30-years-internet-
35+ years…
Internet
Machine Learning / AI 2014
WWW
Digital TV
Photoshop
Haptics
Quantum Computing
Cloud computing
Robots
AR
VR
GPS
Cloning
Email/ texting
Speech software / smart speakers
eReaders 2007
Self driving cars 2012
Bitcoin
iPhone 2007
Digital cameras
Drones
Hybrid cars 1997
Google search 1997
YouTube 2005
Facebook 2004
DVD 1998
ISS 1998
MP3 players
Google maps
iTunes
Flat screens
XBOX360 / PS3 / Wii 2005
Mobile broadband
Streaming video
Netflix 1997
Paypal
iMac

8. 1. Electronic Engineering degree

9. 2. PhD in Animatronics

10. 3a. Jim Henson’s

11. 3b. 3D Games

12. 4.Travel

13. 5a. Industry Specialist

14. 5b. BBC

15. 6. MediaCityUK

16. Now. BBC R&D

17. In your field, what are the
biggest challenges?
Can these challenges be
overcome?

18. 1.The internet

19. 2. AI

20. 3. Future Experiences

21. 4. Data Economy

22. 5. Sustainability

23. What excites you the most in
your field?
What are the best bits of your
role?

25. Designer
Product manager
Software
engineer
-full stack
Data scientist
Media Psychologist/
User researcher
Project Manager
Software engineer
Apps & web
Data Engineer

27. Testing
innovation in
the real world
Helping design
new tech
Collaborating with
the industry
Trials & events
R&D
technology
transfer
Stimulate
the creative
economy
Build
communities
of practice
Facilitating the
uptake of new
innovation

30. Future Media & Technology
Both
©1979
Usborne
Books
written
by
Kenneth
Gatland
and
David
Jefferis.

31. What would I tell
myself 37 years ago
aged 17?

32. Asked the lab for advice…
• Photo of lab..
My colleagues…

33. Do everything, you may think you know what path to
go down but be multi skilled, the world changes and
a broad background helps you change with it
‘Create your own opportunities; put yourself out
there. The worst that can happen is you receive a
“no”
Talk to people about what you want / what you are
looking for. It's surprising how many opportunities
come your way when you’ve primed people to look
for them for you.

34. Also, one of the things a good friend said to me one night when I
was having one of those darker moments:
Me: I just wish someone could tell me that it would all be alright,
then I could stop worrying about all this stuff and get on and
enjoy my life.
My good friend: XXX, it’s all going to be alright. Do you know
what? They were right. It always is!
3 things that will lead you into a career – Money, People and
Passion – you should have at least 2 out of 3 of those but never go
for anything that just has 1 – it just doesn’t work.
Things will change and you can change your career too. nothing is
set for life. try/experiment with as many skills as possible to help
with this. Don’t box yourself in to a particular role. there are many
emerging roles within technology that no-one has done and a mix

35. Use the experiences you have to figure out what drives you
and work for that
Trust your judgment when people seem toxic- working with
them will destroy you, & the signs are usually there right at
the start.
To 17 year old XXX in 1999…. Always stay curious and even if
a there’s a part of your early career which isn’t living up to
your expectations, keep an eye on the lessons you’re learning,
so you feel resilient and ready for make a better move in the
near future.….and always come home before midnight.
Nothing good ever happens after midnight.
''Be open, say yes and have an experimental attitude to life -
it's better to regret things you did than didn't do.

36. How did you get into your job?
What qualifications / grades / work
experience / skills are important? Can
students find a job like yours locally?
In your opinion, do you need to study
specific subjects for A-level / or other
qualifications?

37. Designer
Product manager
Software
engineer
-full stack
Data scientist
Media Psychologist/
User researcher
Project Manager
Software engineer
Apps & web
Data Engineer

38. Art & Design
French &
Economics;
Master in
interactive
design
Computer science
Politics &
International studies;
Masters in Machine
Learning
Maths & Electronics
Psychology
Economics &
Sociology;
Master in Media
Production
Physics;
PhD in Computer
vision

39. “On seeing a job description,
A woman will apply only if she meets
100% of the requirements.
A man will apply if he meets only
10%”.
BBC Women in Science &
Technology Champion

40. https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers

41. BBC opportunities
• Advert for jobs / opportunities
https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/trainee-schemes-and-apprenticeships/

44. BBC opportunities
• Advert for jobs / opportunities
https://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/search

45. BBC opportunities
• Advert for jobs / opportunities

48. Thanks & any questions?
bbc.co.uk/careers
bbc.co.uk/rd (BBC R&D) @bbcrd
bbc.co.uk/taster (BBCTaster) @bbctaster
linkedin.com/in/adrianwoolard @adew
schoolofdigitalarts.mmu.ac.uk