A robot will appear before a select committee for what is
believed to be the first time when Pepper answers questions from
the Education Committee during a
session on the Fourth Industrial
Revolution and the implications for education of
developments in artificial intelligence.
Pepper is part of an international research project developing
the world’s first culturally aware robots aimed at assisting with
care for older people. The Committee will hear about her work
with students across the faculties at Middlesex University,
including a project involving teaching primary level children,
and what role increased automation and robotics might play in the
workplace and classroom of the future.
After a demonstration by Pepper, the Committee will explore with
witnesses, including those from Middlesex University, how robots
can be used to support learning, and the skills needed to adapt
to the growth in artificial intelligence and automation.
The Committee will first question a panel of experts on the
suitability of the current school curriculum, the importance of
re-skilling and lifelong learning and the effect of the Fourth
Industrial Revolution on social justice.
Witness schedule
Tuesday 16th October, Thatcher Room,
10am
Panel one:
-
Professor Rose Luckin, Professor of
Learner Centred Design, UCL Knowledge Lab, UCL Institute
of Education, University College London
-
Brian Holliday, Managing Director,
Siemens Digital Factory
-
Joysy John, Director of Education,
NESTA
 
Panel two:
-
Pepper the robot
-
Professor Martin Loomes, Pro
Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science
and Technology, Middlesex University
-
Joana Da Cunha Miranda, final
year BEng Robotics undergraduate, Middlesex
University
-
Nicholas James Fitton, final
year BSc Computer
Science undergraduate, Middlesex
University
-
Babak Jahanbani, General Manager,
Festo Didactic
