Exploring the emerging public health evidence on data centres

Over the last months, DISC researcher Adi Kuntsmaan has been collaborating with Open Data Manchester to address health and environmental impacts of AI data centres. In October 2026, DISC, Open Data Manchester, and the North West Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) held a webinar to consider the emerging public health evidence on data centres. Some of the key topics covered in the webinar were:

• key legislation frameworks and key definitions that describe data centres
• Environmental , health and economic evidence of the impact of data centres
• Sustainability of computing systems
• Future actions

Read the full report by Kirsty Styles from Open Data Manchester here https://www.opendatamanchester.org.uk/public-health-evidence-on-data-centres/

The webinar was the first in the series of events, co-organised with DISC. In November, DISC and Open Data Manchester will hold a one-day in person workshop to further explore th relations between data centres and public health. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/opendatamanchestercic/2490266