In the summer of 2020, algorithms hit the headlines when students in England, Northern Ireland and Wales were assigned A-level grades determined by an algorithm. Days later, the algorithm was described as ‘mutant’ by the prime minister. In this ‘How science works’ we will examine the use of algorithms in chemistry and identify some of the questions we need to ask about their design and use. This is important, given their growing role in everyday life: from determining which advertisements and social media posts appear on our screens, to determining the outcome of job interviews, or which healthcare treatments are appropriate, and who and where is policed.
What is an algorithm?
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
