Privacy-preserving record linkage workshop

ADR Scotland are delivering a free two-day ADR UK workshop on privacy-preserving record linkage, in Edinburgh on 3-4 June 2025.

Register now

Record linkage is the process of identifying records that refer to the same real-world entities (often individuals) across two or more databases. The main aspect that makes record linkage challenging is the lack of unique entity identifiers (such as NHS numbers) available in all the databases to be linked. Therefore, the personal details of individuals, such as their names, addresses, and dates of birth, are used to compare and link records.

Such an approach will, however, be challenged by data quality and privacy regulations. To overcome the second challenge, privacy-preserving record linkage has seen increasing interest across a variety of domains in the past three decades.

Workshop details

This free in-person workshop will run over two days; attendees will have the option to attend either Day 1, or Day 2 or both days. Participants will learn about the concepts, methods, and challenges of privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL), and hear from experts in the domain about state-of-the-art research, practical real-world applications of PPRL, as well as future directions.

The first day will have four tutorial style presentations, focusing on the general concepts of the PPRL process, describing key PPRL protocols and techniques, and highlighting the limitations and vulnerabilities of existing PPRL methods. These presentations will be given by Prof Peter Christen and Prof Rainer Schnell.

On the second day, delegates will be asked to choose either Stream 1 or Stream 2:

• Stream 1, will include practical sessions where participants will be able to work with simple Python-based PPRL programs (provided to participants) to explore PPRL methods using small publicly available example databases.
• Or they can select Stream 2, where there will be a mix of presentations by researchers and practitioners from organisations who are employing PPRL methods. Details of speakers will be added soon, so far confirmed are practical talks by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and research talks by Australian National University and the University of Duisburg-Essen.

The workshop will end with a combined round table discussion and Q&A session.

Confirmed speakers

Confirmed speakers for the workshop sessions include Professor James Boyd, Dr Charini Nanayakkara and Ms Sumayya Ziyad, in addition to the keynote speakers Prof Peter Christen and Prof Rainer Schnell. Further programme details will be available shortly.

Register to secure your place now

The number of participants for both days of the workshop will be capped. Applicants for Stream 1 (Day 2) are expected to have prior experience of quantitative data analysis and preferably experience using Python (or are willing and able to gain some basic Python knowledge prior to the workshop). 

To register and book your place on the course, please complete the registration form by early-May and the Training Manager will contact you to confirm a place has been reserved for you.

Event details

When: 3-4 June 2025

Where: This in-person workshop will be based on-campus at the University of Edinburgh, within the recently opened Edinburgh Futures Institute. Located in central Edinburgh, it is close to Waverley Train Station and hotels are close by, including Ten Hill Place Hotel (owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh) and the University's Scott Hotel, KM Hotel and The Scholar Hotel.

Cost: Free

Registration: Please complete the registration form by early-May and the Training Manager will be in touch.

If you have any questions, please email scadr@ed.ac.uk with the header 'PPRL Workshop'.