Dave O'Toole is a lecturer in computing at Newcastle College with a
degree in Business Studies. He is a rep for the University and
Colleges Union (UCU) and is treasurer of The Great Debate.
He has been an associate and enthusiastic contributor to
The Great Debate since 2000.
His interests include science, progress, the Internet and
the defence of free speech.
He is on the panel of the debate on
Limits to Freedom as part of
The Green
Phoenix debate programme
in August 2010.
Dave has convened and chaired a number of events for
The Great Debate including
Playing it Safe:
Science and the Risk Society,
March 2004 at The International Centre for Life in Newcastle;
The Great Debate:
Should we censor the Internet?,
November 2002 at Gateshead Civic Centre; and has co-organised
events including the day conference The Great Debate:
Development, Sustainability and Environmentalism, September 2003
at Newcastle Civic Centre; Evolution,
Human Nature and Autonomy, March 2001 at Newcastle University.
Dave has a number of magazine articles and reviews on the
subject of technology published and is a contributor of
articles and book reviews to The Great Debate website.
He is currently beginning a new section on Environmentalism.
Dave is treasurer for the Transport Research Group,
a London based SIG and worked with this group on
The Need for Speed a conference and book of the same name.
Dave is an experienced IT developer and consultant and
provides Internet technical support to The Great Debate in
addition to his role as treasurer.
