David Prendergast

David Prendergast is a Professor in Science, Technology & Society at Maynooth University's Faculty of Social Sciences, where he also serves as Head of the Departments of Anthropology and International Development. With a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Cambridge (2002), his career spans academic roles at Maynooth and industry leadership at Intel, focusing on technology design for aging populations.

• Research interests: Ageing, Smart Cities, Digital Health, Visual Ethnography, East Asia, Human-Centred Design
• Key projects: Global Ageing Project, Urban Living Labs in London/Dublin/San Jose, Smart Stadium with Croke Park, Autonomous Vehicles for Older Adults (SFI-funded)

His work bridges anthropology with digital innovation, particularly in East Asia contexts. Recent publications explore IoT applications in age-friendly cities, robotics in Japanese elder care, and visual ethnography for aging-in-place solutions.

Scientific recognition includes:

• CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title (2016)
• Intel Involved Global Hero Award
• Fortune 500 Hero designation
• Intel Labs Gordon E. Moore Award

As advisor to PhD graduates like Rebekah Maguire (2016) and Ciaran Walsh (2020), he leads Living Lab initiatives on air pollution monitoring and flood management systems. His Circuits of Care documentary (2021) examines human-robot interactions in Japan's aging society.