Shaun Williams

Shaun Williams is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (ESRC) in the Department of Geography & Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University. His research focuses on the intersection of datafication, cycling policy, and mobility justice, with a particular emphasis on the use of fitness app data (like Strava Metro) in transport planning.

Williams' research interests span cycling policy, mobility justice, and the social implications of big data in transportation. He critically examines how data generated by fitness apps influences policy decisions, often highlighting issues of representation and equity. His work synthesizes theories from mobility studies, critical data studies, and public policy to advocate for more inclusive cycling infrastructure.

His recent publications analyze the tensions between subjectivity and technical precision in active travel audits and the social justice implications of Strava Metro data. These works underscore the need for ethical considerations in data-driven transport planning to avoid exacerbating existing social inequalities.

Scientific Awards:

• ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023-2025)

Williams is currently leading an externally funded project titled "Datafication of cycling: tensions between cycling policy and mobility justice" (ESRC, £119,556), in collaboration with Professor Peter Merriman. This project investigates how datafication processes impact cycling policy and mobility justice, with a focus on Strava Metro data usage by transport authorities in the UK and USA.

He is part of a research network that includes collaborations with Transport for London (TfL) and the Oregon Department of Transport (ODOT), contributing to interdisciplinary efforts in transportation and social justice.