Federico Castagna

Dr Federico Castagna serves as a Lecturer in Computer Science at Brunel University London within the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences. His academic journey spans philosophy and informatics, featuring a Ph.D. from King's College London and prior degrees from the University of Milan.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Informatics, King's College London, UK
• Master's in Philosophical Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
• Bachelor's in Philosophy, University of Milan, Italy
• Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

Castagna's research pioneers argumentation-based Explainable AI (XAI), developing frameworks like the Explanation-Question-Response (EQR) dialogue system to demystify AI decisions. His work in Computational Argumentation tackles inconsistent information handling through non-monotonic reasoning, with applications in medical AI where transparency is critical. Recent publications reveal a strategic shift toward user-centered XAI tools—particularly chatbots—that bridge formal logic with human cognition, addressing ethical gaps in black-box systems while optimizing for resource-bounded agents.

Scientific Recognition:

• Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

Castagna actively supervises PhD candidates in AI ethics, XAI methodology, and computational argumentation applications. His EPSRC-funded CONSULT project at the University of Lincoln established foundational work in argumentative explainability. As co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Online Handbook of Argumentation for AI (OHAAI), he drives community knowledge integration. Current collaborations with researchers like Sassoon, Parsons, and Sklar focus on medical-domain implementations where argumentative explanations enhance clinician trust and decision quality.