Oliver Duke-Williams

Oliver Duke-Williams is Professor of Population Information in the Department of Information Studies at University College London (UCL), where he also serves as Programme Director for the MA/MSc Digital Humanities programmes and Graduate Tutor. His academic appointments include Professor of Population Information (2023-present), Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Digital Information Studies (2015-2023), and Lecturer in Digital Information Studies (2011-2015).

His educational background includes a Doctorate, Masters, and First Degree in Geography from the University of Leeds, with specialization in Geographic Information Systems.

Duke-Williams' research focuses on census methodology and population data, with particular expertise in UK census systems, disclosure control issues, migration patterns, and geospatial data analysis. His work bridges demographic research with digital humanities, examining how population data can be made accessible while maintaining privacy standards. He has made significant contributions to understanding internal migration within the UK, census data accessibility, and the application of longitudinal studies for population research.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in census methodology, population geography, and data accessibility issues. His work increasingly addresses contemporary challenges including pandemic impacts on population mobility, LGBTQ+ data collection, and the development of new deprivation indices for urban health assessment. His research demonstrates a consistent focus on practical applications of demographic data for policy and academic research.

Duke-Williams serves as Census Service Director at the UK Data Service and is a senior member of the Centre for Longitudinal Study Information and User Support (CeLSIUS), which facilitates access to the ONS Longitudinal Study. Since 2018, he has been a member of the National Statistician's Methodological Assurance Review Panel (MARP), providing guidance on the implementation of the 2021 Census and future population statistics. He has also served on the ESRC Peer Review College since 2010 and as an editor for the International Journal of Population Research since 2010.

His teaching activities include leading the MA/MSc Digital Humanities programme and teaching modules on Data Visualisation and GIS, and Introduction to Programming within UCL's Department of Information Studies.