Paul Dourish

Paul Dourish is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), holding the Steckler Endowed Chair in Information and Computer Sciences. He also serves as an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne. His research integrates anthropology, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and cultural studies to examine how digital practices emerge and evolve in societal contexts. He directs the Steckler Center for Responsible, Ethical, and Accessible Technology (CREATE).

His work explores 'data imaginaries'—how data and technologies are perceived culturally, including their roles in governance, organizational practices, and future projections. Methodologically, he employs ethnography to study human experiences with technology. Notable contributions include studies on ubiquitous computing, design ethics, and the materialities of information.

Awarded ACM SIGCHI's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, Dourish is a Fellow of AAAS, ACM, and BCS. His teaching spans courses on HCI, qualitative research methods, and digital media studies. He advises numerous students and has contributed to projects like the Anshimi safety application and the Data Ethnographies Lab.