Peter Edwards

Peter Edwards is a Professor and the current Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement at the University of Aberdeen, where he has been a faculty member in Computing Science since 1991. He also served as Head of the School of Natural & Computing Sciences (2018–2021), Head of Computing Science (2002–2005), and held leadership roles in graduate education and university governance.

• PhD in Computational Chemistry, University of Leeds, 1990

His research centers on intelligent information infrastructures, with a focus on provenance, transparency, trust, and accountability in systems involving the semantic web, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI. His work has strong applications in smart cities, agri-food sustainability, transport, logistics, and healthcare. He has led major interdisciplinary projects such as the PolicyGrid and dot.rural research hubs, securing over £20M in research funding.

His recent publications reflect a growing emphasis on AI-enabled sustainable systems, particularly in agri-food, where he explores federated learning, blockchain, knowledge graphs, and transparency toolkits to enhance accountability and environmental impact. These works demonstrate a consistent trend toward responsible, auditable, and human-centered intelligent systems.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• PhD CITP (Chartered IT Professional)
• FBCS (Fellow of the British Computer Society)
• FIET (Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology)
• FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts)

Professor Edwards has supervised numerous PhD students and led significant research grants from EPSRC, ESRC, Innovate UK, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Food Standards Scotland. He has also contributed to major initiatives in digital strategy, innovation, and regional economic development at the University of Aberdeen. He is actively involved in university-wide committees related to digital transformation, entrepreneurship, estates, and sustainability. He leads the Enhancing Agri-Food Transparent Sustainability (EATS) project and previously directed the Realising Accountable Intelligent Systems (RAInS) and Trusted Things programs.

He is affiliated with research teams focused on semantic technologies, IoT governance, and accountable AI, including collaborations with Aberdeen, Dundee, SRUC, and Nottingham. His lab and project groups develop tools for data transparency, auditability, and policy support in complex socio-technical systems.