معرفی
Shaun Lawson is a Professor of Social Computing and Head of the Department of Computer & Information Sciences at Northumbria University. He leads the £9.5M UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Citizen Centred AI and directs the University’s Peak of Research Excellence in Computerised Society and Digital Citizens. Previously, he founded the Northumbria Social Computing (NorSC) Research Group (2015) and the Lincoln Social Computing (LiSC) Research Centre (2005–2015). His work bridges computing, design, and social sciences, focusing on social media, collaborative digital services, and their societal impacts. Notable areas include mental health, activism, animal behavior, and sustainability. He has secured over £12M in grants from EPSRC, ESRC, EU, and industry, with <200 peer-reviewed publications.
Education: PhD in Mechanical Engineering (University of Surrey, 1996), BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Newcastle University, 1990).
Research interests emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to digital civics, ethical design, and participatory technologies. He is founding chair of the UK SIGCHI chapter and a member of EPSRC/ESRC Peer Review Colleges. Recent work explores AI ethics, interspecies interaction (e.g., Dog Internet projects), and digital tools for marginalized communities. His grants fund initiatives like AI for citizen empowerment and sustainable tech solutions.
Grants & Awards: Over £12M in research funding; inaugural UK Professor of Social Computing (2011). Active in policy through contributions to ethical frameworks in AI and digital services.
Labs/Teams: Leads NorSC, previously LiSC. Collaborates globally on animal-computer interaction (ACI) and digital civics. Supervises 5 doctoral students, focusing on citizen-centric AI and participatory design methodologies.
