Ge Tiffany Wang is an incoming Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Computer Science (starting Aug 2025), with research focusing on Human-Computer Interaction , Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence , and Usable Security & Privacy . She leads the OATS Lab (Openness, Autonomy, Trust in Supportive AI), which investigates how AI systems can better support user agency, particularly for vulnerable populations like children. Education : D.Phil. in Computer Science, University of Oxford MSc in Information Science, University College London BSc in Physics, University of Oxford Her research includes designing systems like CHAITok (for children's data control) and the KOALA Hero Toolkit (for educating families about data risks). She will complete a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford HAI (2024-2025) before joining UIUC. Her work bridges technical design with ethical considerations, emphasizing child development and algorithmic accountability. Scientific Contributions : 15 most recent articles focus on decentralized social media, AI ethics for children, and data autonomy tools Key trends: algorithmic transparency, child-centered AI, and family data literacy
Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt is Principal of Jesus College Oxford and Professor of Computing Science at the University of Oxford. He is Chairman and Co-founder of the Open Data Institute which he established with Sir Tim Berners-Lee. His career spans multiple prestigious institutions including the University of Southampton and University of Nottingham, where he held leadership roles in AI research. He has served in significant government advisory positions including as Information Advisor to the UK Prime Minister and member of the Public Sector Transparency Board. Nigel Shadbolt earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Newcastle (1st Class Honours, 1978) followed by a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh. His academic journey includes positions as the Allan Standen Professor of Intelligent Systems at Nottingham and leadership of the Web and Internet Science Group at Southampton before joining Oxford. Shadbolt's research spans the interdisciplinary field of Web Science, which he helped originate, focusing on human-centered AI, social machines, open data, and ethical considerations in technology. His work examines how humans and computers integrate at web scale to create novel applications, with recent emphasis on children's digital autonomy and privacy. He has published over 500 articles exploring topics from cognitive psychology to computational neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence to the Semantic Web. His notable contributions include the development of data.gov.uk and leadership in establishing Oxford's Institute of Ethics in AI. His 2018 book 'The Digital Ape: how to live (in peace) with smart machines' has been described as a 'landmark book' in the field. Knighted in 2013 for services to science and engineering Fellow of The Royal Society (FRS) Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS) Technology Pioneer status by the Davos World Economic Forum UK national BT Flagship IT Award As an advisor, Shadbolt has supervised numerous PhD students who have gone on to positions at Google DeepMind, the World Bank, and other prestigious institutions. His research has been supported by multiple grants including SOCIAM, KOALA, and ReTiPS projects. He co-founded Garlik Ltd, which was acquired by Experian, demonstrating his commitment to translating research into practical applications that benefit society. Shadbolt leads the Web and Internet Science research group at Oxford, focusing on social machines - applications that succeed at web scale by integrating humans and computers in novel ways. His work on the KOALA Hero Toolkit and CHAITok system addresses critical challenges in children's data autonomy on social media platforms, reflecting his commitment to ethical technology design.
Dr Ysabel Gerrard is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and Society at the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield. Her work bridges digital sociology, gender studies, and platform governance, with a focus on youth experiences, content moderation, and ethical research practices. Education: BA (Hons), MA, PhD (University of Leeds) Research interests include: Young people’s social media experiences and content policies Digital identities, particularly gendered representations Feminist interventions in content moderation and algorithmic governance Ethical challenges in social media research Recent research examines the societal impact of social media design, reflected in her forthcoming book The Platform Generation and collaborations on Instagram’s mental health moderation, anonymous apps, and feminist critiques of platform labor. She contributes to policy debates via roles like Facebook’s Suicide and Self-Injury Advisory Board and ECREA leadership. Grants include: £39,985.50 for 'Creator labour: screen production cultures and transmedia intersectionality in Yorkshire' (2021-2022) £2,627 for 'Risky-by-design: making the digital world safer for children' (2021) £6,998 for 'Secrets on social media: anonymous apps and youth perspectives' (2019-2022) Teaching modules: Digital Identities, Introduction to Digital Methods. She supervises BA, MA, and PhD students working on topics like online dating, gaming toxicity, and influencer culture. Contact: Email: y.gerrard@sheffield.ac.uk Office: The Wave, 2 Whitham Road, Sheffield S10 2AH
Dr. Saad Khan is a Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security at the Department of Computer Science, School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom. He is an active researcher and educator, supervising multiple PhD students and contributing to government-funded cybersecurity projects with Innovate UK, DCMS, and DASA. He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and serves on program committees for major conferences. His research focuses on intelligent systems for cyber security and digital forensics. Key areas include Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), access control, authentication, vulnerability assessment, anomaly detection, and image forensics. He aims to develop automated software tools that enhance digital infrastructure resilience against modern cyber threats. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying machine learning and AI to cybersecurity challenges, particularly in IoT security, zero-day attack detection, and human-centric security awareness. His work bridges technical innovation with practical implementation in real-world environments. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Dr. Khan actively supervises PhD students and contributes to research grants through collaborations with UK government agencies. He has led work in three major funded projects and regularly reviews for top-tier journals and conferences. He is a member of the Centre for Cybersecurity at the University of Huddersfield, where he collaborates on interdisciplinary research initiatives focused on secure digital transformation and intelligent defense systems.
Ekaterina Hertog is an Associate Professor of AI and Society at the University of Oxford's Oxford Internet Institute (OII) and the Institute for Ethics in AI. Her research focuses on the intersection of digital technologies and family life, exploring how AI and digital tools transform parenting, childcare, and family dynamics. She holds a DPhil and MSc in Sociology from the University of Oxford. Education: DPhil in Sociology, University of Oxford MSc in Sociology, University of Oxford Research Interests: Digital technologies in family contexts, parental control technologies, future of unpaid work, gender practices in households, and time use patterns. Her work includes studies on data-driven parenting, domestic AI automation, and societal implications of digital monitoring. Projects: DomesticAI: Explores AI's potential to transform unpaid domestic work in the UK and Japan. Research on digital technologies in childcare, including parental control apps and ethical frameworks. Awards & Media: Her work has been featured in media outlets like BBC Ideas, The Guardian, and Newsweek. She contributes to policy discussions on digital parenting and AI ethics. Advising & Grants: Supervises doctoral students on topics like digital disconnection, remote work, and AI ethics. Leads ESRC-funded projects and collaborates with international institutions like the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. Labs/Teams: Active in the OII's AI & Society research cluster and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on AI ethics and societal impacts.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)United Kingdom
Dr. Rishita Nandagiri is a feminist researcher and academic currently serving as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine at King's College London. She previously held research and teaching positions at the London School of Economics (LSE), including an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship and an LSE Fellow in Health and International Development. Her work is deeply rooted in reproductive justice, gender, and global health, with a focus on the Global South. PhD in Social Policy, London School of Economics (2019) ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, LSE Department of Methodology (2020-2021) LSE Fellow in Health and International Development (2019-2020) Research Assistant, LSE Department of Media and Communications (2018-2019) Dr. Nandagiri’s research centers on reproductive (in)justices, interrogating how power and politics shape abortion access, self-managed abortion, care trajectories, and reproductive governance. Her work is interdisciplinary, drawing on feminist theory, qualitative and participatory methods, policy analysis, and co-production with communities and organizations. She has extended her research to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on abortion and the role of lay health providers in care delivery. Her methodological interests include multi-method designs that integrate interviews, archival research, and community engagement. The 15 most recent articles reflect a strong trajectory in reproductive justice, with increasing engagement with feminist economics, carceral systems, and global policy. Themes include structural violence, legal pluralism, care ethics, and transnational advocacy. Her publications span high-impact journals in public health, social policy, gender studies, and media, indicating a broad interdisciplinary reach. Scientific awards and recognitions include: ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020-2021) LSE Class Teacher Award (2020) LSE Research Investment and Infrastructure Funds (2020) Best PhD Poster Prize, British Society for Population Studies (2018) LSE PhD Studentship (2015-2019) Dr. Nandagiri has advised on and contributed to numerous research grants, particularly those related to reproductive health, digital privacy, and pandemic response. She has collaborated with major institutions such as UNFPA, the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights, and FRIDA. She co-founded the Abortion Book Club and serves on editorial and advisory boards, including BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health and the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population’s Abortion Research panel. She also co-convenes the Development Studies Association’s Women and Development Study Group, demonstrating strong leadership in academic and advocacy networks. She is actively involved in public engagement, contributing to LSE blogs, media outlets like Women's Health Magazine UK, and platforms such as the Oxford Human Rights Hub and Harvard’s Bill of Health. Her lab and team affiliations are not explicitly named, but her collaborative projects suggest strong ties to interdisciplinary research groups focused on global health, reproductive justice, and digital rights.
Steven D. Levitt is a Professor at the University of Chicago 's Booth School of Business and director of the Becker Center on Chicago Price Theory . His work spans economics, criminology, education, and behavioral science, with a focus on empirical analysis of real-world issues. Education: BA from Harvard (1989), PhD from MIT (1994) Key Research Areas: Crime economics, educational incentives, behavioral economics, and market dynamics Scientific Awards: 2004 John Bates Clark Medal, Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People (2006) Levitt's article portfolio includes groundbreaking studies on topics like early childhood education (CogX program), abortion's impact on crime , cheating detection algorithms , and behavioral economics in education . His work often challenges conventional wisdom through unconventional data analysis. Prior research collaborations with Roland Fryer , John List , and Chad Syverson have produced influential papers on racial disparities , real estate markets , and juvenile crime . His NBER working papers demonstrate consistent methodological rigor and innovation.
Dr. Kathryn Lester is an Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology at the University of Sussex's School of Psychology. She leads internationally recognized research on childhood anxiety, focusing on intergenerational transmission, cognitive biases, and school mental health interventions. Her work includes developing evidence-based programs for emotionally-based school avoidance and evaluating whole-school approaches to mental health. She holds leadership roles in Sussex’s senior management team, including Subject Group Lead for Developmental Psychology and Deputy Director for Postgraduate Research. She co-leads the Sussex Foundation Partnership Trust School Mental Health Research Team Clinic and has secured funding from the National Institute for Health Research, ESRC, and The National Lottery Community Fund. Her academic journey includes a D.Phil. in Psychiatry from the University of Oxford (2008) and postdoctoral research at the University of Sussex and King’s College London. Key research interests include anxiety prevention, school-based interventions, and the impact of parenting behaviors on child mental health. She has collaborated with organizations like the Sussex Wildlife Trust and provided consultancy for educational content development, such as children’s book series on emotions and ITV’s ‘Planet Child’ series. Her research spans mixed-methods approaches, including participatory methods with children and caregivers. Notable projects include NIHR-funded studies on digital mental health toolkits and Kavli Trust-funded interventions to reduce anxiety transmission from parents to children. She actively engages in knowledge exchange and mentoring early-career researchers.
Dr. Reuben Binns is an Associate Professor of Human Centred Computing at the University of Oxford , where he investigates intersections between computer science, law, and philosophy. His research focuses on data protection , machine learning ethics , and regulation of technology .
Netta Weinstein is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Reading and holds a Research Associate position at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) since February 2020. Her work focuses on human motivation’s role in behavior and well-being, particularly in the context of technology use. She examines self-regulation in digital contexts, caregiver regulation of youth technology use, and positive technology outcomes for vulnerable populations. Her research contributes to three key areas: online addiction, digital parenting strategies to foster cooperation and reduce aggression, and technology’s benefits for marginalized groups. Her research projects include the OII’s Programme on the Governance of Emerging Technologies, exploring legal and ethical aspects of AI, and the Trustworthiness Auditing for AI initiative, which evaluates accountability tools in healthcare and open science. Collaborations include work with Professors Ekaterina Hertog and Victoria Nash on parental control technologies’ impact on parent-teen relationships. Recent studies highlight her contributions to understanding digital detoxing’s minimal effects on well-being, advocating for cautious application of behavioral science in policy (e.g., pandemic responses), and promoting moderate screen time for children’s mental health. She emphasizes balancing child safety with autonomy through evidence-based parenting tools. Publications span interdisciplinary topics, including parental monitoring’s ethical implications and the long-term effects of digital tools on family dynamics. Her findings are disseminated through press releases, academic journals, and platforms like BBC Ideas, ensuring accessible insights for policymakers and the public.
Professor Coral Dando is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Westminster, leading research in forensic cognition and investigative interviewing. With a background as a London Police Officer, she completed a BSc (Hons) Psychology and PhD in Applied Forensic Cognition. She is a Chartered Psychologist, National Teaching Fellow, and Registered Forensic Psychologist. Her research focuses on eyewitness memory, deception detection, and cross-cultural interviewing, with a particular emphasis on improving investigative methods in security and forensic contexts. Her academic roles include teaching forensic psychology modules (e.g., detecting deception, investigative interviewing) and supervising PhD students researching topics like virtual environments in interviews and neurodivergent credibility. She has secured significant research funding from entities like the Home Office, FBI, and CPNI, totaling over £2M across projects addressing insider threats, county lines exploitation, and aviation security. Key Research Themes: Eyewitness reliability, cognitive interviewing techniques, cross-cultural persuasion, and insider threat detection. Grants: Includes a 2024 €97,000 COST grant for implementing the Mendez Principles and a 2016 $469,000 FBI-funded study on intelligence interviewing. Professor Dando’s work bridges academia and practice, training professionals from police forces, security agencies, and NGOs. She contributes to policy development and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including seminal works on the cognitive interview and WAFA (Witness-Aimed First Account) for neurodivergent individuals. Her research emphasizes ethical, context-aware methodologies to enhance justice outcomes.
Professor Merideth Gattis is a cognitive psychologist at Cardiff University's School of Psychology, specializing in how interactions between individuals and their environments influence cognition and communication. She leads research on parenting cognitions during pregnancy and infancy, developmental cascades, and the role of natural environments in social interaction. Her work bridges developmental psychology with environmental and cross-cultural studies. Education: B.A. (Psychology, Gordon College, 1985); Ph.D. (Cognitive Psychology, UCLA, 1995). Academic roles include Professor (2014–present), Reader (2011–2014), and Senior Lecturer (2007–2011) at Cardiff University. Honors include Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (2016) and completion of the Professorial Leadership Programme (2022). Research focuses on developmental cognition, parent-infant interactions, and environmental influences. Key projects include the Baby Care Questionnaire (BCQ) to measure parenting beliefs, studies on preterm birth effects, and collaborations with organizations like the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to evaluate nature-based interventions. Her work emphasizes innovative methods like remote research tools and longitudinal studies. Teaching includes research design and methods at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a focus on developmental psychology and mixed methodologies. Supervises PhD students on topics like parenting knowledge, pro-environmental behavior shifts, and sensorimotor patterns in parent-child interaction. Grants and collaborations involve European Research Council (ERC) funding and partnerships with institutions globally. Active in academic service as a reviewer for major journals and committees including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Peer Review College.
Çağlar Akçay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Life Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He holds a PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of Washington, alongside an MA in Cognition and Perception and a BS in Biology and Psychology from Middle East Technical University. His research focuses on behavioral ecology, particularly the evolution of animal communication and social cognition in songbirds. He investigates how animals adapt to anthropogenic environments, including effects of urbanization on signaling and aggression. Key research areas include animal communication systems, social interactions mediated by vocal signals, and the impact of environmental changes on behavior. He leads the Bird Lab, studying the interplay between communication and social behavior in birds, with projects on Darwin’s finches and song sparrow territorial dynamics. His work emphasizes field studies combined with experimental approaches, such as acoustic manipulations and observational tracking. Member of the Behavioral Ecology Research Group Recipient of Turkish Science Academy Early Career Fellowship (2019-2021) Teaching responsibilities include BSc programs in Animal Behaviour and Zoology, and an MSc in Animal Behaviour Applications for Conservation Recent publications highlight topics like survival processing effects in memory, avian behavioral plasticity in urban settings, and the role of acoustic signals in territorial disputes. His interdisciplinary work bridges ecology, cognition, and conservation, with a focus on translating findings into wildlife management strategies.
Dr. Amanda Ferguson is a Programme Leader at the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (MRC CBU) at the University of Cambridge . Her research focuses on understanding cognitive and behavioral mechanisms in digital environments, particularly social media's impact on mental health and decision-making processes. Key areas: Empathy avoidance, reinforcement learning, digital parenting, and mindfulness-based interventions. Recent work: Investigates how adolescents adapt to digital environments and the cognitive costs associated with empathy. Notable contributions: Development of the Empathy Selection Task for behavioral assessment, validation of digital parenting scales, and exploration of open science challenges in educational technology. Her publications reflect interdisciplinary collaborations bridging psychology, neuroscience, and technology.
Professor Julian Savulescu serves as the Uehiro Professor of Practical Ethics and Director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, where he is also a Fellow of St Cross College within the Faculty of Philosophy. His career centers on resolving complex ethical dilemmas emerging from scientific and medical advancements, particularly in human enhancement technologies and reproductive medicine. Savulescu's research spans practical ethics, medical ethics, and bioethics with specialized focus on genetic enhancement, neuroethics, reproductive ethics, and research ethics. His expertise includes predictive genetic testing, cloning, performance-enhancing drugs, global health risks, human dignity frameworks, abortion ethics, and stem cell research controversies, often examining the tension between individual autonomy and societal implications. His 2017 publications reveal concentrated neuroethical inquiry, analyzing moral implications of cognitive enhancement through neuroscience, ethical access to experimental treatments in pediatric crises like the Charlie Gard case, and methodological ethics in surgical placebo trials for severe psychiatric conditions. These works demonstrate his commitment to resolving practical ethical conflicts in cutting-edge medical interventions. While no specific awards are documented, Savulescu maintains extensive global media engagement as an ethics commentator, addressing topics from male pregnancy possibilities to comparative societal debates on marriage equality versus assisted dying. His leadership in major research initiatives spans geoengineering ethics and vaccine distribution frameworks. The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics operates as his primary research hub, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among philosophers, physicians, and scientists to address urgent moral questions arising from technological progress in medicine and science.
