Professor Chris Johnson, Chief Scientific Adviser in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology ( DSIT ) in conversation with Professor Elena Simperl, Director of Research, ODI
In the session, we will explore the use of AI in safety critical systems in areas such as healthcare and other public services, and technologies such as autonomous vehicles. We will discuss what is needed for building and implementing trustworthy systems in these instances, and the role of data and governance of data.
Speakers
Professor Chris Johnson, DSIT Chief Scientific Adviser
Professor Chris Johnson is the Chief Scientific Adviser in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) having taken up the role in July 2024. Prior to this, he served as Pro Vice Chancellor for Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s University, Belfast (2020-24) and Head of Computing Science in Glasgow University (2014-2020).
Chris’ research interests lie at the intersection of cyber security and the engineering of safety-critical systems, in applications where it is not possible to halt operation and analyse potential malware without creating significant safety concerns. He helped lead the Department for Transport (DfT) review of UK airports, airlines and air traffic organisations that informed the National Cybersecurity Strategy for Aviation. He set up cyber security labs for the UK Civil Nuclear Industry. He was SG Chair of the National Cyber Security Centre’s Community of Interest in Industrial Control Systems. He is a member of the National Cyber Advisory Board (NCAB) appointed to support the implementation of the UK Cyber Strategy.
His early work helped deliver a range of analysis techniques to identify lessons learned from previous failures. He subsequently served as an expert witness to the Grenfell Tower public inquiry where he helped identify recommendations to improve data and communications across the UK emergency services.
His more recent work has delivered techniques for the ethical introduction of machine learning in military systems, including safety and security requirements, on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
He has held fellowships from NASA, as well as the US Air Force and the US Navy (Office of Naval Research).
Professor Elena Simperl, Director of Research, ODI
Elena Simperl is the ODI’s Director of Research and a Professor of Computer Science at King’s College London. She is also a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a senior member of the Society for the Study of AI and Simulation of Behaviour, and a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow.
Elena’s research is in human-centric AI, exploring socio-technical questions around the management, use, and governance of data in AI applications. According to AMiner, she is in the top 100 most influential scholars in knowledge engineering of the last decade. She also features in the Women in AI 2000 ranking.
In her 15-year career, she has led 14 national and international research projects, contributing to another 26. She leads the ODI’s programme of research on data-centric AI, which studies and designs the socio-technical data infrastructure of AI models and applications. Elena chaired several conferences in artificial intelligence, social computing, and data innovation. She is the president of the Semantic Web Science Association.
Elena is passionate about ensuring that AI technologies and applications allow everyone to take advantage of their opportunities, whether that is by making AI more participatory by design, investing in novel AI literacy interventions, or paying more attention to the stewardship and governance of data in AI.
Event details
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