The University of Glasgow has been named among the first-ever successful applicants to The Alan Turing Institute’s Network Development Awards.
 
The University is one of 24 British universities to benefit from the awards, presented by The Alan Turing Institute (ATI), the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.
 
The award recognises the University’s commitment to collaborative and creative research in data science and artificial intelligence. Professor Ana Basiri will take on the role of Turing Network Development Lead, aiming to enhance the University’s work through active involvement with the Institute’s thriving network and its its diverse community of partners.
Building upon the University’s Research Strategy 2020-2025, and guided by  the UK Government’s and Scotland’s AI strategies, Professor Basiri and colleagues will aim to cultivate and promote collaborative, creative, impactful and ethical research in AI to tackle grand challenges, and consolidate the University as a leading institution in data science and AI.
 
To achieve those goals, they will:

  • Initiate or expand collaborations between the University of Glasgow’s researchers, across all colleges and ATI programmes to create an engaged and diverse community working at all career stages in data science and AI research and innovation.
  • Map the expertise and strengths at ATI and the University of Glasgow in each of the priority areas and those considered of national strategic importance in data science and AI which are not yet covered by either institution.
  • Identify and establish gaps and overlaps in the University’s research with ATI’s priority areas and areas of interest to build capacity and target opportunities for future collaborations.
  • Building upon current collaborations with The Data Lab and The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA) network, Professor Basiri will host activities and initiatives that are open to the wider data science and AI research and innovation community across Scotland. 
  • Design plans for how the network will become sustainable for the future.

 Professor Chris Pearce, the University of Glasgow’s Vice Principal for Research, said: “The University of Glasgow is delighted to receive this Turing Network Development Award led by Professor Ana Basiri and excited by the opportunities it provides for closer interaction with the Alan Turing Institute and its wider network. This grant reflects the importance we place on ethical data science and AI as critical enablers for both curiosity-driven and challenge-oriented research and innovation, and positive impact for society.”
 
Professor Ana Basiri, a Professor of Geospatial Data Science and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, said: “I am delighted to become the University of Glasgow’s Turing Network Development Lead and facilitate the collaboration between the Turing and University of Glasgow. This award allows us to work together to do world-changing, impactful, and ethical research in data science and AI to tackle grand challenges and build a better future for all.”
 
Adrian Smith, director of The Alan Turning Institute, said: “The awards reflect the demand across a range of sectors to work with the Institute. Data science and AI doesn’t stand still, and so we look forward to working together with this network of universities; exploring new ways to grow the UK’s dynamic research and innovation landscape.”