Information School News

Information School Senior Lecturer Dr Susan Oman has recently joined the University of Sheffield's Centre for Machine Intelligence, as their new Human-Centric AI Theme Lead. "The CMI is a strategic initiative supported by a £3.64m investment, dedicated to the transformation and acceleration of research, innovation, and teaching on and with AI", says Dr Oman. "I am really excited to be taking one of the four academic theme lead appointments in Human-Centric AI, where I will be working across the CMI and the Faculty of Social Sciences Social Research Institute to engage with these centres and networks to develop a programme of research." Susan's research investigates data, AI, evidence, policy and practice - and how they work for the publics they claim to serve. These are often in relation to specific social policy issues, like ‘well-being’ or ‘inequality’ or ‘digital’. Find out more about this news item here .

Public Voices in AI is a new project which aims to ensure that public voices are front and centre in artificial intelligence research, development and policy. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is investing £850,000 in Public Voices in AI, led by the  Digital Good Network  at the University of Sheffield. Professor Helen Kennedy, Director of the ESRC Digital Good Network, will be the project lead, with support from Dr Ros Williams, Digital Good Network Associate Director. Dr Susan Oman of The Information School leads the evidence review work package to understand how public voices are currently included in responsible AI research policy and practice. This work package will:  draw evidence together (academic, grey, other literatures) review evidence production (methods, motivations, money)  categorise and assess how public voices have been included develop an open and accessible database that is findable and reusable (according to FAIR principles ) for stakeholders acro...

  We’ve had several good news stories in the School recently, showing off the strength of our staff’s research! Lecturer Dr Mengdie Zhuang was published in the Conversation, discussing the varying degrees to which the public obeyed COVID lockdown rules Her piece, ‘Household mixing during COVID-19: our research suggests adherence to lockdowns in England declined over time’ can be read here . Lecturer Dr Susan Oman has an exhibit on Understanding Well-being Data in the Festival of the Mind The exhibit is based on her current research on well-being data, recently published as a book, and includes her recently produced videos. You can view the exhibit here . Drs Sara Vannini, Efpraxia Zamani, Caitlin Bentley and Suvodeep Mazumdar have all successfully attained Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) funding for their research projects Lecturer Dr Sara Vannini and Senior Lecturer Dr Efpraxia Zamani have received funding for their work on digital poverty with the Sheffield Mayoral Combin...

  Following the recent release of her new book Understanding Well-being Data , Information School Lecturer Dr Susan Oman will be exhibiting her research at the University’s Festival of Social Sciences , which is being held in the first week of November as part of the national ESRC Festival of Social Science. Dr Oman’s digital exhibition presents three animations on: well-being, data and understanding. She asks questions about the power and potential of well-being data to shape society, and how thinking differently about these issues could lead to a more understanding society.   Find out more here: https://player. sheffield.ac.uk/exhibits/ understanding-wellbeing-data? fbclid=IwAR3BZFpMisA- w7F04pPdtvWpRG2xWdgohl- mwQYBIjoFYTW4iM7k1YS__40

Dr Susan Oman Lecturer in Data, AI & Society Dr Susan Oman has had some of her research highlighted by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.    In partnership with Arts Council England, Dr Oman developed a new process to improve inequality measurement, including class background, in the UK cultural sector. Through funding from AHRC’s Creative Economy Engagement Fellowship scheme, Dr Oman’s research triggered the creation of a new network of arts and culture professionals working in publicly funded institutions which offers support in gathering and analysing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion related data. Read more here.