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The NeXt++ Workshop proved to be a wonderful opportunity to connect social issues with technical solutions, and to connect with peers on both the CDT and international level. The first day of presentations collectively worked to position current socio-technical issues within AI and connected society as the central focus of the event. Continue reading →

By Ellena Parsons Today’s WSI Distinguished Lecture was delivered by Professor Phil Howard of the Oxford Internet Institute, based at the University of Oxford. The overarching theme of Prof. Howards lecture was the notion of Artificial Intelligence having an influence – whether positive or negative – on politics, and the wider implications of AI influencing public opinion via social media. Prof. Continue reading →

This year’s Web Science Summer School provided a great opportunity to learn about the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI) from a diverse range of perspectives. In the usual spirit of Web Science, we were presented with a well-rounded selection of talks and workshops covering the social, technical and ethical issues surrounding AI technology. It was fantastic that these sessions came directly from some of the leading experts in the respective fields. Continue reading →

In the social sciences, I use statistical techniques to uncover data trails of human behaviour. I look for some really hidden behaviours – ones that no-one is going to admit to in a survey, like ‘Did you cheat or guess the answers in your exam?’ We use probability based measures and look at error terms to make our judgments. It doesn’t sound wildly different from the work of people who prefer to use the title ‘data scientist’. Continue reading →

Dr Matthew West has spent the majority of his working life at the petrochemical giant Royal Dutch Shell. From the early 1990s onwards he was involved in developing company standards and guidelines to support the integration of systems and processes to facilitate different parts of the multinational working efficiently and effectively together. Essentially this work involved the development of company-wide and eventually industry-wide ISO engineering standards. Continue reading →

Chira Tochia Although many of those attending the PhD symposium were from the Web Science CDT, I was still very excited to see everyones presentations as it is easy to get lost in your own work and forget how helpful it is to share ideas and watch how others present their work in its current state. Continue reading →

This week, one thing came out of the Houses of Parliament that was not Brexit related – or only slightly. Four Web Science students joined the Policy School trip to the Houses of Parliament and the Treasury to take part in a Policy Practice day. After a tour of the Houses of Parliament, Ryan Javanshir, Juljan Krause, Peter Sturgess and Clare Walsh went to a Q&A with Romsey and Southampton North MP, and Minister of State for Immigration, the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes. Continue reading →

Today, students, academics, alumni gathered together to mark the end of Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in Web Science and discuss the future of Web Science. By listening to the speeches provided by alumni, we were able to learn, not only how important it was for them to be a part of DTC programme, but also how this experience shaped their future career. Continue reading →

Exaugural lecture delivered by Professor Susan Halford, 11 February 2019 In a room that was too small for the purpose, because there was standing room only for the academic colleagues, past and current students who came together for Susan Halford’s ex-augural lecture. Susan has left Southampton to be Professor of Sociology at the University of Bristol and it soon became clear that the room was, in fact, full of her friends. Continue reading →