Projects

We propose to explore one component of the DEE, by developing methods to automate the processes involved in a literature review – in particular to support meta-analysis by using computer science (CS) tools such as natural language processing, deep learning and AI. We will use workshops to bring together expertise in CS and social science (SS) and will establish a network of interested researchers. See more at: Firing up the Epistemological Engine – Durham University

We’re proud to announce that we have been named among the first-ever successful applicants to The Alan Turing Institute’s Network Development Awards, in recognition of our proven research excellence, led by Professor Alexandra I. Cristea from the Department of Computer Science, with co-I Professor Brian Castellani, Director of the Durham Research Methods Centre, Durham@ATI.

Durham@ATI (2022) will enable us to significantly build on our expertise in Data Science, AI, and benefit from active involvement with the Alan Turing Institute (ATI).

Empowering women in science through mentoring and exchanging experiences (2021-22) (UK-Brazil Gender Equality Partnership funded by the British Council) (2021-22) led by Professor Alexandra I. Cristea.

Weizman Institute funded JANET (Joint Lab in Learning Analytics for Personalised Science Teaching) project (2018-2023), led by  Professor Alexandra I. Cristea

EPSRC funded Research Project (2021-2024), led by  Dr Nelly Bencomo

Twenty20Insight website –  EPSRC web link

As digital technology permeates every area of modern life, we risk becoming over-dependent on complex systems that operate in an opaque way, creating a risk that they exhibit emergent properties that adversely affect their users or their wider environment. This is particularly true as developers increasingly rely on AI or ML techniques as a means to define system behaviour when the problem space is too complex or poorly understood for human developers to explicitly specify that behaviour. We are tackling incompletely understood problems by developing systems whose behaviour and wider impact are by necessity also incompletely understood. This trend, which is largely enabled by an abundance of data harvested from (e.g.) mobile devices, sensors and social media, is radically changing how systems are developed and how they are used. We need a new approach to software engineering that:

• places greater emphasis on making explicit the risks of unintended behaviour for innovative new software products either through limitations on our understanding of the envisioned product’s behaviour or through misuse, and
• actively supports explainability of the exposed behaviour by the running system.

Twenty20Insight is an interdisciplinary project bringing together academic experts in Software Engineering (SE), RE, Design Thinking and ML to help system stakeholders and developers understand and reason about the impact of intelligent systems on the world in which they operate.

Our Fast Track Skills Bootcamp (2021-22) in Data is a free 12 week fully online training programme developed in collaboration with industry to equip you with the skills you need to apply for an entry level role, apprenticeship or internship or apply data engineering skills to your own business, led by Professor Sue Black and  Professor Alexandra I. Cristea.

Our Skills Bootcamp (2021-22) in software development is a free 14 week online training programme developed in collaboration with industry to equip you with the skills you need to apply for an entry level role, apprenticeship or internship,, led by Professor Sue Black and  Professor Alexandra I. Cristea.

Our Skills Bootcamp (2021-22) in data is a free 14 week online training programme developed in collaboration with industry to equip you with the skills you need to apply for an entry level role, apprenticeship or internship, led by Professor Sue Black and  Professor Alexandra I. Cristea.