Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has made two important appointments highlighting its continued investment in digital innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the benefit of students and wider society.
Jennifer Schooling is Professor of Digital Innovation and Smart Places, while Yonghong Peng is Professor of Artificial Intelligence and the Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Professor Schooling joins ARU from the University of Cambridge, where she was Director of the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction.
Her research explores smart infrastructure and how ethical innovation can deliver the digitalisation of cities, and the use of data to deliver decarbonisation in the construction sector.
In addition to her role at ARU, Professor Schooling is a co-director of the DARe Research Hub for Decarbonised, Adaptable, climate Resilient transport for a sustainable future.
Professor Peng’s research focuses on the technological and social challenges surrounding rapidly evolving AI. He is investigating how the next generation of AI systems can empower people in a safe manner and how human intelligence can be seamlessly embedded into the evolution of AI.
He joins ARU from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), where he was Professor of Artificial Intelligence. At Manchester Metropolitan he served as the Turing Academic Liaison for the Turing University Network, and was the Head and Director of their University Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) Centre for Advanced Computational Science.
Professor Laurie Butler, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at ARU, said: “Artificial intelligence and data science is already transforming every aspect of our lives. Through these strategic appointments, we are looking to help harness technology and data to create smarter cities, places and communities.
“ARU is committed to working in partnership with civic and third sector partners to address some of the complex challenges of the 21st century. Whether it is improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion, increasing flood resilience or developing digital skills, our expertise aims to support digital transformation for the benefit of citizens’ lives, the economy, and the environment.”
