The Speakers

Professor John Murray

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) & Professor of Robotics and Autonomous Systems,

University of Huddersfield

Professor John Murray has held various leadership roles throughout his career, including Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Computer Science and BEng (Hons) Mechatronics and Robotics. He served as Associate Dean (Education) at the University of Hull, contributing to its successful curriculum transformation project that achieved TEF Gold. As Head of the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Hull and Dean of the Faculty of Business and Technology at the University of Sunderland, he led initiatives that improved student recruitment, research grant income, and league table rankings.

With expertise in programme and curriculum development across multiple educational formats, Professor Murray has chaired validation panels both in the UK and internationally and has been key in establishing Transnational Education partnerships. He focuses on enhancing student learning through technology and has research interests in Robotics, Human-Robot Interaction, and the ethical dimensions of AI. He has delivered keynote speeches globally, including at the Times Higher Education Digital Universities conference on AI in Education.

Professor David Peebles

Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Huddersfield

Professor David Peebles research focuses on the development of mathematical and computational models of cognition, in particular models of human behaviour in which knowledge, perception, motor action, and cognitive control are tightly integrated (e.g., reasoning and interacting with maps and diagrams). Much of his work is situated within the theory of the human cognitive architecture called Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational (ACT-R).

Professor Peebles work has been funded by UK Government agencies, including Ordnance Survey and the Ministry of Defence, and typically combines experimental methods from cognitive psychology, eye tracking technology, and formal modelling.

In addition to diagrammatic reasoning, he has conducted research to develop formal models of other human mental capacities, including spatial reasoning, decision making, vigilance, learning and memory, mental imagery, and object location memory.

Professor Paul Allen

Associate Dean (RIKE) & Director of the Institute of Railway Research, University of Huddersfield

Professor Paul Allen earned his Mechanical Engineering degree in 1996 and joined Manchester Metropolitan University's automotive safety systems research group. After completing a PhD in contact mechanics, he helped establish the Rail Technology Unit (RTU), which evolved into the Institute of Railway Research (IRR) at the University of Huddersfield. As assistant director, he significantly expanded the staff and budget.

As Principal Investigator for the £22 million Centre for Innovation in Rail (CIR) project, he developed the HAROLD test facility, essential for bogie dynamics and braking research. Professor Allen has created numerous jobs, partnered with SMEs, and is a Fellow of professional engineering institutes. He has secured over £10 million in research funding and authored more than 100 technical reports and 50 academic papers.

In July 2022, he became the Director of the Institute of Railway Research and, in January 2023, Associate Dean for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) within the School of Computing and Engineering.

Dr Stavros Michailos

Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Hull

Dr Stavros Michailos is a Lecturer at University of Hull and a chemical engineer by background. He holds a PhD from the University of Manchester (funded by Shell Research UK) and has post-doctoral experience at the University of Manchester, Aston University and the University of Sheffield.

He has extensive experience and expertise in process design, modelling, lifecycle and techno-economic assessments of various low carbon energy systems including carbon capture utilisation and storage, sustainable aviation fuel production technologies, biorefineries and decentralised energy solutions. He has published widely, over 40 research papers, book chapters and reports, and contributed to numerous multi-disciplinary programmes.

Professor Mauro Vallati

Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of Huddersfield

Professor Mauro Vallati is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, ACM Senior Member, ACM Distinguished speaker on AI for the UK, Full Professor at the School of Computing and Engineering of the University of Huddersfield, and Director of the Research Centre on Autonomous and Intelligent Systems.

He received his PhD in March 2012 from the University of Brescia. After his PhD, he worked at the planning group of the University of Brescia, as a postdoctoral research fellow, till September 2012. In October 2012, he moved to the University of Huddersfield, where he served as a Research Fellow till April 2016, and then as a Senior Lecturer and eventually Reader till August 2022.

His main research interests are in Artificial Intelligence Planning and Argumentation. In particular, he is interested in the application of AI Planning techniques to Urban Traffic and Mobility (this is also the topic of his Fellowship). He is also interested in the field of innovative applications of AI in Medicine.

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