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Delay is not Delilah*: My Placement with Digital Catapult

post by Favour Borokini (2022 cohort)

I officially began my placement with Digital Catapult, or DC, as rather affectionately I think, it is referred to by Digital Catapult staff and me, eventually, now, in April 2023. Although the Horizon CDT Placement is meant to take place over the course of three months, there is quite a lot of flexibility regarding its duration and structure. In my case, my key contact at my Industry Partner, Dr Aki Jaarvinen, was of the view that my research would greatly benefit from a two-part placement since I was so early in my research. I would spend a month visiting DC offices in London between May to June 2023, familiarising myself with the DC team and their work, especially the Immersive team and then, as my research progressed, return in December through March 2024 to complete the rest of the placement having learnt in the first part, how best suited DC would be to support my research and give me the opportunity to learn what life in the industry was like. 

My PhD with the Horizon CDT wasn’t my first time engaging with DC though. Back when I was in Nigeria and working in tech policy research, I had come across a LinkedIn vacancy for a Responsible AI Ethics Officer position at the organisation that I was highly interested in and tried to apply for and in a bid to learn more about the role and DC, I got in touch with Cecilia Nunn, a member of the DC AI Ethics team. Unfortunately, due to certain visa restrictions, I was ineligible for the position – visa restrictions being a rather remarkably persistent thorn in my flesh, ever since I began to work in international tech policy research. 

When some months after this interaction, Andrea confirmed to me over Teams, while I wondered if it was really happening, with my primary supervisor, that she would be issuing my Letter of Acceptance, I perhaps misunderstood what she meant about the industry partner as I interpreted something she said to mean that my admission was contingent on finding an industry partner to support my research. 

I made a long list of potential industry partners, organisations working in VR or technology policy and similarly related spaces and sent lots of cold emails. Some people responded, usually positively but the vast majority did not. One of the latter was Digital Catapult, or so I thought. What had happened was that Cecilia forwarded my email to Aki, who as a technologist is involved with the Immersive Lab activities and who, I suppose found my research interesting enough at the time and emailed me, and the rest is history. Some other visa application issues meant that I wouldn’t actually meet Aki in person or visit Digital Catapult till April the following year.  

Beginning the Placement 

When I first visited DC, I was struck by quite a number of things. There was the view, of course, through which one could watch Londoners milling ant-like between DC and the towering buildings on one side and the architectural marvel that was the British Library on the other. The offices themselves were quite airy and brightly lit, which I am fairly certain in no small way contributed to the overall friendliness of the team as I mentioned to Dr Oliver Butler, my primary supervisor, DC felt like a great place to work. This feeling would come to be validated several times during my placement, as I observed how tightly-knit and warm the Immersive Lab team and other teams interacted amongst themselves and with me. 

During the first part of my placement, I was introduced to the team including Kerwyn Dyte, the Immersive Lab Manager, Rachel Thuo, a Junior Technologist with the Immersive Team, and Jessica Driscoll, the DC’s Director of Immersive and participated in a number of activities at the lab that got me thinking about some of the ways immersive technologies can remarkably transform our lives. Some of my ideas were admittedly, rather comical(ly dystopian) – plastic surgeons for avatars/digital twins for instance, mind uploading for exercise purposes (drawing from former Horizon CDT student, Dr Angela Thornton’s research) but working with the team and merely observing their sparked my more imaginative side. Rachel and Kerwyn strongly encouraged me to watch Dark Mirror. 

Inside a room with graphic design project being displayed on a large screen

Inside a room with graphic design project being displayed on a large screen
Exploring Virtual Human Creation

DC’s position as a member of the UK Catapult network meant they interacted with a huge number of stakeholders including policymakers and stakeholders, such that by the end of the first part of the placement, it became quite apparent to us that it would be in our mutual interest for me to hold a series of workshops relying on their network and support.

When I began my research, and what perhaps prompted the introduction to Aki, my interests were specifically geared towards creating an ethics framework for virtual reality harms, however as my research progressed, I quickly realised that what I was most interested in were avatars and afrofeminist ethics concerns in their design and use. This change thankfully did not prove too challenging to my industry partner, and with their assistance and support, I successfully organised three workshops with over 20 participants in London and Bristol between December to June.

five people standing together with CDT student, Favour Borokini, in the centre
Final Placement day

Lessons Learnt

There were quite a few distinctions between the industry and academic approach. For one, academic research proceeds much slower and I sometimes had to juggle required modules within the CDT and Law school, sometimes missing a couple. Ethics approval requirements meant that I couldn’t run workshops as quickly as I hoped and I was often quite surprised at the speed the Immersive Lab team worked, often beginning and wrapping several projects seemingly at light speed. To work with the very busy people at DC, I had to strike a balance, sometimes needing to write module convenors to be excused on certain days, a skill I think every multitasker should have. I also quickly realised that note taking was very important to keep track of all that needed to be done, so I recorded my industry partner supervision meetings with my primary supervisor dutifully as well.

I was also constantly floored and humbled by the DC team’s interest in my research and their willingness to give up their time and resources and the invitations to participate in various internal and external networking and knowledge-sharing events from Jessie and Aki and occasionally team members I had never even met. It has often been observed that workplaces that refer to themselves as families often turn out to be the farthest thing from family, but somehow, despite not ever once in my hearing referring to themselves as family, DC turned out to be a really interesting place to work.

Perhaps most importantly, working with DC and DC’s network helped me re-engage with the ludic element of technology design and meet with real people across the industry who want to create pleasurable, diverse experiences. I think very often in the tech policy and responsible innovation, elements of escapism and pleasure and leisure (pleisure?) get overlooked and ignored in favour of concepts like justice and equity. But what justice without fantasy and speculation and futurism and fun? My conversations with the team and Rachel especially have motivated me to take an interest in why people love and are interested in immersive technologies, beyond simply designing an ethics toolkit for better design.

Favour and Rachel taking a selfie
With Rachel after a networking event

Aki’s definition of the metaverse as an imaginary and narrative of different types of technologies and interfaces of a futuristic type of digital interaction is probably the best, most wholesome definition of a space it is rather de jour to deride.

PS

In July, I visited DC again to return a headset I had been loaned by the Lab and spoke with Kerwyn about working with DC again as my research continues to progress. I hope the opportunity arises again. I’m really thankful to Kerwyn, Rachel, Jessie, Aki, Iulia, Nicole, Chris, and Chris, (there are two Chrises!), as well as Cecelia and Chanell, for speaking to me about and supporting my research.

* Delay is not Delilah is a humorous Nigerian perjoration of the phrase, “Delay is not denial”.

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Helpful or Harmful? The Importance of Regulating Mental Health and Well-Being Platforms in the Workplace and Beyond

coman at desk with hands on her head

post by Emma Gentry (2021 cohort) and Lucy Hitcham (2023 cohort), with commentary from Dr Aislinn Gómez-Bergin

If you have been following the news over the last six months, you will have seen that one of the UK’s largest Employee Assistance Program providers (EAPs) has been in the spotlight for having potentially violated measures that aim to protect people from harm. In an ongoing investigation, Health Assured have been accused of allowing organisational representatives to listen in on ‘confidential’ counselling calls between employees and counsellors, though the CEO denies all allegations. The BBC1,2,3 reports callers were not aware that non-authorised parties were listening in without their consent or knowledge.

Health Assured serves well-known employers in the UK, including NHS trusts, police forces, universities, and many more.

What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

EAPs typically offer a range of support services to assist employees with their mental and/or physical health. As mentioned in a CIPD report, EAPs are a popular way for employers to offer additional support to their employees in the UK. Health Assured describes the benefits of an EAP on their website:

“The purpose of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is to boost productivity and reduce staff absences…it provides people with the tools needed to get mentally healthy. It raises awareness among peers. It even prepares for returning to work more quickly.”

It is important that we pay closer attention to the wider ecosystem that may be impacting employees – especially as organisations are increasingly drawn to ‘stand-alone’ solutions.

Potential breaches of ethical frameworks

As well as unethical ‘eavesdropping’ on confidential calls, Health Assured are accused of staffing helplines with untrained staff who were prevented from speaking out on such issues. Prior to this investigation, Health Assured sold its employee assistance services under the premise that it was the only BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) approved provider in the UK. They used their BACP approval as a marketing technique to sell services to organisations. The BACP outlines an ethical framework for practicing counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK to protect clients in their care. Their key principles include:

    • Being trustworthy: honouring the trust placed in the practitioner
    • Autonomy: respect for the client’s right to be self-governing
    • Beneficence: a commitment to promoting the client’s well-being
    • Non-maleficence: a commitment to avoiding harm to the client
    • Justice: the fair and impartial treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services
    • Self-respect: fostering the practitioner’s self-knowledge, integrity and care for the self

Health Assured were held to a certain standard which they did not meet, which has resulted in a suspension of their accreditation. Until we know the outcomes and implications of this case, we can meanwhile consider: what are the key issues here, and what might the future hold for mental health and well-being applications in the UK?

Working Towards a Better Future

While perhaps the most obvious solution is regulation, this is far from straightforward. Alongside the boom in digital mental health tools, there have been increased attempts in the UK to develop regulations from bodies such as the NHS, MHRA and NICE but these are not all legally binding and leave room for grey areas.

Recently, the MHRA and NICE launched a three-year project, funded by the Wellcome Trust, into the regulation and evaluation of digital mental health tools. By working with experts across industries, they aim to comprehensively evaluate the potential risks and benefits of digital mental health technologies (DMHTs) to enable access to safe and effective tools. Part of their research has shown that the public were in favour of DMHTs but either assumed such tools were already regulated or that regulation of apps was the ‘wild west’ and did not pose much risk. Despite this, many supported regulation if this did not restrict access to DMHTs. Therefore, it is important to remember that those developing, regulating and contracting DMHTs hold a significant position of power over users and should consider their duty of care, as I have found in my research (Lucy). This includes making sure that regulation and responsible research and innovation (RRI) are not just “tick box” exercises and companies like Health Assured maintain ethical standards for their services and products.

Dr Aislinn Gómez-Bergin, Transition Assistant Professor in digital mental health, discusses the wider landscape surrounding EAPs:

“The reality is that, in the UK, there is no law requiring therapists or therapy providers to adhere to any standards or qualifications. Membership bodies that do provide a set of professional standards, such as BACP, are voluntary and so limited in what they can do when those standards are breached. You might ask, what is preventing this sector from becoming a free for all? In many cases these companies may wish to adopt principles of doing good or, as with Google, “don’t be evil”. The question then is, how do they decide and who decides what is good? In the case of Health Assured, they had voluntarily signed up to BACP accreditation (although they did not adhere to their standards) and made what proved to be a rather foolish decision to encourage more business through breaking confidentiality.

Clearly, a sustainable business model is an important consideration for employers, who pay for these services, and for users who rely on their mental health support. The problem arises from not anticipating and reflecting on the unintended consequences of their actions. The impact? Avoidable damage to their reputation from a BBC exposé and potential fines if found to have breached data protection rules.

Taking a responsible research and innovation approach when considering what is good, these unintended consequences are explored and actions are taken to mitigate or prevent them; it takes a wider perspective than what a company might be tempted to take (i.e., focusing on those paying for the service and thereby creating a disconnect between consumer and user), allows for more voices to be considered, and can help a company understand not just the socio-technical consequences but also the legal.”

On a final note

Digital mental health continues to revolutionise our world today, and we are likely to see further transformation as AI becomes more sophisticated; however, it is important that we continue to embrace the potential of technology responsibly. While EAPs have been portrayed in a negative light this year, it is important to remember that many calls are handled successfully and sensitively. Utilising a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach may be more about upholding the reputation of safe and effective services whilst re-establishing public trust in psychological services more broadly. The right support can be transformative for people and our society – we must work together to protect that.

Further resources

Responsible Research and Innovation Initiative

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Digital Good Network Summer School 2024

post by Phuong Anh (Violet) Nguyen  (2022 cohort)

Following my annual progression review in mid-June, I attended the ESRC Digital Good Network Summer School at The University of Sheffield. It was a nice event to conclude my second year.

Introduction to Digital Social Good Network and the Summer School

The Digital Good Network is a research program that is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) UKRI. It brings together scholars from several disciplines to explore the characteristics of an ideal digital society and the steps needed to achieve it. The Digital Good Network Summer School offers fully funded participation to PhD researchers, enabling them to explore a variety of theoretical, methodological, and professional development subjects related to the digital good. The program provided a revelatory experience that emphasized the significance of redirecting our attention from just dealing with digital harms to actively striving for digital benefits, guaranteeing favourable results of digital technologies for both individuals and communities. In addition to the lectures, workshops, and sprints focused on the Digital Good Topic, we also acquire valuable skills for early career researchers, including grant writing, understanding the significance of engaging with stakeholders from various sectors in a research-transforming manner and receiving insights from esteemed editors of digital society journals on writing exceptional peer-reviewed articles.

The Summer school activities

On the first day, the program commenced with introductory activities and an ice-breaker game. Then, during the Pecha Kucha session, every participant delivered a concise 2-minute presentation of their study, which was then followed by opportunities for networking and engaging in discussions on subjects of mutual interest. In the afternoon, we had an interdisciplinary reading session centred on pre-read papers. During this session, we examined how various disciplines, as represented in these papers, perceive the capabilities and constraints of technology in advancing ‘the good.’ Additionally, we explored the commonalities and disparities among these perspectives and considered how the insights gained from these disciplinary viewpoints can be applied to our own research. This was the most enjoyable aspect of my day. Afterwards, we participated in the ‘Off-key note’ panel called ‘The Good in Digital Good,’ which discussed topics such as labour, charity, creativity, global flows, harm, and power. The recording of the ‘off-key note’ panel session can be accessed via this link https://digitalgood.net/the-good-in-digital-good-an-off-key-note-session-of-the-digital-good-network-summer-school-2024/

On the second day, we examined the impact of design thinking on enhancing digital products and participated in a competition to create and develop our ideas in teams.

On the third day, we dedicated our attention to skill enhancement. We explored the essential components of a robust publication in various fields, examined techniques for conducting effective digital research, analyzed the advantages and obstacles of employing ChatGPT for evaluating academic studies, and explored creative methods for enhancing our curriculum vitae as doctoral candidates.

My experience in the Summer School

The three-day Summer School was both intensive and enlightening, packed with knowledge that broadened my understanding of various methodologies across disciplines. We also collaborated in teams to design provocative prototypes for digital good during the workshop.

Since starting my PhD at Horizon CDT, I have attended several networking events. In my first year, most of these events were centred around PhD students in Computer Science, leading to highly technical conversations. However, in my second year, as I began working within the Human Factors Research Group, the topics became more aligned with my research, resulting in more focused discussions. During the Summer School, most participants were social science researchers, particularly in psychology, which I found to be a mind-opening experience. Although we all shared a common goal of advancing digital good—particularly in areas like sustainability, equity, and resilience—the diverse perspectives and approaches from different disciplines sparked provoking, engaging and enriching debates encouraging me to reflect on my research.

Sheffield is a charming city, and I arrived early to join other participants for a day trip to the Peak District. It was wonderful how we were able to form a close-knit, friendly group in just three days together which supported each other in PhD life. Participating in summer school requires the utilization of several skills, such as presentation, debate, teamwork as well as how to make meaningful connections. I am happy with my accomplishment.

What I can take for my own

The contribution of design thinking to the Digital good and Unintended by design

Prior to proposing any novel concept or suggestion to people, it is essential to comprehend their needs. The value of design thinking in the realm of digital products is derived from its emphasis on a problem-solving strategy that is oriented around the needs and experiences of humans. Design thinking prioritizes the needs, behaviours, and experiences of individuals, allowing for the creation of digital solutions that are both inventive and ethical. These solutions are also inclusive and capable of addressing social concerns. This aspect is really congruent with my studies.

Nevertheless, there may be unintended or inadvertent consequences that arise from activities that the designers cannot anticipate or acknowledge throughout their work. While conducting research on policymaking, I have recognized the significant ethical concerns around transparency and accountability in the decision-making process. It implies the necessity for a more thorough analysis of the underlying reasons behind policy choices and the results they generate.

The diverse topic in digital good and methodology to investigate a problem

How to discuss with people who have different disciplines is a skill I learned in the multiple-disciplinary research environment of CDT, which is really helpful for networking and discussion. Digital technology is embedded in almost every aspect of daily life, impacting fields as varied as healthcare, education, economics, and social justice. Because of this widespread influence, the problems and opportunities associated with digital good are complex and multifaceted. For example, during the summer school, there was a “strange” topic: is there any impact of watching cat videos on the internet on mental health”. No single discipline can fully address these challenges; instead, a multidisciplinary approach is essential. Researchers from different fields bring unique perspectives and methodologies that can complement one another, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

Open mind to join a provoking debate

During summer school, while engaging in discussions regarding various research methodologies, there were several novel methods or initiatives on which I had numerous critiques due to their lack of persuasiveness. However, what I have learned is that new things require time to develop. Criticisms should not solely focus on pointing out shortcomings, but rather offer solutions to improve them. For example, while discussing social media, we often address the impact on mental health and the trustworthiness of relationships formed through these digital platforms. However, it is important to consider that we may also develop a digital platform specifically designed for individuals to find solace and prioritize their overall well-being. By incorporating a wide range of perspectives, we can generate comprehensive and efficient solutions, guaranteeing that digital technologies are designed and implemented in manners that genuinely enhance society. By being open to learning, I will gain greater value for myself.

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Nasser Reflects on Research Visit to the DaSCI Institute in España!

post by Nasser Alkhulaifi (2021 cohort)

Travelling for research is a thrilling yet nerve-wracking experience. As I set off for the Andalusian Research Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI) at the University of Granada in España, I knew I was stepping into a new world—not just geographically, but academically and culturally as well. DaSCI isn’t just any research institute; it’s an amazing collaboration between five universities in Andalusia. The institute is led by Professor Francisco Herrera, its director, who is ranked second in the world and first in Spain in Computer Science. During my visit, DaSCI achieved significant recognition by winning two prestigious awards at the World Conference on Computational Intelligence 2024 in Japan, further cementing its position as a leader in the field. Looking back, the experience exceeded all my expectations, leaving me with invaluable insights and friendships.

Figure 1: DaSCI Institute in glorious Spanish sunshine.

Why I Ended Up in the Sunshine España?

One of the main reasons for my visit was to strengthen my ongoing research collaboration with my supervisor, Professor Isaac Triguero, a member of the DaSCI Institute. Although we maintained regular communication and meetings online, nothing compares to in-person discussions and brainstorming sessions. Being physically present at the institute allowed us to dive deeper into the nuances of my second paper on developing an algorithm for automated feature engineering in energy forecasting problems, and to fine-tune my PhD thesis objectives. We worked closely to review and revise the definition of ‘automation’ in this context and to implement comparable feature engineering methods. The hands-on interaction enriched my research in ways that were better than what online meetings could offer.

Figure 2: a breath of fresh inspiration: waking up to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains on my first morning in Granada.
Figure 3: Granada’s cultural fusion: spotting 'ق' on this sign, representing the 'g' in the city's name and reflecting its rich Arabic heritage.

The People: My New Extended Research Family

You know how they say it’s not about the destination, but the journey? Well, in my case, it was all about the people I met along the way. The DaSCI Institute is a vibrant hub of AI expertise, bringing together researchers from over 15 different countries. Engaging with such a diverse group not only broadened the scope of my work but also exposed me to fresh ideas and perspectives. I attended several sessions and seminars on topics outside my immediate area of expertise, such as federated learning and computer vision, which were incredibly enlightening. One of the highlights of my visit was attending two public PhD viva defences. Even though my Spanish was not great, observing these defences gave me a better understanding of the academic rigour and the depth of research at DaSCI. What struck me most was the presence of the candidates’ families and friends, adding a warm, personal touch to what is often seen as a purely professional milestone. It made me reflect on the importance of support networks in the academic journey.

The Joy (and Challenge) of Learning Spanish!

Before my visit, I had started learning Spanish, thinking it would help me get around and connect better with the locals. I thought, “How hard can it be? I’ll just use some language apps, watch a few Spanish shows, and I’ll be chatting away in no time!” Well, I was in for a surprise. When people started talking it was nothing like what I’d heard in my language apps! Turns out the Andalusian accent (southern Spain)  is a whole different ballgame. It was like cracking a code! Sure, I was lost most of the time, but every successful interaction felt like a victory. Why say all the syllables when you can get the message across with less? The ‘s’ at the end of words? Optional! “gracias” becomes “gracia”. One memorable moment was when a colleague greeted me with a cheerful “buenas!” instead of “Buenos días.” I stood there for a second, puzzled, before realising this was just an Andalusian shortcut ( i.e., dialectal feature). Once my ears adjusted, I started to appreciate how musical and warm the accent sounded.

Cultural and Personal Growth: Beyond the Research

While my visit was primarily academic, the cultural experience of living and working in Spain was equally enriching. Adapting to a new environment, embracing the local culture, and navigating daily life in Granada added to my personal growth. These experiences broadened my worldview and contributed to my growth as a researcher. It’s hard to put into words, but this blend of professional and personal learning made the visit truly invaluable.

Figure 4: A timeless view: the majestic Alhambra Palace as seen from Mirador de San Nicolás in the heart of the Albaicin neighbourhood.

Figure 5: The splendour within: exploring the Alhambra Palace’s intricate beauty, showcasing exquisite Arabic Calligraphy in Kufic, Naskh, and Thuluth Styles from the Nasrid Dynasty of the 13th Century. I was lucky enough to be able to read the classic Arabic inscriptions and appreciate their timeless elegance.

 

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From Academia to Policy: My Experience with the UKRI Internship Scheme at the Welsh Parliament

post by Charlotte Lenton (2019 cohort)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) offer a competitive policy internship scheme for doctoral students to embed themselves in real-world policy organisations for three months. Throughout my PhD I have become increasingly interested in how to integrate policy impact into my work. In February 2023 I participated in the first ever iteration of the Get Engaged with Policy short course hosted by the Researcher Academy at the University of Nottingham. Applying to the UKRI-funded internship scheme was the logical next step for me to develop my skills in producing impactful policy-related research and gaining a better understanding of how this works in practice.

There are lots of organisations to choose from when applying to the policy internship scheme. I selected parliamentary organisations as my first choice because I wanted to be as close to the beating heart of policymaking in the UK as possible. A week after a 40-minute online interview with a panel of three policy researchers from different parliamentary organisations, I received my internship offer from Senedd Research at the Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru). Just seven weeks later I was walking through the doors of the Ty Hywel building for the first time to start my placement!

Charlotte Lenton outside the Senedd main entrance
(Picture of me outside the Senedd main entrance on my first day)

My first week

In my opinion, there’s no point in pretending to know things you don’t know. So, during the first meeting with my new line manager at Senedd Research, I decided to get the truth out in the open as soon as possible. I admitted to her that I had no idea what devolution was, and I knew very little about the role of the Welsh Parliament. Risky, I know. But in fact, laying my cards on the table in this way actually really helped with setting their expectations of what I knew (or in my case didn’t know) about policy and the parliament, as well as tailoring induction and training sessions to ensure I got the most out of the experience.

Over the course of the first week in the office, I had lots of induction and training sessions to learn about the role of Senedd Research within the Welsh Parliament. I also started meeting colleagues from the Environment and Transport research team which I was a part of, as well as colleagues from other parts of the service. I was slightly nervous about how I would be received in the team as I know they have quite a few interns coming and going throughout the year, but everyone was so lovely, friendly, and welcoming.

In addition to producing briefing papers, Senedd Research also supports parliamentary committees, writes short research articles for the website, and helps members to support their constituents with a whole range of issues. As a research assistant, I would be supporting the team with all of these tasks. In the spirit of starting as you mean to go on, I was allocated an enquiry to start some research at the end of my first day.

What’s free-range eggs got to do with anything?!

The role of a parliamentary researcher is super varied. One minute you could be preparing a briefing paper for a committee inquiry but then an urgent enquiry comes through from a Member of the Senedd (MS) that needs actioning so you’re suddenly working on something totally different.

Each team within Senedd Research specialise in particular policy areas. My PhD is related to rail transport, so it made perfect sense to be placed in the Environment and Transport team. While I spent a large proportion of my time working on a policy briefing about the Welsh rail network, I also supported the team with answering both transport and environment MS enquiries.

My first enquiry was related to marketing of free-range eggs. At the time this seemed very bizarre to me. Why would anyone be concerned about free-range eggs? Turns out there’s a lot going on with marketing regulations of free-range eggs in the EU, Scotland, and England. But not so much in Wales. Which is where concerns about competition and standards began to arise.

Fast-forward to week eight of my internship, I am sitting in the presence of members of the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee conducting a general scrutiny session of the Welsh Government Minister having contributed to the briefing paper in my new specialist subject… free-range egg regulations!! I had to condense a lot of information into a maximum of one page and also write some suggested questions the committee might like to ask the Minister in relation to this. Being in the room when Llyr Gruffydd MS asked the Minister about this issue was one of the highlights of the whole internship for me. You can even watch my suggested questions being asked in session by clicking here.

(Picture of me in the committee room during the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee General Scrutiny session in March 2024)

Getting my research on the agenda

Writing for this audience is a very important skill I developed during my time at Senedd Research. Writing in the Senedd Research ‘style’ was a particular challenge for me as sentences need to be short, direct, and to the point which is not something we do that well in academia if I’m honest. Vast quantities of information, facts, and statistics also need condensing into just one or two sentences.

From the beginning of the internship, I was encouraged by my line manager and the team leader to be proactive with seeking out topics of interest for research articles. I have research interests in transport and accessibility, so naturally I started seeking out opportunities to write about these topics.

Over the course of the twelve weeks, I managed to publish three short articles for the website as well as one long policy briefing paper which is published online and in print format. All of these have direct connections to Welsh Government policies and strategies which are helpful for Senedd members during scrutiny sessions. I am particularly proud of my article about accessible tourism in Wales as this was not necessarily on the agenda of the parliamentarians before and hadn’t really been covered in other work by the team at Senedd Research.

It’s a no-brainer if you’re interested in policy

For me, the internship has probably been the highlight of my PhD to date. Regardless of whether you’re considering a career in academia, industry, or policy I would highly recommend undertaking this internship. I learnt so many valuable skills in such a short time which will be really useful going forward.

You can read my other research articles about digital exclusion in public transport and mobility-as-a-service by clicking the links.

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Milestones And Memories: Reflecting on my First International Conference

Ellie Colegate from the 2021 Cohort reflects on her recent attendance at the British and Irish Law Education and Technology (BILETA) 39th Annual Conference held between the 17th and 19th April 2024 at Dublin City University.

post by Ellie Colegate (2021 cohort)

Attending a conference. Scary. Attending an international conference. Super scary. Attending an international conference where you are presenting your work that you’ve entered a postgraduate prize, you’ve not been to an international conference before or flown since February of 2020. Extra super scary.

I realised on my way back from the conference that this was the first time I’d done a lot of things. Of course, all conferences are different, but I thought I’d share these in case you’re attending a conference soon and need some reassurance of what to expect.

The First Time I’ve…attended an international conference.

Confession time. I did present at this conference last year with a co-authored paper. However, this is the first time I’ve joined the community in person with my own first-authored paper and travelled to another country to present. So, it’s a first milestone to reflect on.

Now I’m not a big fan of travelling on aeroplanes. It’s not the plane itself that makes me anxious, it’s the bit before, the getting to the airport on time, making sure you have your bag/s sorted for security, finding the gate etc. It just gives me a cold chill. Luckily, my colleague and friend from another university was also attending the conference so we travelled together which helped a lot.

I also just took it one step at a time, tried not to worry too much about the steps ahead, even when my boarding pass refused to scan at every automated point at the airport, I remained calm and before I knew it, we were in Dublin!

suitcase
My pastel pink suitcase was a certified way of not getting separated from my fellow travellers.
stained glass window
A stunning piece of stained glass in the building on the Dublin City University Campus where the conference was held.

Dublin was a super easy city to navigate, so once we were out of the airport and had purchased a travel card that gave us unlimited trips on public transport for the duration of our visit, the city was ours to explore. So, we went straight to the hotel to eat – travelling is exhausting and really makes you work up an appetite!

We did manage to fit in some city exploring in the evenings after panels and on the Saturday before leaving for our flight back. Something that I now will do at all conferences where I can get to see the city I went to rather than just spending two days at another university’s campus – as nice as DCU was!

a long room with giant globe
The long room at Trinty College Dublin visited as part of the Book of Kells Exhibit.
The store front of a book store
The font of the Hodges Figgis, the oldest bookstore in Dublin.

The First Time I’ve…submitted my work for a paper prize.

When the call for papers went out for this conference, so did the details of prizes for papers. I’ve never entered any of my work for a prize before, so I thought if I’m going to go in with a paper I might as well go in for it all and see what happens. The process was very straight forward, I entered my abstract via Oxford Abstracts like everyone else and then nearer the conference date and within the deadline given I sent over a copy of my full paper and informed the organisers which prize I’d like to be considered for. Then I waited. The results were revealed on the last day, last session of the conference, so plenty of time to half not think about it and half think about it!

Whilst I was unsuccessful at securing the prize on this occasion, the process of preparing the paper for submission and entering it for consideration afforded me a depth of insight to what I was presenting that I perhaps wouldn’t have had if I had just prepared slides and an abstract. The fellow attendees were really kind in their best wishes of luck when I mentioned that I was entered for the prize and asked lots of questions about my work, so despite not being successful I was still able to talk lots about my work and know that it was of value within the wide BILETA community.

The First Time I’ve…attended a conference dinner.

Questions I had before the conference dinner: What do I wear? What do I talk about? Do I talk about my work? Do I talk about everyone else’s work? How much detail do I go into? What about if I bore people? What about if I don’t know what to talk about? Can I talk about my dog? No that would be unprofessional. How professional is a conference dinner? What is for dinner? Do we all sit at a long table? Do we have allocated seats? What about if I get sat next someone I don’t know? Worse, what about if I get sat next to someone whose work I know? Do I ask them about it for my literature review? Can I do that? What about shoes?

Questions I had after dinner: where can I get more of that carrot cake?

The dessert gets an honourable mention – carrot cake and ice cream!

I was unsure about the dinner on the basis that I’d never been to one before. Turns out, it’s just like a normal dinner really, expect we had a set menu of two choices to pick from. You can sit where you like (I sat with my friend) and you don’t have to talk all about work, you can talk about other things! (I did avoid the dog chat though purely because the law and tech discussions were a bit more interesting!) The dinner gave me a great chance to talk to others in the area, our table ended up being two put together full of discussions and networking over food. I heard lots about other people’s work in the area, events they had coming up, where they had come from, it was a super wholesome discussion with like-minded people who know about similar topics and things that you do. Nothing to be scared about really!

The First Time I’ve…been recognised for my previous work (!)

This one was unexpected. As I’ve said, I attended this conference virtually last year and presented a work in progress paper, so when an attendee walked up to me and said “I remember your presentation from last year” I was a tad stunned given it’s not been published yet. After my initial shocked reaction and my excited message to my co-author that we had been remembered, I reflected on how much of a community the organisation is. It wasn’t an interrogation, it wasn’t a critique, it was a “I remember you presenting last year, it’s great to see you back.” And that was lovely.

It was also an opportunity for me to reflect on my progress in the last year and how my work has developed. Whilst the paper I was recognised for is still a work in progress, other papers and outputs are now published and been presented which felt like an age away last time I was at BILETA. I’ve learnt that if you keep going, you’ll get there with things and being recognised was a reminder for that. It also showed me that despite my own thoughts that my PhD is just me at my desk with my laptop, my work is out there and contributing which is a nice motivator going into writing my thesis up.

The First Time I’ve…met other researchers in the area whose work I am familiar.

Networking. A word that scares me to my core as I think I’m not very good at it. You can’t take a class in networking, but it turns out networking is just talking to people, and I can do that. I hadn’t made a list of people I wanted to talk to really despite it being always recommended. But I did have a rough idea of who I should probably talk to as they were either doing work interesting to me or working in a similar area to me.

So, on the coffee breaks and lunches I made a point of going up to them and introducing myself, the first couple of times it felt awkward, but I’d join conversations with others rather than marching directly up to people and sticking out my hand with a business card. The more I did it, the more conversation I had, the easier it got, and people were super kind! A few even came to my presentation after meeting me. BILETA has such a welcoming community which values its PGR members, so people are open to sitting down and having discussions with you when you’re there and connecting with you afterwards. From now on at conferences, I’m going to try and network with people more following this as it is just talking to people about your work, and we can all do that!

The First Time I’ve…sat down and thought about my trip.

It’s hard to sum up such a great trip in a blog post (if you’ve got this far, bravo!) but I think the main thing I’m taking away with me is the value of going to things in person, meeting people face to face, chatting to them and joining communities where you can. These sort of events and experiences can make what can be a lonely experience doing a PhD far from that and reminds you that you’re not just working on your own in an office somewhere and like the CDT, there are groups and organisations you can join and be a part of.

Entering a community of academics can be daunting, travelling across the world for a conference can be daunting, and presenting your work with others can also be daunting. But, as I found this year, sometimes you must go out of your comfort zone to make gains in your PhD journey. I found the BILETA community and conference to be one of great enjoyment, Dublin a stunning city, neither of which I would’ve found if I hadn’t of taken a chance on my work. To both, I’ll be back.

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Call for Participants – Everyday Online Harms Research Study

Are you worried about what your child sees online?

Third-year CDT student Ellie Colegate is looking for participants aged 12 to 20 for her study on the online harms bill and similar laws. Ellie wants to learn what young people find harmful in their online interactions.

written information looking for participants for a study

You can find out more about the project and what’s involved by clicking on: Everyday Online Harms Research Study

If you know anyone who might be interested in participating, please have them contact Ellie at psxec2@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk.

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Reflections on Redirection – Preparing a Conference Paper

Ellie Colegate from the 2021 Cohort reflects on her recent attendance at the Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference hosted by the University of Portsmouth in April 2024 and the process that led to her presentation.

SLSA logo

post by Ellie Colegate (2021 cohort)

“the course of obtaining a publication never did run smooth” – William Shakespeare…if he did a PhD or worked in a research position.

I have learned over the last few years that there is no linear process to writing a research paper. When it comes down to writing a paper and disseminating your work and ideas to the world it’s you, your notes, your findings and quite often your laptop doing battle in your mind to produce something that is understandable (we hope!) and illustrates your findings or thoughts in a cohesive way.

Writing a research paper is a highly personal experience, no matter the subject of the paper. So, when a paper is rejected or receives quite a lot of feedback, it can be disheartening and can sometimes make you question if you’ve got what it takes. However, last year I learnt that rejections aren’t always rejections; sometimes, they’re redirections.

In May 2023, WhatsApp introduced an editing window for messages that enables a sender to make changes to text that previously would have been permanent and unchangeable. Advertised as great for correcting typos—we’ve all been there—or adding extra context if you’ve missed an essential emoji, the introduction of a 15-minute window was promoted as being great if you “simply change your mind.”

As someone whose research revolves around the online harms young people experience due to online content and the legal interventions introduced to reduce these, this got me thinking. What about if someone changes a harmful message already read so that it is not harmful anymore?

So, I got to work on my paper concerning ‘Edited and Disappearing Content’ – focusing on WhatsApp as the platform offering edited content and Snapchat as the platform offering content that disappears – and how, in certain circumstances, these types of content have the potential to harm young, aged users. Utilising existing reports outlining how and why young people were harmed online in the last few years, I analysed the newly introduced laws contained within the Online Safety Act 2023 alongside the ability for users to edit their content and make such disappear to illustrate how these features could cause issues for the overall aim of the law to reduce harmful interactions and content online.

From the outset, I had a journal in mind for this paper so worked to their specification. However, about a week after sending it off I received the “Thank you for your submission.” Email which continued with “unfortunately we will not be able to send your manuscript out for review.” The reason? Whilst the topic was of great interest, the journal was moving in a direction of empirical based work, of which my paper was not. But they hadn’t said “No thanks, you’re work isn’t good enough.” They’d said, “We like the ideas, we’re just going in a slightly different direction.” It was redirection, not a rejection.

A few months later I received the call for papers for the Socio-Legal Association Conference 2024 so decided to resurrect the paper sat gathering digital dust in my files and try again. The conference wanted submissions concerning how the law as written down in statutes might operate in practice and impact society and vice versa, sounded appropriate for my work. In January 2024, for the second time I hit the submit button, and to my relief, this time, it was accepted.

Fast forward to April and the paper was a part of in the IT and Cyberspace stream of the conference. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend in person in Portsmouth, however, I was still able to attend various sessions and engage with the posters. A test call at the start of each day for virtual presenters gave us an opportunity to test sound and slides which took a lot of the stress away from the actual presentation. Presenting virtually didn’t alter my experience I don’t think, the stream organisers and another panellist were also online, so the audience were equally engaged as I imagine they would’ve been if I was in person – even if I’m still slightly mortified that I caught a glance at the room at one point and realised I was projected like some sort of academic cinema!

I presented from my desk at home, but if I did go to Portsmouth, I imagine I would’ve looked something like the below:

SLSA goodie bag
An in-person attendance perk – conference goodie bag!
Credit: Alessandra Cuppini via Twitter
boats and the Victory naval ship at sunset
If I had of been there, a visit to the famous Victory naval ship would have been a must!
Credit: Brian Aitkenhead on Unsplash

The value of feedback given at conferences is something I fear is overlooked. But fresh eyes and levels of expertise can really help develop your ideas, whether you take them forward and write (or in my case adjust) a research paper or fold these ideas into your thesis and other outputs. Conferences are great for networking but equally are great for signalling to people ‘I’m working on this, I’m still figuring it out, any thoughts?’ So, I write everything down, the questions I’m asked as well as the feedback I get to fold back into the paper if it’s still a work in progress.

If it wasn’t for that first rejection, I wouldn’t have been redirected to the SLSA Conference, sure I might have had a published piece of work in the journal I’d scoped, and I probably would’ve submitted something else to the Conference for consideration. But I wouldn’t have learnt a valuable lesson I’m taking with me for the rest of my career: rejections aren’t the end of the world, and they aren’t always your fault.

The world didn’t end because a journal rejected me, my PhD didn’t fall apart before my very eyes, I was redirected to a venue from which I have made valuable connections with others and am awaiting news about a special edition. So, the work will likely still see the light of day in published form, it’s just a bit later than expected, and that’s okay for me. As Shakespeare might have said, the route to publication never is smooth.

The link to the full paper and slides can be found at:
How Edited and Disappearing Content Poses a Challenge to The UK’s Online Safety Regulations Tackling Harm Facing Young People Online

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Navigating Imaginary Landscapes: My Placement with Makers of Imaginary Worlds

post by Pavlos Panagiotidis (2022 cohort)

My placement with Makers of Imaginary Worlds took place in various locations around Nottingham and remotely.

Starting date: 25/06/2023
End Date: 25/09/2023

During the past summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a three-month placement with Makers of Imaginary Worlds, a company that combines art and technology in innovative ways to create experiences for children and families. I worked on a number of projects during my time there, which helped me gain a better understanding of the practical implications of engaging audiences in mixed reality experiences, as well as the potential for research in the intersection of HCI and performance.

During my placement, I was presented with several opportunities to work on projects that involved immersive technologies, approaching audience engagement, and experimenting with prototype technologies for performance. These projects, located in various parts of Nottingham, posed diverse challenges that made the experience exciting and solidified my interest in the intersection of art and technology. This placement helped me refocus my research objectives towards areas likely to have practical impacts. These areas include developing innovative methods to assess audience engagement through computer vision and creating methodologies to evaluate the aesthetic implications of emerging technologies in performance-making.

One project I worked on involved the qualitative analysis of interviews with visitors to the “Home Zero” art installation. This installation was designed to encourage participants, mainly children and families, to envision a more sustainable future through a playful, interactive experience that used paintings from the National Gallery as a starting point. I cleaned the data and performed a preliminary analysis of interview transcripts to study how audiences interacted with and perceived the installation. My analysis showed evidence that visitors enjoyed engaging with tangible interfaces and hands-on interactions, which made the experience more engaging and effectively supported the learning process. Later that year, I co-authored a paper that transformed some preliminary insights into a study on the significance of tangibility in designing mixed reality experiences about environmental sustainability for children. I also had the opportunity to contribute to another academic paper based on “Home Zero”, which aims to provide bridges between the disciplines of theatre and computer science, exploring how these fields can converge to enhance participatory design.

An example of an interesting field observation was when a child participant in HomeZero used the “Imagination Scanner,” a device that supposedly measured the participant’s imaginative capacity. The child’s excitement was palpable when they scored higher than their parents, and the automated system rewarded them by opening the door to the next part of the installation. This moment highlighted how design and technology could invert typical familial hierarchies, providing a unique and empowering experience for the children involved.

During my placement, I also had the opportunity to engage closely with “The Delights,” an event that blended dance, sensory activities, and interactive installations to captivate its young audience at the Hoopla Festival, which was held in Nottingham’s local parks. My role involved interviewing families to document their experiences and synthesising this information into a detailed report for stakeholders such as the festival committee. This report not only showcased the high level of audience engagement but also underscored the event’s impact on community connection, child development, and the creative transformation of public spaces. I gained valuable experience in the process required by funders to collect and analyse data and report the outcomes of publicly funded events to justify subsidising an art-making company.

Evidently, the event transformed perceptions of local parks from mere recreational spaces to vibrant community hubs that facilitate child development, artistic expression, and community bonding. Interviews with parents revealed significant shifts in how these spaces are viewed and utilised, emphasising the parks’ new roles as sites for creative and interactive family engagement. Notably, parents appreciated how the event encouraged their children’s expressive skills and social interactions, with many noting increased confidence and communication in their children due to participating in the activities offered. The experience showed me the importance of audience insights in designing experiences. Understanding audience behaviour, expectations, and engagement can be crucial in creating successful events. My placement’s most technically challenging aspect was working on a computer vision-based audience participation assessing prototype. This project aimed to collect and analyse data regarding audience behaviour in interactive installations and explore the possibilities of using computer vision technology to refine interactive artistic experiences.

During my placement at MOIW, I gained a deeper understanding of how my backgrounds in theatre, physics, and computer science synergistically apply to mixed reality experiences. The diverse approaches include assessing audience engagement, designing for optimal user experiences, performing qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and exploring the potential of physical and technological prototypes in performance. While being a “jack of all trades and master of none” can pose challenges in pinpointing one’s exact skills, it also allows for unique involvement and contribution to artistic projects.

Further reflecting on interdisciplinary approaches, I recognised that while the potential for convergence between computer science and theatre is evident, the independent evolution of these disciplines has occasionally made collaboration challenging. However, this placement reinforced my belief in the value of interdisciplinary research and the potential to bridge gaps between these fields, making designing each mixed reality performance a valuable step toward this integration.

In general, my placement with Makers of Imaginary Worlds was a valuable experience that enhanced my understanding of immersive technologies and audience engagement in a real-world setting. It solidified my commitment to exploring the intersection of art and technology, paving the way for my future work in the field. Thanks to my placement, I developed a deeper understanding of the intersection of HCI and performance, both academically and practically. I learned that collaboration and interdisciplinary research are crucial in creating and studying mixed reality events. Mixed reality requires a blend of skills and knowledge, including art, technology, and design. Therefore, processes that support interdisciplinary collaboration are essential in creating innovative mixed-reality experiences.

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My Placement Experience: Lessons and Triumphs

post by Kuzi Makokoro (2022 cohort)

Reflecting upon my placement, a key lesson around the most important decision to make before starting a placement, was to consider the specific skills and experiences I hoped to gain. This past summer, I had the opportunity to partake in a placement with my industry partner, Co-op, which turned out to be a remarkable and invaluable experience for my professional and academic growth.

Before finalising the arrangements for the placement, including setting the dates, duration, and defining the project, a series of discussions took place between my supervisors and me. We assessed the multitude of opportunities that this placement could offer. It was during these deliberations that the versatility of a placement’s benefits became apparent to me. One option is to align the placement activities with your ongoing PhD research, ensuring that the work is not only relevant to your academic pursuits but also meets the strategic needs of the industry partner. This synergy often results in a mutually beneficial outcome that propels your research forward. Another approach could be to take a break from academic work to gain a breadth of experience in the industry, thereby expanding your professional network and engaging in projects that are also of interest to you.

Having spent the last nine years in commercial roles within various industries and capacities, I was already familiar with the dynamics of industry life. This pre-existing industry experience informed my decision to select a project that complemented my PhD research. Once I made this strategic choice, the focus shifted to pinpointing a suitable project. After numerous consultations, we collectively decided to concentrate on the Healthy Start Scheme—a government- initiative designed to aid low-income families with children under four by providing them with essential foods like milk, fruits, and vegetables. This project was not only crucial to my industry partner but also resonated personally with me, as it underscored the meaningful impact of data-driven initiatives on societal well-being.

The research objectives for the placement were ambitious: to utilise predictive analytics to predict the uptake percentage of the Healthy Start Scheme using food insecurity measures and to apply machine learning techniques to identify and understand the factors that influence uptake significantly. Working in conjunction with an industry partner meant that the practical application of my research findings could potentially aid the partner in supporting and promoting the scheme more effectively.

Entering the placement, I had certain preconceptions about how the experience would unfold, the nature of the work I would engage in, and the interactions I would have with various stakeholders. However, the practical aspects of my placement differed from my initial expectations. I quickly realised that my chosen topic necessitated a more independent working style, with periodic contributions from my industry partner rather than continuous collaboration. This shift led me to a new understanding of the role of a researcher in a consultative capacity, working in partnership with an industry entity. The experience also allowed me to lead a research project autonomously and understand the nuances of impact work. My responsibilities included initiating regular meetings with my contact at Co-op, seeking input and assistance from the wider team when needed, and managing the project’s pace and milestones.

In hindsight, although the timing of the placement originally seemed appropriate, I later reflected on whether doing it later on in my PhD program might have allowed for a richer output. The project demanded proficiency in skills that I had not yet mastered at the time, necessitating a steep and rapid learning process. This included developing an understanding of predictive analytics methodologies, acquiring proficiency in programming languages such as Python, learning about digital data collection techniques, and interpreting complex model results.

Consequently, what was initially set out to be a three-month placement evolved into a five-month project, as additional time was required for me to learn, adapt, and then effectively engage in the research. I adopted various learning strategies, such as the accelerated learning techniques outlined in Jake Knapp’s book “Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days,” which aided me in assimilating new information rapidly, trialling different approaches, and breaking down the project into smaller, more manageable tasks. Ultimately, I was able to enhance my skill set and produce actionable insights from the project, though a better approach to defining deliverables within the given timeframe would have been advantageous.

The research outcome was insightful; we identified several strong predictors within the model, such as income deprivation and language proficiency, as well as intriguing variables like household spending on fish and the caloric density of purchases. We explored various ways in which my industry partner could leverage these insights to better support the Healthy Start Scheme in communities where it is most needed.

In summary, the placement was a journey of adapting to a different work environment, setting pragmatic goals, and scaling up professionally. This learning experience has been instrumental in advancing my PhD work. It reiterates my initial emphasis on the importance of understanding what you seek to achieve from a placement. Although I had not initially set out to acquire these specific skills through the project, they have proven to be of great value as I continue with my PhD journey. Looking ahead, I am excited about the prospect of converting this project into my first published academic paper.