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I like doing things to help tech work better for society.  

 

I'm currently the Head of Tech Research at AlgorithmWatch in Berlin, Germany. I focus a lot on questions around Auditing Algorithms for Systemic Risk, plus research and regulation around online platforms

Some things I've previously helped create:

(You can find my full CV here)

I have a PhD in sociology of science from University College London.  I studied how reason and emotion collide online.  In 2013, when I started this work, this was an academically interesting topic; by 2016 it was one of the key political problems of our time.  I've also worked at the think-tank Demos during the 2017 general election. I wrote about online polarisation and Cambridge Analytica, and used machine learning to crunch data for the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show.  I'm currently a Fellow at Demos, a Policy Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and an Honorary Research Associate at UCL's Science and Technology Studies Department.

I love to help people develop skills.  I was nominated for a teaching award at UCL (teaching social theory and qualitative research, amongst other stuff).  I've produced resources for writing clear essays, literature reviews, and other academic pieces.  During Covid I supported government colleagues in the move to work from home by introducing tech and ideas to help us collaborate and look after each other remotely (things like a spreadsheet so lonely colleagues could meet for walks, anonymous methods for reporting welfare issues, etc. - if similar ideas would be useful for you, get in touch).

I used to coach amateur actors and comedians and once founded a comedy sketch troupe called CowsDrinkMilk (the name is a long story), who featured at the Edinburgh Fringe and on BBC NewsJack.  A long time ago I studied physics, and can code in Python a bit.  I am based in Berlin; my German is okay, and improving, but my expertise in techno music is still limited.

I really like sharing interesting ideas with people. So please do get in touch.

All views on this site are mine and do not represent any organisations.

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