We are delighted to announce that Professor Shannon Vallor has been awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Research by the University’s Chancellor, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, at a gala dinner held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Wednesday, 13 November.
This honour is one of four Chancellor’s Awards presented annually to celebrate exceptional contributions in teaching, research, and impact at the University of Edinburgh.
The Chancellor’s Awards, established in 2003, recognise innovation, relevance, creativity, personal dedication and impact in teaching and research. The Award for Research honours a colleague who has recently enhanced the University’s research reputation through a significant contribution to research.
Professor Vallor received the Chancellor’s Award for Research in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the University’s research profile and her significant impact on advancing the ethics of data and AI. Her pioneering work in ethical design and use of AI has positioned the University at the forefront of responsible AI research.
“It is a profound honour to be recognised with this award, which is only possible thanks to the University’s world-leading environment for transformational interdisciplinary research. Through the Edinburgh Futures Institute, my colleagues and I can infuse research in AI and data ethics with expertise across the arts, humanities, sciences and technical disciplines, while partnering with those beyond academia to put this knowledge to work for society. I am deeply grateful for that opportunity.”
– Professor Shannon Vallor
After a distinguished career in the United States, where she established herself as a thought leader in the ethics of emerging technologies, Professor Vallor joined the University in 2020. Her latest book, The AI Mirror: How to Reclaim Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking (Oxford University Press, 2024), explores the human implications of AI.
Professor Willem Hollmann, Head of School, Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences said:
“This prestigious award underscores the invaluable role Shannon plays in advancing critical discourse on the ethics around these emerging technologies and also celebrates her profound contribution to society’s understanding of their nature and impact.”
Professor Vallor is the Director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures within the Edinburgh Futures Institute. She also holds the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence within the University’s Philosophy department.
Currently, Professor Vallor also serves as Co-Director, alongside Professor Ewa Luger, of the UKRI-funded BRAID (Bridging Responsible AI Divides) research programme, supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council with a £15.9 million funding commitment through 2028.
“We are all incredibly proud of Shannon and congratulate her for this award that recognises her immense contribution to the University’s wider research in ethics and AI. Her leadership as Director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures ensures that Edinburgh Futures Institute is at the forefront of futures-focused research in ethical AI, which is one of the most pressing issues of our time.”
– Professor Kevin Dhaliwal, Interim Director, Edinburgh Futures Institute
Further links and information
Centre for Technomoral Futures
School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences
