Friday, 20 December 2024
Leading Computer Scientist and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Nottingham, Professor Tom Rodden has been awarded a CBE in this year's New Year Honours.
Professor Rodden, who was previously Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been awarded the honour in recognition for services to Science, Technology and Academia.
Throughout his career Professor Rodden has championed a human-centred approach to computing by drawing upon a range of disciplines to understand and tackle the technical, human and societal challenges emerging from people’s interaction with digital technologies and the use of personal data.
He has established and led the creation of research programmes to inform work around the Internet of Things, Internet Regulation and the use of data and AI in government. His work as CSA has helped shaped the Government’s regulatory work regarding online harms, cybersecurity and emerging technologies including AI.
Professor Rodden joined the University of Nottingham in 2001 and with colleagues in the Mixed Reality Lab directed several large research endeavours that shaped the interdisciplinary fields of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Ubiquitous Computing. He was one of the founding members of the Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute, a university-wide interdisciplinary research centre that explored the use of personal data and engaged more than 200 partners to maximise digital economy impact.
He was seconded from Nottingham in 2016 to act as Deputy Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) where we he was responsible for research strategy, acting as the UK Research and Innovation lead in both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital research Infrastructure. He then served as Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2018 and a Fellow of Royal Society earlier this year.
Professor Rodden was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Nottingham in 2023 and has responsibility for the University’s research portfolio, in particular implementing the Research Strategy, which aims to transform the University’s research quality, performance and culture, ensuring it is robust and truly reflective of the whole community.
Commenting on being awarded the CBE, Professor Rodden said: “It is a huge honour to be awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List. I have been very lucky to work with brilliant colleagues who have achieved amazing things and provided me with fantastic insight and support. As a computer scientist I have always been passionate about finding ways to resolve the challenges rapidly emerging technologies present in society."
Research is always a team effort and I’d like to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the years and my family for all of their support.
Professor Jane Norman, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Nottingham, said: “Huge congratulations to Professor Rodden on his New Year Honour. It is a richly deserved award, recognising his achievements not only his own area of research in Computer Science , but also in his work to deliver the University’s ambitious research strategy.”
Also recognised in the New Year Honours was Professor Linda Field, Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, who was awarded a CBE for services to protecting crops and to the environment.
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Tom Rodden by email at Tom.Rodden@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…