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 Adviser at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has been awarded the honour in recognition of 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 Chief Scientific Adviser has helped shape 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 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 the 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 in his own area of research in Computer Science, but also in his work to deliver the University’s ambitious research strategy.”
