Professor Pamela Ugwudike
Professor of Criminology and Pathway Leader, online master’s courses in Artificial Intelligence
Overview
Professor Pamela Ugwudike is a prominent figure in criminology and artificial intelligence ethics, and the Pathway Leader for our three online master’s in Artificial Intelligence. She is a Fellow of the UK’s Higher Education Academy, as well as the Alan Turing Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Professor Ugwudike's scholarly work focuses on the ethical and governance issues surrounding data-driven technologies. These technologies, such as predictive algorithms and social networking algorithms, are integral to criminal justice policy and practices.
Her expertise in these areas is invaluable in our online MA Artificial Intelligence courses. She is a respected leader in multidisciplinary research teams and a co-Editor-in-Chief of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal.
Contact details
Email: p.ugwudike@soton.ac.uk
Research interests
- AI ethics: Exploring the moral implications and governance challenges associated with artificial intelligence, particularly how they impact equity and privacy in society.
- Algorithms in justice systems: Investigating how algorithms are used within the justice system, assessing their fairness and potential biases in decision-making processes.
- Trustworthy and responsible AI: Developing frameworks and guidelines to ensure that AI systems are reliable, ethical, and accountable.
- Social media analytics: Examining the use of analytical tools to understand and mitigate the effects of social media on public opinion and individual behaviour, especially in the context of criminal justice.
Career highlights
- Extensive publishing outputs: Professor Ugwudike currently serves as co-Editor-in-Chief of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal. She is also a member of the editorial boards of several other prestigious journals, including The British Journal of Criminology and Policing and Society.
- Research project leadership: She has spearheaded multiple influential research projects, including the ongoing ESRC-funded ProTechThem2.0 project focused on ethical concerns around 'sharenting' on social media. She has also led previous projects on predictive policing algorithms and the digitisation of criminal justice practice evaluations.
- Invited speaker and panellist: Professor Ugwudike has been a featured speaker at various academic forums, including seminars at the London School of Economics, Oxford University, and University College London. In 2022, she delivered a keynote at the British Society of Criminology Conference discussing the importance of transcending disciplinary boundaries to address AI ethics within criminology.