Human-Machine Collaboration: 'Responsible Technology in Robotics and Space' video participants
Professor Marina Jirotka
Professor Marina Jirotka is Professor of Human Centred Computing in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and Governing Body Fellow of St Cross College. Her expertise involves co-producing user and community requirements and human computer interaction, particularly for collaborative systems. She has been at the forefront of recent work in Responsible Innovation (RI) in the UK and the European Union.
She leads an interdisciplinary research group investigating the responsible development of technologies that are more responsive to societal acceptability and desirability. She is an EPSRC Established Career Fellow - a five year investigation into Developing Responsible Robotics for the Digital Economy. She is Director of the newly established Responsible Technology Institute at Oxford and she is co-director of the Observatory for Responsible Research and Innovation in ICT (ORBIT) which provides RI services and training to ICT researchers and practitioners. She is also currently PI on the EPSRC Digital Economy TIPS project Rebuilding and Enhancing Trust in Algorithms (ReEnTrust).
Her recently concluded projects involve a range of topics in RI: she led the Responsible Innovation strand of work for the Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub (NQIT); she was PI on ERSCs Digital Wildfires project; and she was Co-PI on EPSRC Digital Economy TIPS project, Emancipating Users Against Algorithmic Biases for a Trusted Digital Economy (UnBias). From her work on analysing the spread of hate speech and misinformation on social media (Digital Wildfires), she was appointed specialist advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications for their inquiry into Children and the Internet.
Marina is a Chartered IT Professional of the British Computer Society where she is a member of the ICT Ethics Specialist Group committee. She sits on EPSRCs Programme Advisory Board for the Digital Economy, the Advisory Board of the Society for Computers and Law and is a member of the Steering Committee for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Data Analytics. She is also a member of the UK Committee for IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis). In 2018 was elected to the UK Computing Research Community (UKCRC) a highly selective grouping of the UK’s leading computing academics. She has published widely in international journals and conferences on, Human Computer Interaction, Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Requirements Engineering.
Dr Helena Webb
Dr Helena Webb is a Senior Researcher in the Department of Computer Science at Oxford. She is interested in the ways that users interact with technologies in different kinds of setting and how social action both shapes and is shaped by innovation. She works on projects that seek to identify mechanisms for the improved design, responsible development and effective regulation of technology. Whilst at Oxford she has worked on projects relating to, amongst others, harmful content on social media, algorithm bias and resources in STEM education. She currently works on the RoboTIPS project, which seeks to foster responsible practices in social robotics. She is also Research Lead in the Responsible Technology Institute plus she teaches Ethics and Responsible Innovation, and Computers in Society to students in the Department of Computer Science.
Dr Lars Kunze
Dr Lars Kunze is a Departmental Lecturer in Robotics in the Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI) and the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, and a Stipendiary Lecturer in Computer Science at Christ Church. At ORI, Lars leads the Cognitive Robotics Group (CRG). He is a Programme Fellow of the Assuring Autonomy International Programme (AAIP) and a Co-Editor of the German Journal of Artificial Intelligence (KI Journal, Springer) and the Journal of Responsible Technology (Elsevier).
In May 2013, Lars was appointed as a Research Fellow in the Intelligent Robotics Lab at the School of Computer Science at Birmingham University. In March 2017, he joined the Oxford Robotics Institute at Oxford University.
His areas of expertise lie in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). His goal is to enable robots to understand their surroundings, to act autonomously, and to explain their own behaviour in meaningful human terms. To this end, his research concerns the design and development of fundamental AI techniques for autonomous robot systems. He focusses on the combination of knowledge representation, reasoning, machine learning, and robot perception; motivated by applications in complex, real-world environments.
In the context of space robotics, Lars works on hazard and novelty detection. Together with ESA, he works on the detection of hazards (craters) on the Moon’s surface with the aim to identify and assess landing sites from orbital images. He also investigates semi-supervised novelty detection for opportunistic science in planetary rover missions in the context of the EU project ADE (Autonomous decision making in very long traverses). In this context he uses (deep) machine learning methods for the detection of scientific targets.
Lars studied Cognitive Science (BSc, 2006) and Computer Science (MSc, 2008) at the University of Osnabrück, Germany, and partly at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
He received his PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, in 2014.
Dr Pericle Salvini
Dr Pericle Salvini is a Research Associate at the Responsible Technology Institute, in the Department of Computer Science at Oxford University. His expertise is in ethical and legal implications of human-robot interaction. His current research interests centre on responsible research and innovation in robotics research and applications. He was manager of the EU FP7 funded project RoboLaw (2012-2014), which is now considered to be a milestone in raising awareness about the legal, ethical and societal implications of robotics research and applications.
Fatema Ali Al Hajri
Fatema Al Hajri is Vice President of Products and Solutions Engineering at Yahsat - the UAE’s leading satellite services operator. She is one of the few telecommunication professionals in the world actively managing an integrated portfolio of fixed and mobile satellite solutions for land, marine and aeronautical platforms. She looks after the technical aspects of all projects involving Yahsat’s strategic customers, including ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Media Zone and the Government of the UAE.
Fatema joined Yahsat in 2006, and was a key member of its ‘Pioneers’ team that launched the first two Yahsat satellites - Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2. Under the Al Yah 3 satellite programme, she led the team that finalized and implemented the system design of its Radio Frequency Gateways, further expanding the company’s footprint across Brazil and Africa. Fatema’s elevation to the post of VP was an acknowledgment of her calibre and contributions to Yahsat’s evolution into one of the world’s top ten satellite operators.
Fatema has a Bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering. An avid technology enthusiast, she aspires to build solutions that make a sizeable difference in people’s lives.
Andrew Rush
Andrew Rush is the President of Made In Space, Inc. (MIS) and Chief Operating Officer of Redwire. In his current role, Andrew oversees strategic direction and operational management for the industry-leading space manufacturing company. Through his leadership, he has expanded the company’s portfolio across three sectors: satellite manufacturing, payload development and operations, and deep space exploration solutions. This operational integration has resulted in eight successful spaceflight missions with four facilities flown and operating on the International Space Station.
Prior to this role, Andrew served as general counsel for MIS. Since his appointment in 2015, MIS has expanded its operational footprint within the United States with the addition of new office locations, including a 19,000 square foot headquarters and satellite manufacturing and operations facility. Through a strategic roadmap prioritizing high tech jobs, he has increased the company’s workforce by nearly 800% in the last five years.
Andrew’s strategic vision has strengthened the commercial investment on ISS capabilities and resources to enable greater commercial utilization. He has also established public-private partnerships that are yielding transformational capabilities for satellite manufacturing. Rush’s extensive experience in aligning business roadmaps with emerging technologies to grow nascent markets has made him a leading voice in commercial space.
Andrew is a representative member of the NASA Advisory Council and serves as Chairman of the council’s Regulatory and Policy Committee. Rush currently serves as a member of the Physics Advisory Group at the University of North Florida (UNF). He has also been awarded the Young Alumni Achievement Award from UNF.
Prior to becoming MIS President & CEO, Andrew was a partner at PCT Law Group and worked at Masten Space Systems. Andrew earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of North Florida and a Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University.
Peter Marquez
Peter Marquez is Head of Space Policy at AWS. He was the director of space policy on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, from 2007 to 2010. He was a partner at space consulting firm Andart Global, and has also served as the director of special programs and space policy analyst in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, and held positions at Orbital Sciences Corporation and Planetary Resources.
Peter held senior positions with government and commercial organizations involved in U.S. space policy and programs. Previous to Andart Global, Mr. Marquez was Vice President of Global Engagement at Planetary Resources. Mr. Marquez was responsible for developing and executing the company's strategy for collaboration with the U.S. Government and foreign governments.
He transitioned to the White House from the Department of Defense, where he entered government service in 2002. He worked in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, first as a Space Policy Analyst, in which he helped formulate space policy and maintained oversight of the space control portfolio, eventually rising to Director of Special Programs, a role in which he oversaw all operational Defense Department Special Access Programs. Mr. Marquez came to the government from the private sector, where he began his career in 2000 with AT&T Government Solutions as an analyst for policy and programs for classified space and cyber capabilities.
Mr. Marquez earned a B.A. degree in Political Science and a M.A. degree in Space Policy and Science and Technology Policy, both from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Kalyan Kumar
Kalyan Kumar B (KK, as he is known) is the Corporate Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, IT Services of HCL Technologies and the company’s Business Line Leader for Global Cloud Native Services and DRYiCE products and platforms. He also leads the Service Line for Global Infrastructure Services. As a part of his CTO portfolio, he is actively involved in Product and Technology Strategy, Partner Ecosystem, Start-up Exploration, and Incubation, and supports the inorganic initiatives of the company.
KK is an ambassador and mentor for next-generation leaders. He is a member of the eminent Wall Street Journal CIO Network, responsible for identifying key challenges in technology and new opportunities for innovation. As a member of HCL’s Talent Council, he is focused on encouraging and empowering young talent. In addition, he is the honorable member of the Technology Partner Advisory Boards and has participated in Special Academic Programs at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Business School. He is a regular participant in Singularity University Programs.
KK holds a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He holds two patents and has co-authored seven books in the space of service management and XaaS/Cloud Services.
Arfan Chaudhry
In May 2018 Arfan joined the UK Space Agency as the Head of International Policy and was responsible for developing the Agency’s policy for international interventions which aim to maximise benefits in trade, security, science and wider policy issues such as climate change. This included establishing effective relationships across Whitehall, industry, academia and strategically prioritising our international engagements both in Europe and globally according to the benefits to the UK.
In June 2021 he was appointed as the International Director at the UK Space Agency, responsible for international engagement through multilateral and bilateral frameworks, capturing the wider societal benefits of space programmes and harnessing the inspirational effect of space for skills and education. He also leads on security and resilience of the UK's infrastructure and space applications.
Arfan has held a number of operational and policy roles, including at UK Trade & Investment as Assistant Director Support to Business and was responsible for delivering the strategy of industry engagement to ensure focused UK Government support for exports. In July 2013 he joined DIT’s Regional Directorate with specific responsibility for building and developing export opportunities in the Americas. He is a qualified Management Accountant who, early in his Civil Service career, undertook a range of finance, secretariat and operational appointments in the MOD.
Dr Greg Autry, Thunderbird / Arizona State University
Greg Autry is Clinical Professor Space Leadership, Policy and Business in the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Greg currently serves as Chair of the Safety Working Group on the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. He is the Vice President for Space Development at the National Space Society. Greg served on the Agency Review Team for the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 2016 and was appointed as NASA’s White House Liaison in 2017. In 2020, Greg was nominated to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of NASA.
Greg serves on the editorial boards of the New Space Journal and the Space Force Journal. He publishes prolifically on space related matters in mainstream outlets including Forbes, Foreign Policy and Space News. He is frequently cited or interviewed by leading new organizations including the BBC, CNN, NPR, the Wall Street Journal and LA Times.
Greg has taught entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California, the University of California at Irvine, and at International Space University’s Center of Space Entrepreneurship at the Florida Institute of Technology. Greg holds a BA in history from the California Polytechnic University at Pomona as well as an MBA and a PhD from the University of California at Irvine.s well as an MBA and a PhD from the University of California at Irvine.