Exploring the impact of smart data on our lives 

I’m a digital sociologist and my research explores the role of digital technologies in our lives. Particularly, the ‘Internet of Things’ – everyday stuff like Amazon’s Alexa, the Ring doorbell and Google Home made ‘smart’ by internet connectivity and algorithms - and their impact on how we relate to each other. 

There is no aspect of life on Earth untouched by digital technologies and the reality of a world of pervasive data collection is already with us. Social scientists have a vital contribution in understanding how we adopt those technologies, and the consequences, and ensuring that novel developments work for the benefit of all.  

Why Nottingham?

Winning a three-year Nottingham Research Fellowship was a huge thing for me, both for allowing me to take control of my own research trajectory, and for giving me a route into teaching.

My experience as a research fellow with the university’s Horizon Digital Economy Institute and the School of Computer Science, studying emerging digital technologies from a sociological perspective, taught me how to successfully collaborate across different fields, and – crucially – exposed me to cutting edge developments in computer science.

It led to my Nottingham Research Fellowship with the School of Sociology and allowing me to access expertise in areas such as family life and science and technology, and integrate that with the interdisciplinary networks I developed during my time at Horizon. 

Feeling inspired?