The event marked a significant milestone for the School’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and collaboration across various fields. It was well attended by academics from other schools and universities, industry and government.
The session was opened by Dean Professor Gavin Jack, who warmly welcomed attendees and emphasised the importance of joining forces across disciplines to drive new research agendas and create impact. Then, Professor Neil Pollock, the Head of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group, followed with a thought-provoking introduction of the labs as dynamic spaces where researchers and practitioners can experiment with fresh ideas and work together in a collaborative, evolving environment.
Next, Dr Agnessa Spanellis, introduced the GST Lab, highlighting the critical role of systems thinking in understanding and addressing complex societal challenges and the ways in which gamification and games can help to deal with complexity in systems. In her introduction she mentioned: ‘What makes games so powerful is their ability to capture attention and hold it long enough for the person to explore complexity in a system.’
Following this, Dr Hajar Mozaffar introduced the DAIT Lab, focusing on the importance of utilizing diverse approaches and methods to bring AI into practical use. In this introduction, she highlighted: ‘How understanding market trends, adoption patterns, and macro-environmental initiatives is essential not only for forecasting the future of AI but also for driving how it comes to life in real-world applications. These insights don't just allow us to anticipate the next wave of AI; they empower us to actively shape its operationalisation in practice.’
Finally, Dr Piera Morlacchi, presented the ILab, exploring the potential of imagination across art and technology for research and education to shape futures that are not only sustainable but also just and inspiring. Piera told us: ‘Today, technologies like AI and robotics push us to rethink the relationships between our humanity, art, nature and the world around us. Imagination not only matters in the creation of art or the development of new technologies but also in the experience and use of them.’
The event concluded with a Q&A session and discussions on how these three labs can work together, opening potential collaborations not only across universities but also between academia and practitioners, fostering engagement and practical innovations. Together, these labs represent exciting spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration and forward-thinking exploration.
To learn more about the Research Labs, visit: