On Friday 31 July it was announced that VOX-Pol Coordinator, Professor Maura Conway, will join the Legal Innovation Lab Wales, an initiative within Swansea University’s Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law.
Maura Conway is Professor of International Security in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU) and Project Coordinator of the VOX-Pol Network of Excellence. The new Swansea University appointment will be held jointly with her post in DCU.
Professor Conway’s appointment will aid the Legal Innovation Lab in achieving its main objectives. The Lab is backed by funding from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, and is a unique research and innovation facility. Its main objectives are to create:
- A cyber-threats research suite, with data research laboratories that support collaboration with key partners
- A “Legal AI” laboratory where researchers in Law and Computer Science can develop, test and apply new techniques in artificial intelligence, machine learning, legal design and natural language processing
- A Legal Innovation Centre where law firms and technology companies can develop innovative products and services.
- A Law Clinic where LegalTech innovation and collaboration can be piloted, leading to the deployment of applications and platforms that support access to justice.
Professor Conway will also build on the work of the Law School’s Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC), which has an international reputation for its applied research on cyberterrorism and terrorists’ use of the internet.
Speaking on Professor Conway’s appointment, Professor Stuart Macdonald, Director of the Cyber Threats Research Centre said: “For many years now Professor Conway’s work has led the way in advancing understanding of terrorists’ online activities and carefully considering and assessing legislative and policy responses. As Co-ordinator of the VOX-Pol network, she has also been influential in mentoring early career researchers and establishing links between academia and policymakers and practitioners. We are delighted to welcome her to the School of Law”.
On joining the School of Law, Professor Conway said: “I have worked closely for almost a decade with Swansea colleagues, initially on the Cyberterrorism Project and later the TASM (Terrorism and Social Media) Conference and other initiatives. I’m therefore incredibly pleased to be formalising my relationship with Swansea University and greatly look forward to contributing to the work of the Legal Innovation Lab and CYTREC.”