Siobhan joined the MSt in AI Ethics and Society at Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) after a career in the energy sector and postgraduate study in Neuroscience and Psychology.
Her interest in human decision-making and trust, particularly in the context of childhood development and technology, led her to explore how AI is shaping young people’s lives.
The part-time structure of the MSt, delivered in partnership with the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, offered the flexibility she needed to balance study with work and family life.
“I wanted a genuine humanities challenge to broaden my scientific training, space to think, test ideas, and have my assumptions challenged. This course has done that and more.”
Siobhan describes the experience as transformative, both intellectually and personally. The course has deepened her understanding of the power dynamics behind AI systems and helped her re-centre the human experience in technological debates.
She has found the exchange of ideas with fellow students, academics, technologists and philosophers to be one of the most enriching aspects of the programme.
“I’ve been surprised by how often my work comes back to human agency, history and purpose, not technology, as the focus. AI has made visible urgent social issues, some of which have deep historical roots.”
Balancing study with parenting and professional commitments hasn’t been easy, but Siobhan credits careful planning, supportive peers, and inspirational tutors for helping her stay focused.
She’s now preparing to pursue further research on children’s rights and development in relation to AI, with the aim of contributing to governance frameworks that embed children’s agency into the design and deployment of emerging technologies.
“I’ve gained a stronger belief that critical, compassionate scholarship can shape the future of technology, especially when it centres those most affected but least heard: children.”
Interested in exploring the ethical and societal dimensions of AI?
Discover our MSt in AI Ethics and Society and study on your terms with Professional and Continuing Education.