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AIMLAC is an EPSRC-funded doctoral training initiative led by Swansea University in partnership with ������Ƶ, Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Bristol. The annual conference brings together doctoral researchers, graduates and leading academics to share ideas, showcase research, and explore future opportunities in AI and advanced computing.

������Ƶ Students Take Centre Stage

This year’s event featured an exceptional contribution from ������Ƶ. Four PhD researchers from ������Ƶ’s Human-Centred Computing research group travelled to Cardiff to take part in the full programme:
•    Rhiannon Owen
•    Shannon Jones
•    Dan Farmer
•    Sarah Hartill
 

Following a welcome from AIMLAC Director Professor Gert Aarts (Swansea University), ������Ƶ’s presence was immediately felt as Rhiannon Owen opened the conference presentations.

Rhiannon’s talk, “Field Guide: Explanatory Visualisation for Women’s Return-to-Play in Grassroots Football”, explored how visualisation can support participation and recovery in sport. She was joined by Shannon Jones, who co-presented technical elements of their collaborative work on measuring grassroots football participation. Together, they delivered a confident and engaging presentation, handling audience questions with expertise.

Later in the programme, Daniel Farmer presented his research on “Neural Network-Enabled Visual Analytics Workflows for Environmental Applications.” Drawing on work with Rothamsted Research North Wyke Farm Platform, Dan provided a clear and accessible overview of how AI can support environmental decision-making. His presentation sparked thoughtful discussion, particularly around applications in safety-critical industries.
 

A Valuable Experience for ������Ƶ Researchers

Professor Jonathan Roberts (������Ƶ's AIMLAC lead) said 

The conference offered ������Ƶ students a valuable opportunity to share their research with a multi-university audience, engage with leading academics and industry partners, build professional networks across the AIMLAC community, and learn about potential career pathways from recent graduates. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Highlights included talks from AIMLAC alumni now working internationally, including Dr Sophie Sadler (University of Stuttgart) and Dr Robbie Webb (IRAP, Toulouse), who shared their career journeys and experiences beyond doctoral study. An industry perspective was also provided through an overview of AI initiatives at Ofsted, where ������Ƶ student Shannon Jones previously completed an internship; demonstrating the strong links between ������Ƶ research and real-world applications.

Building Connections and Looking Ahead

The day concluded with a career panel discussion and conference dinner, giving students further opportunities to connect with peers, organisers and speakers in an informal setting. These interactions are a key part of the AIMLAC experience, helping students build lasting collaborations and confidence within the research community.

������Ƶ attendees also enjoyed making connections beyond the conference programme, reflecting the friendly and supportive atmosphere of the event.

There is optimism for an expanded joint conference next year, which would bring together students from multiple Centres for Doctoral Training established under the UK Government’s 2016 initiative, offering even greater opportunities for collaboration.

Inspiring Opportunities for ������Ƶ Students

Participation in conferences like AIMLAC highlights the strength of ������Ƶ’s postgraduate research community and the opportunities available to students in AI, machine learning and advanced computing.

While the final AIMLAC-funded cohorts have been recruited, students interested in postgraduate study or research careers are encouraged to explore ������Ƶ’s cutting-edge research groups and doctoral training opportunities. These programmes provide an excellent pathway to contribute to impactful research and gain valuable real-world experience.