Professors Katie Atkinson and Xiaowei Huang from the School of Computer Science and Informatics join leading specialists chosen to give the government department rapid, independent access to UK science and technology expertise.
The new DSIT College of Experts is a network of independent specialists who will give the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) fast, flexible access to leading scientific and technical expertise.
The College was formally launched on 18 June 2026 at the Royal Society in London, bringing together members from universities, industry and research institutes across the UK. Professor Atkinson and Professor Huang are two of 71 members selected through a competitive process that attracted nearly 1,200 applications.
Members volunteer up to five days a year to support government work, from short advisory conversations to workshops and peer review.
Professor Atkinson is a co-lead for the AI for Life frontier, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor and Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research. She has been conducting foundational and interdisciplinary research on artificial intelligence for over 20 years. She brings unique expertise in explainable AI and its applications to the legal sector, as well as the use of symbolic AI in digitally-supported materials discovery.
Professor Huang is Professor of Computer Science at University and lead of the Trustworthy Autonomous Cyber Physical System Lab. His research focuses on trustworthy AI, with expertise on verification, explainable AI, AI safety and security. This has a range of applications, from healthcare to technology, which will be of vital importance to the network.
Professor Atkinson said: “I am delighted to join DSIT’s College of Experts and am looking forward to working with members from across the UK to deliver quality scientific and technical advice in a time of huge digital and technological advances. I am pleased that the breadth of AI expertise we have here at Liverpool has been drawn upon through these roles.”
Professor Huang said: “It is a huge honour to have been selected to join this panel. I am looking forward to bringing my expertise in AI and its applications to support DSIT and work collaboratively with the wider College network.”
Professor Chris Johnson, DSIT Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the College of Experts said:
“The launch of the College of Experts at the Royal Society brought together an extraordinary group of independent specialists from across the UK, spanning AI, quantum, life sciences, cyber security, and far beyond. The experts volunteer their time to support us, reflecting a real commitment from the UK’s research and innovation community to contribute to government policymaking. Seeing DSIT colleagues and world-leading academics and practitioners in the same room was a powerful reminder of what this department can achieve when it draws on the best available expertise.”
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AI for life
AI for Life brings different research expertise together to advance AI technologies and their applications. Our progressive civic and policy approaches to develop ‘AI for Life’ are grounded in citizen and community participation, creating solutions to address major societal challenges such as improving health and social care, closing educational gaps, and promoting economic growth.