Professor Neil Gordon – Inaugural Lecture

Title: The Future of Education in Humanity in the Age of AI: What’s the Point of Us?

Synopsis: In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, what remains uniquely human? In this Inaugural Lecture, Professor Neil Gordon draws on decades of experience in computing, education, and ethical leadership to explore how AI is transforming learning, decision-making and our collective sense of purpose.

With some playful nostalgia of early home computers to the profound implications of generative AI in classrooms and clinics, this talk journeys through the promises and perils of our technological age. With global challenges like educational equity and digital health disparities in view, Professor Gordon asks: how do we ensure that human experience, creativity, and moral agency remain central?

Join us for a thought-provoking talk that blends personal reflection, societal insight, and a call to action – inviting educators, technologists, and citizens alike to reimagine the future of learning and life in the age of intelligent machines.

About Professor Neil Gordon:
Neil’s research spans pure mathematics and applications, applications of computer science in addressing global challenges, and in particular around health and education. His PhD explored finite geometry and applications in coding theory, utilising computer algebra systems and novel algorithms to explore high dimensional geometries.

Neil’s career bridges the abstract elegance of pure mathematics with the practical power of computing to tackle global challenges – especially in health and education. His doctoral research delved into finite geometry and coding theory, using advanced computer algebra and innovative algorithms to navigate complex, high-dimensional spaces. Neil was appointed Professor in recognition of his leadership in this field.

He is a National Teaching Fellow of AdvanceHE, reflecting his commitment to excellence in learning and teaching. Neil is also a Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology and a Professional Member of the British Computer Society, where he chairs the Ethics Specialist Group. Internationally, he leads the IFIP Working Group on Social Accountability and Computing, championing ethical responsibility in technology across borders.