Michaela Black, Principal Investigator for the AI Collaboration Centre, urges young girls to ‘ aim high ’ with a career in ICT

Have you always had an interest in science and technology and what were the key influences that led you into this career path? 

I was always the inquisitive person who asked “Why?” about all the theories and formulas in Physics and Maths at school. My drive to understand theory and my love of problem solving were evident from a very young age.   

My dad had the great opportunity to work on the first computer used in manufacturing at a carpet companyin Donaghadee in the 1960's. My brother also began working in computing with Lloyd’s bank. This partially influenced my direction towards IT. I studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-level and then chose a combination of subjects (Mechanical Maths, Psychology, Business Studies and Computing) at University. I then transferred to the full Computing Science degree and have never looked back.  

After my degree, I worked in industry for a while and then returned to study through a PhD opportunity with BT Ipswich. I then joined Ulster University as an academic and 25 years later, I’m still loving my work, networking and learning everyday! 

There has traditionally been a reluctance for girls to adopt ICT at GCSE level, why do you think this persists and what steps do you think could help change this? 

I believe people do not fully understand the true impact that ICT and computing can have on citizens, society and the environment. I have been involved in, and led, projects that use ICT and Computing to improve healthcare services and inform new policies for conditions such as diabetes, obesity, dementia, lung cancer and depression. 

I have used ICT to enhance and gamify learning for better personalised outcomes, detect changing behaviours in end-users of technology and update AI models accordingly so they continue to work in changing environments. Showcasing these high impact opportunities more, through practical case studies that can be used in teaching and assessment of ICT-related topics, at a much earlier stage, and particularly before subject choices are made, would help raise the profile of ICT.  

We also need to challenge the perception that ICT is just about sitting in a room coding. In reality, we are highly end-user focused – we need to engage with a wide range of users to understand the root of a problem or opportunity before we can design the best ICT solution. You will rarely work alone. You will be part of a team, maybe even leading that team! We need people who can multi-task, take problems apart and put them back together as bespoke, effective, impactful solutions. 

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We also need smarter and more effective ways of showcasing this. The women who lead and deliver this important work are already doing high-impact jobs, managing families and trying to find time for hobbies and down time. There’s a challenge for AI! 

What personal observations have you made over the past 25 years when it comes to women applying for 3rd level education in computing and engineering? 

I have seen first-hand that many girls apply to undergraduate courses in fields such as Education, Law, Psychology and Medicine, as they perceive these to be more impactful than careers in ICT. However, we often see many women returning to university later through our ICT conversion courses, having struggled to secure fulfilling employment in their original field and becoming more aware of the real-world impact ICT can have later in life. 

How many of our families have been or currently are affected by asthma, mental health issues, or dementia? These are all areas where ICT can and will deliver high-impact solutions. We need women to help lead and design focused, bespoke and personalised solutions that deliver longer term benefits to both citizens and health careproviders.  

Likewise, personalised and gamified learning through ICT solutions can make education at all levels, a better and more inclusive experience for all. We need women to be at the forefront of leading and designing these innovations. 

As a female Professor of Artificial Intelligence how important is attracting more women to the sector? 

It is vital that we attract people of all ethnicities and genders to help develop safe and responsible AI. AI must remain inclusive to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all citizens, society and the environment. 

Women are underrepresented in ICT, and even more so in AI as a specialist sector.  

I work with a wide range of colleagues and initiatives across NI, RoI, the UK and Europe striving to create opportunities for women to engage with ICT at all levels,from primary and post-primary education, to prospective students, career guidance professionals, industry collaborators, researchers, academicsand government agencies.  

Mentorship plays a vital role in this, and I’ve been privileged to support and mentor many women as they navigate their journey into ICT and AI. 

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We need a joined-up approach in Northern Ireland, which allows us to network, share and learn from other countries that have had great success in attracting more women into this highly rewarding and impactful sector.  

AI has the potential to impact lives in many ways, what areas do you think AI will make the greatest positive impact and how do projects like the AI Collaboration Centre support this revolution?