Noel Sharkey

Dr Noel Sharkey FBCS, FIET is a Belfast-born British computer scientist. He is best known to the British public for his appearances as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games, and co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern Ireland.

Career

Dr Sharkey currently holds a chair in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Sheffield, England, and is supported by the EPSRC as a Senior Media Fellow.

He holds a doctorate in psychology, a doctorate in science, is a chartered electrical engineer, a chartered information technology professional, a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a fellow of the British Computer Society, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, and a member of the actors union Equity.

Academic contributions

In the academic world, Sharkey is best known for his contribution to machine learning and cognitive science. Sharkey has written and spoken widely concerning the ethical responsibilities of governments and international organisations in a world where robotics applications are dramatically increasing, both in the military and policing contexts,^[1] and in the medical care of children, the elderly and the sick.

Dr Sharkey has helped set up robot competitions for young people around the world, including the national Chinese creative robotics contest, and the national Egyptian schools AI and robotics contest.

Media

Dr Sharkey is the founder and editor-in-chief of the academic journal Connection Science, and an editor for Artificial Intelligence Review and Robotics and Autonomous Systems.

Sharkey appeared as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games.^[2] He presently co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern Ireland, and produces and presents a weekly radio show for the community radio station Sheffield Live! called The Sound of Science.

Personal life

Dr Sharkey resides in Sheffield, and has two daughters.

References

1. ^ Dr Noel Sharkey (18 August 2007). "Robot Wars are a Reality". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2151352,00.html. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 
2. ^ "Robot World-Techno Games". BBC Webchat. 9 March, 2001. http://www.bbc.co.uk/communicate/archive/robot/page1.shtml. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 

External links

• Academic Homepage, Noel Sharkey (Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield)

Journals

• Artificial Intelligence Review
• Connection Science
• Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Interviews

• Magazine interview in New Scientist (September 1, 2009)
• Magazine interview in CS4FN (retrieved: 26 December, 2007)
• Prism Magazine interview (September, 2005)
• ABC interview, transcript (25 August, 2005)
• Yorkshire Post interview (9 March, 2005)
• Guardian interview (15 February, 2002)

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Name	Sharkey, Noel
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Date of birth	1948
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