Professor Girolami is an inspirational engineer and scientist whose world-leading research has significantly advanced data-driven science and engineering, alongside his invaluable leadership in the fast-evolving domains of data science and Al.

Professor Chris Peace, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow

Professor Girolami is the Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Cambridge where he also holds the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Data Centric Engineering. 

He is also Chief Scientist of The Alan Turing Institute, the UK's National Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

The oration by Professor Chris Peace, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow is below:

"Vice-Principal, by the authority of Senate, I present to you this person on whom the Senate desires you to confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Science: Mark Girolami
 
"Professor Mark Girolami is the Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Cambridge where he also holds the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Data Centric Engineering. He is also the Chief Scientist of The Alan Turing Institute, the UK's National Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
 
"Originally from Largs, Prof Girolami undertook his first degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 1985. He then spent ten years working for IBM before obtaining his PhD in computing science from the University of Paisley. Prior to his current position at Cambridge, he held senior academic positions at the Universities of Paisley and Glasgow, UCL and Imperial College London. Although graduating from Glasgow with a Bachelors in Engineering, when Prof Girolami came back to the University as an academic member of staff, it was to our Department of Computing Science.
 
"It was here that he swiftly recognised, well before the hype, the vast potential of technologies like machine learning, and how the growing abundance of data would transform many areas of science and society. As a result, he rapidly established himself as a leading researcher in the field. He is now a globally renowned academic whose expertise uniquely spans computing science, statistical science, applied mathematics and engineering. In recognition of his standing, Professor Girolami is an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Academy of Engineering, and in 2023 he was awarded the Guy Medal in Silver by the Royal Statistical Society for his contributions to computational statistics and machine learning.
 
"The Alan Turing Institute was established in 2015, driven by the need to position the UK as a world leader in Al and data-driven research, both to advance academic excellence and to support government, industry, and society in tackling complex challenges. Given his track record, it was perhaps not a surprise that Professor Girolami was one of the Institute's original founding Executive Directors, going on to establish the Lloyd's Register Foundation Programme on Data Centric Engineering. Consequently, and thanks to his leadership, Data Centric Engineering has quickly emerged as a new discipline in its own right that is having a transformational impact on both engineering science across the world and on professional practice across multiple sectors.
 
"The rapid advance and incredible potential of data science and Al is clear for all of us to see. But it also brings concerns about safety and trust. In 2021, Professor Girolami was appointed as the inaugural Chief Scientist at the Alan Turing Institute, where amongst his many contributions, he has placed an emphasis on how safe and ethical data science and Al can build long term strengths and benefits for society and the economy.
 
"As a former student and member of our academic staff, Professor Girolami embodies the spirit of Glasgow's scientific legacy. A legacy that includes notable figures such as Lord Kelvin - one of the most prominent figures in our university's history, having held the chair of Natural Philosophy for 53 years. Indeed, Professor Girolami's study of the work of Lord Kelvin, whom he rightly sees as a foundational figure of the modern digital age, reflects both a respect for history and a forward-looking perspective that has, perhaps, helped define his own contributions to data science.
 
"In 2023, we established the University of Glasgow's own Centre for Data Science and Al, and I would like to thank Professor Girolami for his generous support, thoughtful insights, and invaluable role as a critical friend during its development.
 
"Professor Girolami is an inspirational engineer and scientist whose world-leading research has significantly advanced data-driven science and engineering, alongside his invaluable leadership in the fast-evolving domains of data science and Al.
 
"Vice-Principal, I invite you to confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Science on Professor Mark Girolami."