ECCI data expert receives top academic award

ECCI resident Dr Murray Collins has become a Chancellor’s Fellow in Data-Driven Innovation for the University of Edinburgh.

These prestigious awards are aimed at high potential academics in the early stages of their careers who have begun to establish a reputation for top quality research.

Over the five year fellowship Murray’s research will span everything from the development of the UK space sector and systems for satellite data processing and analysis, to the application of artificial intelligence to big data from space.

Murray joined ECCI last year on a Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellowship to support the spin-out of a green IT company called Space Intelligence. The business uses remote sensing data, mostly from radar satellites, to make maps of forests around the world and monitor how these forests are being affected by human activity such as deforestation.

He recently became a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy, to promote digital skills in Scotland.

Dr Murray Collins, Chancellor’s Fellow, said:

"I am delighted to be joining the School as a Chancellor's Fellow at this pivotal point in Edinburgh's development.

"I look forward to working with colleagues across the School, University, industry and government to drive and promote data-driven innovation, particularly within space and satellite analysis, in the broader context of the City Deal."

The City Deal will see £300 million of public funding invested in data-driven innovation over the coming decade.

Want to know more about ECCI's Connected Clusters project which links cities, data and Edinburgh's City Deal?