Professor Tom Crick, Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), recently returned to campus for a visit highlighting the University’s research in digital security, artificial intelligence, the creative industries and sport.

Hosted by the Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour (IDSB), during his visit Professor Crick, a Bath alumnus, met academics working across AI, online behaviour, digital security and immersive technologies, as well as teams from CAMERA and the Sports Training Village.

Immersive and creative industries

His day began in the CREATE Lab in Psychology, with Lab Director Professor Danaë Stanton Fraser and colleagues demonstrating their work on understanding audiences within the Innovate UK - UKRI MyWorld project.

Their research focuses on immersive technologies and the creative industries. Dr Mike Richardson presented the 'Grinning Man' - an immersive virtual reality musical performance in collaboration with Aardman Animations and Tom Morris Productions, in which they are investigating audience movement synchrony.

Emma Harrison, MyWorld PhD student, showcased her recent research on immersive narrative experiences and climate change. Theo Kozlowski, PhD student and MyWorld Research Technician, presented new findings from recent work with St George's Bristol on live music and on spatial audio with partners, including Real World Studios.

AI futures and digital security

Professor Crick and members of the DCMS CSA team then met researchers from the new Centre for AI and the UKRI CDT in Accountable, Responsible, Transparent AI.

The Centre for AI is a hub for the nearly 60 researchers across the University whose work explores algorithmic innovations, mathematical foundations, and a wide spectrum of applications in chemistry, life sciences, physics and engineering.

Following this, IDSB co-director Professor Adam Joinson hosted a visit to the Institute highlighting tools being developed to support research. This includes 'Carrier', a browser-based platform built by IDSB PDRA Dr Jiahao Eric Yang for creating and testing real-time human–AI collaboration.

The team also showcased 'Social Pulse', a prototype wearable sensor badge developed by Dr Lukasz Piwek, which automatically captures how people interact - who they spend time near, how often they engage face-to-face, and physiological signals like movement and stress - in any environment, without cameras, surveys, or manual observation.

Finally, EPSRC CDT in Cyber Security PhD student Katie Thomas demonstrated 'Trip Hustler', a narrative-driven game developed as part of a study exploring children’s digital financial literacy skills.

Commenting Professor Crick said: “It was a real pleasure to return to Bath, where I studied both as an undergraduate and PhD student, in my role as DCMS Chief Scientific Adviser. I was hugely impressed by the breadth and depth of work taking place across the University at the intersection of AI, digital security and behaviour, immersive technologies, and the wider creative industries.

"What stood out was the way Bath is combining disciplinary excellence with genuinely interdisciplinary research that speaks directly to major public policy questions: how we build trusted and responsible digital systems, support a thriving creative economy, and strengthen societal resilience in a period of rapid technological change.

"These are precisely the kinds of research-policy connections that matter for DCMS and for government more broadly.”

Professor Adam Joinson, co-director of IDSB, added: “We were delighted to showcase our research to Professor Tom Crick and his team in the Institute. We discussed many of the challenges facing the UK’s information ecosystem, and the importance of trust - and shared places - to support community cohesion and resilience in the face of technological disruptions."

Motion capture and sports science

To round off Professor Crick's visit to Bath, colleagues from CAMERA highlighted some of their pioneering motion capture work leading to advances for the creative industries, sports science and health, whilst the CSA (a former BUCS-winning Bath karate coach) toured the Sports Training Village to learn more about our Olympic and community sports successes.

Professor Emma Carmel, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) who hosted a digital-focused roundtable discussion as part of the visit, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Tom back to campus for a packed day of activities showcasing a range of projects in digital research and innovation.

"Across areas spanning AI, digital security, online behaviours, the creative industries and sport, our researchers are delivering interdisciplinary work that closely aligns with key DCMS priorities and helps address some of the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing society today.

"I am really grateful to all the teams who contributed to the visit and shared their expertise, demonstrating the depth of talent and collaboration across our community.”