Community

We work with two AI related community organisations:

• Shef.AI - The Sheffield Data Science and AI Community

• Sheffield Robotics  

We believe that an active, diverse and inclusive community can help by:

• Connecting researchers and bringing people together, especially where previously dispersed

• Concentrating knowledge, motivation and inspiration 

• Facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations  

• Sparking positive change

Shef.AI

Under the Turing Network Development Award considerable momentum has developed around AI at the University.  The Sheffield Data Science and AI Community (Shef.AI) is the network for researchers with an interest in data science and AI. Shef.AI, with support from the CMI, runs regular community events,  provides a regular newsletter and has an open source website. Shef.AI has a number of interest groups, which bring almost 300 researchers together from across disciplines around a central theme.

Visit our Shef.AI community site for a searchable database of membership and their expertise, Shef.AI events, opportunities and news.

Visit our Sheffield AI community site

Join Shef.AI

Join our Shef.AI community and sign up to interest groups:  we welcome all staff and PhD students working in/with an interest in data science and AI research and innovation at the University of Sheffield to join Shef.AI and to sign up to interest groups.

Shef.AI Interest Groups

Shef.AI supports 21 interest groups (IGs) which bring together Sheffield researchers and professional services staff from across the disciplines, around an AI related theme. To date, almost 300 researchers have signed up from across five faculties, professional services, the Library and the AMRC. Interest group themes are aligned to national priority areas and Alan Turing Institute interest groups.

Why interest groups?

Community interest groups help to create a vibrant, inter-disciplinary environment for our researchers. Interest groups aim to:

• facilitate communication and resource sharing and help to spark collaboration and new projects 
• complement (not duplicate) existing research group structures at the University 
• be interdisciplinary and bring together expertise that would otherwise be dispersed  
• provide an organisational structure for the CMI to connect to researchers, to disseminate knowledge and opportunities and to support AI research initiatives 
• provide a foundation for future interdisciplinary funding opportunities
• facilitate links between Sheffield research and other AI networks, such as the Alan Turing Institute interest groups

See the full list of 21 Interest Groups

Further information about interest groups:
Each group has lead organisers and a google group for members to connect.

Members can meet up in-person at interest group meetings and events; the CMI provides support for interest groups and members to organise community engagement events around a theme.

As an IG member you can take part in opportunities such as our Interest Group Initiatives Scheme and AIRE project proposal calls. 
 

Sheffield Robotics

Sheffield Robotics is a cross-university, cross-disciplinary organisation that seeks to bring together industry and researchers from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University to make Sheffield a leading hub for robotics research.
 

By breaking down traditional academic barriers and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in robotics applications, Sheffield Robotics aims to accelerate progress in manufacturing, healthcare, infrastructure and our understanding of humanity through responsible, ethical research. Sheffield Robotics' research involves investigators in all faculties at the University of Sheffield and also at Sheffield Hallam University. Sheffield Robotics have facilities and equipment for hire.

Find out more about Sheffield Robotics - management, facilities, handbook and how to join: Visit Sheffield Robotics