This appointment follows a competitive call for expressions of interest from across the international scientific community. Professor Ahern joins a select group of 12 experts tasked with supporting the Government Science Advisor, Professor Aoife McLysaght, in providing cross-disciplinary evidence to inform national policy. 

Professor Deirdre Ahern commented: “I am truly honoured to be selected to join such esteemed interdisciplinary experts on the National Science Advice Forum. I look forward to bringing my expertise on Artificial Intelligence and on anticipatory governance methods for emerging technologies such as quantum technologies to the National Science Advice Forum and to working collaboratively with the other Forum members under the chairmanship of Professor Aoife McLysaght, Government Science Advisor.”

Strengthening Evidence-Based Policy 

The formation of the Forum is a central pillar of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy. Recognising that modern policy formation requires a breadth of expertise beyond any single individual, the Forum brings together internationally recognised leaders in fields ranging from genetics and sustainability to law and social sciences. 

Professor Deirdre Ahern

Deirdre Ahern is a Professor in the School of Law where is Director of the Technologies, Law & Society Research Group.  She has particular expertise around ethics, policy and regulation for new technologies including AI and quantum technologies and regularly works across disciplines including with physicists, computer scientists and ethicists. Deirdre is a Fellow of the Information Society Law Centre at the University of Milan, a member of Europol's Quantum Safe Financial Forum, and a member of the global Quantum Humanities Network hosted by Innsbruck Quantum Ethics Lab. She is already advising government as a member of Ireland’s AI Advisory Council. At the Royal Irish Academy she has led out on public discourse around governing AI and is a regular speaker on AI regulation and policy. Her recent research work has focused on anticipatory governance tools for innovation.

➡️ For the Government press release see here