The Oxford Martin School has announced three new programmes for 2024 that aim to develop research solutions to the most pressing 21st century issues. They will tackle the critical challenges of how we can improve our ability to detect attacks on AI systems; effectively redeploy electric vehicle batteries through ‘second-life’ schemes when they reach the end of their life; and optimally and ethically employ digital tools during a pandemic.

Professor Sir Charles Godfray, Director of the Oxford Martin School, said:

‘I am really excited about the three new programmes which I believe will help address a broad range of challenges facing us in the coming decades.

‘I am confident the researchers working on these programmes will continue our rich tradition of addressing these challenges in novel and innovative ways.’

The three programmes will commence shortly.

Effectively detecting compromised AI systems

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The Oxford Martin Programme on AI Threat Detection aims to address a worrying gap in our ability to detect attacks on systems that use artificial intelligence, despite our increasing reliance on AI. Although ongoing research is focused on identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities and potential attack points in AI systems, there are no specific methods to detect whether they have been compromised or predict how such risks might spread or cause harm.

Programme Director and Professor of Cybersecurity, Sadie Creese, said:

‘All new technology brings vulnerability to our systems, and there are always threats seeking to exploit this vulnerability and attack our organisations. We know that the earlier we detect cyber-attacks penetrating our systems the better, since it gives us opportunity to limit the resulting harm.

‘AI is going to be increasingly important to our societies and economics, but currently we have no means to detect threats compromising the AI systems. This research is aimed at delivering this essential capability.’

Giving a second life to EV batteries

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The Oxford Martin Programme on Circular Battery Economies seeks to explore how best to utilise the economic value and various uses electric vehicle batteries have when they reach the end of their life. Ensuring a battery is given a second life in this manner is preferable to direct recycling because its significant economic value and embedded carbon materials are better utilised – a key principle of a circular battery economy.

Programme Director and Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering, Paul Shearing, said:

'Energy storage is central to decarbonisation, but a lack of understanding of the full life cycle of Li-ion batteries could derail widespread electrification.

‘Understanding the second life pathways for batteries, and ensuring safe redeployment with proper consideration of energy justice, is central to establishing a battery circular economy, which is the ambition of this new, exciting programme.’

Protecting against pandemics using digital tools

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The Oxford Martin Programme on Digital Pandemic Preparedness will develop a blueprint for digital health systems that can be deployed during pandemics, create a funding model for implementation, and work with public health agencies to develop the next generation of pandemic-ready digital tools. Such tools are already enabling unprecedented and individualised public policy responses, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Programme co-Director, Nuffield Professor of Demography and Population Health and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, Melinda Mills, said:

‘We face an unprecedented number of outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, while at the same time digital tools are transforming our lives and enabling novel analytics and personalised public policy responses.

‘In this new program we will not only understand the technical and modelling requirements for an effective digital response, but also engage with stakeholders to develop an ethical blueprint for digital health systems to contribute to the next pandemic playbook.’

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