Postgraduate students, fellows, staff and faculty from any discipline are welcome. This group aims to foster frequent interdisciplinary critical dialogue across Oxford and beyond about the political impacts of emerging technologies.
Please contact Elisabeth Siegel at elisabeth.siegel@politics.ox.ac.uk in advance to participate or with any questions. Remote attendance is possible, but in-person attendance is prioritized (and provided refreshment).
Discussion topics will be finalized and optional readings will be sent out a week in advance. You do not currently have to be affiliated with the University of Oxford to attend and participate in discussions.

About the speakers:

Kayla Blomquist is a DPhil Affiliate of the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative; a current DPhil candidate at the Oxford Internet Institute; and Co-Director of the Oxford China Policy Lab.

Her research focuses on international approaches to artificial intelligence governance, concepts of legitimacy, and US-China relations. Kayla’s expertise has been featured in outlets including The Economist, Just Security, and Oxford Global Society, and she recently wrote as the lead contributing author to the Oxford China Briefing Book.

Prior to joining Oxford, she worked as a diplomat in the US Mission to China for 4 years, where she specialised in the governance of emerging technologies, human rights, and improving the use of new technology within government services. She also has experience in the non-profit sector managing democracy-building and anti-corruption grants in East and Southeast Asia.

Kayla previously studied at Peking University and is professionally fluent in Mandarin. She holds an MSc in social science of the Internet from the University of Oxford and a bachelor’s degree in international relations, public policy, and Mandarin Chinese from the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies.

Elisabeth Siegel is a DPhil Affiliate of the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, a current DPhil candidate at the Oxford Department of Politics and International Relations, and the leader of the Oxford Technology & Security Nexus, a constituent group of the Oxford Strategy, Statecraft, and Technology Centre at Pembroke College. She is the Director of Events for the Oxford China Policy Lab.