Professor Slava Jankin

Professor Slava Jankin

School of Government
Chair in Data Science and Government
Turing Academic Lead

Contact details

Address
School of Government
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Professor of Data Science and Government in the School of Government and the School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham. Deputy Director of the Institute for Data and AI (IDAI) and Founding Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Government (CAIG). As the University's Turing Academic Lead, he coordinates research activities with The Alan Turing Institute and the wider Turing University Network.

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Qualifications

PhD in Political Science, Trinity College Dublin, 2009

Postgraduate Diploma in Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, 2006

BSc Econ with Distinction, Belarus State Economic University, 2002

Biography

Slava Jankin specialises in computational approaches to governance and society, focusing on how artificial intelligence can transform public institutions and address complex societal challenges. His interdisciplinary work combines expertise in political science, artificial intelligence, and environmental policy to develop innovative frameworks for evidence-based policymaking. At Birmingham, he has established new MSc programmes in AI and Government and AI and Sustainable Development, reflecting his commitment to building capacity for digital transformation in the public sector. 

Previously, he founded the Data Science Lab at the Hertie School, Berlin, and held professorships at University College London and the University of Essex. He serves as an expert advisor to the United Nations and European Commission on AI and data science innovation.

Research

Professor Jankin's research advances the application of artificial intelligence in three interconnected areas of governance and society: 

  • His work on digital twins for governance develops innovative frameworks for simulating and improving institutional systems. This research creates sophisticated AI-powered models that enable policymakers to test reforms and predict outcomes, transforming how we understand and enhance governance processes. 
  • Through the Lancet Countdown and CATALYSE initiatives, he leads research on computational approaches to climate change and health, developing novel surveillance systems that leverage digital data to monitor and predict environmental health impacts. This work combines advanced natural language processing with multi-stream data analysis to transform how we understand and respond to climate-related health challenges. 
  • His research on information resilience in super-diverse societies examines how cultural diversity influences information processing and sharing. This work combines neural studies, agent-based modelling, and community co-creation to understand how diversity can enhance societal resilience against misinformation. 

Across these areas, his interdisciplinary approach combines methodological innovation in AI with practical applications in public policy, particularly focusing on how computational methods can enhance institutional effectiveness and evidence-based decision-making.

Publications

 Niheer Dasandi, Hilary Graham, David Hudson, Slava Jankin, Jennifer vanHeerde-Hudson, and Nick Watts. “Positive, Global, and Health or Environment Framing Bolsters Public Support for Climate Policies." Nature Communications Earth & Environment, accepted. 

Liam Weeks, Slava Jankin, Alex Herzog, Micheal O Fathartaigh, and Hannah Bechara. “It’s Only Words? Analysing the Roots of the Irish Party System Using Historical Parliamentary Debates” Parliamentary Affairs, accepted. 

“The 2022 Europe Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: towards a climate resilient future.” The Lancet Public Health, accepted. 

“The 2022 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: health at the mercy of fossil fuels.” The Lancet, accepted. 

Finn Mueller-Hansen, Yuan Ting Lee, Max Callaghan, Slava Jankin, Jan C. Minx. “The German Coal Debate on Twitter: Reactions to a Corporate Policy Process.” Energy Policy, Volume 169, 2022, 113178. 

Niheer Dasandi, Wenjia Cai, Peter Friberg, Slava Jankin, Johan Kuylenstierna, and Maria Nilsson. "The inclusion of health in major global reports on climate change and biodiversity." British Medical Journal: Global Health, accepted. 

Averill Campion, Mila Gasco, Slava Jankin, and Marc Esteve (2022). “Overcoming the Challenges of Collaboratively Adopting Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector.” Social Science Computer Review, 40(2): 462-477. 

Nicola Chelotti, Niheer Dasandi, Slava Jankin (2022). “Do Intergovernmental Organizations Have a Socialization Effect on Member State Preferences? Evidence from the UN General Debate”, International Studies Quarterly, 66(1): sqab069.

View all publications in research portal