RAS Lecture Social Alignment in Robotics: Promoting Human Wellbeing Through Adaptive Robotic Coaches, Prof. Hatice Gunes
Prof. Hatice Gunes (Professor of Affective Intelligence & Robotics, University of Cambridge) will present “Social Alignment in Robotics: Promoting Human Wellbeing Through Adaptive Robotic Coaches” at 11am (UTC) on 11 February 2025.
IEEE UK and Ireland RAS Chapter is cooperating with a number of IEEE OUs including IEEE UK and Ireland Women in Engineering Affinity Group and IEEE UK and Ireland SSIT Chapter to organise this Guest Lecture as a joint Webinar on 11 February as part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Registration
IEEE and non-IEEE Members are invited to Register and participate.
IEEE Members should include their IEEE Membership Number when registering.
Access to online Meeting
Registered participants will be provided with the link prior to the event.
Guest Lecture Focus
Abstract: The field of social robotics increasingly acknowledges the potential of robots to align with human needs, serving as collaborative agents in promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being. At the Cambridge Affective Intelligence and Robotics Lab (AFAR), we have explored this potential since 2019, supported by a 5-year grant from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Our work focuses on designing robotic coaches that socially align with human behaviours and goals to enhance mental well-being. This effort has involved:
· Collaborations with human coaches & professionals to ground the robot’s actions in established practices.
· User-centred research to understand user expectations, perceptions, and feedback.
· Development of adaptive AI that responds in real-time to verbal and nonverbal user behaviours.
In this talk, I will share our journey of transitioning robotic coaches from lab environments to real-world applications, discussing how social alignment in robotics enhances engagement and efficacy. Through case studies, I will highlight challenges and opportunities in using socially adaptive robots for well-being, including strategies for short- and long-term adaptation and insights into user expectations shaping the future of research in this domain.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
-
Add Event to Calendar
- Starts 06 February 2025 07:00 PM UTC
- Ends 11 February 2025 09:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Prof. Hatice Gunes
Biography:
Prof. Hatice Gunes is a Full Professor of Affective Intelligence & Robotics at the University of Cambridge, where she leads award-winning research on multimodal, social, and affective intelligence for AI systems. Her work spans Machine Learning, Affective Computing, and Social Signal Processing, with over 180 publications, an H-index of 42, and more than 9,500 citations.
She has received numerous awards, including several best paper awards at prestigious conferences, such as IEEE ACII, IEEE RO-MAN, and IEEE FG. She has also played key and leading roles on such events. At the University of Cambridge, she has been honoured with the Better Future Award at the Depart. of Comp. Sci. and Tech., as well as Runner-up for the Collaboration Award at the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Research Impact & Engagement. She has been recognized among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University for five consecutive years. Most recently, she is a Finalist for Sony Women in Tech. Award with Nature 2025.
Her research on adaptive robotic emotional intelligence for well-being has gained widespread recognition, with extensive media coverage in The Guardian, BBC News, Medical News Today, Bloomberg, and more. Her contributions extend beyond academia, influencing real-world applications and commercial innovations.
Agenda
11:00 (UTC) Welcome and Introduction to Guest Speaker
11:05 Lecture
12:00 Questions and Discussions