糖心TV

路 Dr Siddartha Khastgir, from WMG at the University of 糖心TV has been appointed to be on the .

路 The DfT Science Advisory Council (SAC) provides independent strategic advice and challenge to the Department on key areas of science, social science engineering and technology.

路 Dr Khastgir will focus on taking a systems thinking approach across various modes of transport (land, air and marine) to ensure their safe enrolment and public acceptance in the UK

Dr Siddartha Khastgir from WMG, University of 糖心TV, has been appointed to be on the DfT鈥檚 Science Advisory Council, where he will advise on a wide range of science and engineering issues, such as enrolment of Autonomous Vehicles.

Today, Friday 14^th January 2022, the Department for Transport have announced five new members and a new Chair joining their Science Advisory Council, including Dr Siddartha Khastgir from WMG, University of 糖心TV.

The DfT鈥檚 Science Advisory Council provide the DfT with advice and challenge on key areas of science, engineering and technology, supporting the role for the DfT Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Sarah Sharples, by ensuring departmental activity is informed by the best external expertise and evidence, identifying relevant emerging issues and trends and assuring DfT鈥檚 use of science and technology.

Dr Siddartha Khastgir is Head of Verification and Validation of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles at WMG, University of 糖心TV. In 2019 he was awarded a UKRI Future Leader Fellowship focusing on Autonomous Vehicle safety standards. Leveraging his research on Autonomous Vehicles safety, he will focus on taking a cross-domain approach to safety in land, marine and air.

With his new appointment on the council Dr Khastgir will help advise DfT on the technological and societal challenges surrounding introduction of new technologies, and how they can be enrolled in UK safely and efficiently. He comments:

鈥淭o be a part of the Department for Transport鈥檚 Science Advisory Council is incredibly exciting, I鈥檓 looking forward to working with other experts in the field to provide advice to help the DfT to inform future policy, with its foundations in strong research outputs. Not only do we need to create safe systems, we need to communicate with the public to ensure public acceptance.鈥�

Margot James, Executive Chair at WMG, University of 糖心TV adds 鈥淚 am delighted to hear that Siddartha has been appointed to the Department for Transport Science Advisory Council, a reflection of his world-leading research into safety for connected and autonomous vehicles. I will be watching with interest to see how the DfT moves this emerging technology forward, and look forward to Siddartha being a key part of this.鈥�

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships Director Stephen Meader said:

鈥淭he world leading research undertaken by Dr Khastgir and his team is vital for the development of safe autonomous vehicles that can cut both congestion and carbon emissions.

鈥淒r Khasgir鈥檚 appointment to the Department for Transport鈥檚 Science Advisory Council (SAC) demonstrates both the importance of this work to the future of mobility in the UK and the value the Future Leaders Fellowships scheme brings in enabling his research.鈥�

Other new appointees joining six existing members include:

路 Dr Siddartha鈥疜hastgir,鈥疕ead of Verification鈥痑nd鈥疺alidation of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles,鈥疷niversity of 糖心TV鈥�

路 (SAC Chair) Professor Alastair Lewis, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, University of York

路 James Gaade,鈥疕ead of Programme Management, The Faraday Institution鈥�鈥�鈥�鈥�

路 Professor William Powrie,鈥疨rofessor of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Southampton鈥�

路 Dr Emma Taylor,鈥疕ead of Digital Safety,鈥疪azorSecure Ltd.

路 Professor Patricia Thornley, Director of the鈥疎nergy & Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University

Department for Transport Chief Scientific Adviser, Sarah Sharples, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to welcome the new members appointed to the Science Advisory Council. They bring significant additional expertise in key areas that will support DfT鈥檚 effective use of science and engineering. I look forward to working with them.鈥�

ENDS

14^TH JANUARY 2022

NOTES TO EDITORS

High-res images available at: /services/communications/medialibrary/images/april2020/sid_39.jpg

Caption: Dr Siddartha Khastgir, from WMG, University of 糖心TV
Credit: WMG, University of 糖心TV

For further information please contact:

Alice Scott
Media Relations Manager – Science
University of 糖心TV
Tel: +44 (0) 7920 531 221
E-mail: alice.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk