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Leading AI policy experts join LSE to support Global Forum on AI and the Social Sciences

Wednesday 25 March 2026
Left to right: Florian Ostmann and Chris Thomas
Left to right: Florian Ostmann and Chris Thomas

The Data Science Institute (DSI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Florian Ostmann as Distinguished Policy Fellow and Chris Thomas as Policy Fellow. They will play a central role in delivering the LSE Global Forum on AI and the Social Sciences and producing its accompanying State of AI and Society report. The annual Forum is a flagship initiative for the Institute, bringing together research and policy expertise to ensure AI serves human and societal needs.

Florian and Chris will also lead an expansion of the Institute’s work on AI governance and regulatory innovation, with a strong focus on capacity building for policymakers. As part of the DSI academic team, they will help to shape future DSI research priorities, strengthen policy engagement, and identify new opportunities for collaboration and funding.

Florian joins the DSI from The Alan Turing Institute, where he was Director of AI Governance and Regulatory Innovation within the Institute’s Public Policy Programme. In this role, Florian led the Turing’s work on the AI Standards Hub – a high-profile initiative dedicated to knowledge sharing, community building, strategic research, and international collaboration around standardisation for AI technologies. Chris also joins from The Alan Turing Institute, where he was a Senior Research Associate. His work there included leading a project that assessed regulatory readiness for AI and regularly advising UK regulators on emerging AI policy challenges.

Professor Helen Margetts OBE FBA, and the DSI Senior Adviser leading the MacArthur Forum, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Florian and Chris to the DSI. Together, they bring exactly the expertise needed to deliver the Global Forum on AI and the Social Sciences.

The Forum is a flagship event for the Institute, bringing together leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world. These appointments will ensure that it is intellectually rigorous, globally relevant, and grounded in real policy challenges.”