Professor Tao Cheng was conferred Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences in spring 2025. She is Professor of Geoinformatics at UCL, Founder & Director of the UCL SpaceTimeLab for Big Data Analytics, and Theme Leader for Mobility at The Alan Turing Institute. She is also a member of the College of Experts for the Department for Transport.
Professor Tao ChengFAcSS
Tao’s research focuses on spatio-temporal data analytics, pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and network analysis to tackle key societal challenges, including urban mobility, crime prevention, public health, and disaster resilience. Her work has had a significant impact in both academia and practice. Notably, her predictive crime mapping research, adopted by the Metropolitan Police Service, has enhanced resource allocation and public safety. Her studies on multimodal mobility, using GPS and mobile data, have influenced transport policy, improving understanding of traffic congestion, travel behaviour, and decarbonisation strategies. Additionally, her contributions to digital twin technology have advanced infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness.
Tao has established strong collaborations with key stakeholders, including Transport for London (TfL), the Department for Transport (DfT), and Public Health England. Through these partnerships, she has successfully translated cutting-edge research into practical applications, shaping policies on sustainable transport, public safety, and urban resilience.
Her achievements have earned her international recognition as a thought leader in spatial data science and Geographical Information Science (GISci), bridging geography, data science, and the social sciences to address critical global challenges.
Why do the social sciences matter?
The social sciences are essential because they help us understand and improve the world we live in. They provide the tools to analyse human behaviour, societal trends, and policy impacts, ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence. In my work, the social sciences play a crucial role in interpreting spatial data and AI-driven insights, making them meaningful and applicable to real-world challenges such as crime prevention, urban mobility, and disaster resilience. By bridging data science and social science, we can create smarter, fairer, and more sustainable societies.
What inspires you about your work?
What inspires me most is the ability to transform data into actionable insights that make a tangible impact. I enjoy working at the intersection of AI, big data, and policy, where research can directly influence how cities function, how transport is planned, and how public safety is enhanced. Collaborating with policymakers, industry leaders, and fellow researchers to solve pressing societal challenges is both exciting and rewarding. Seeing our research translate into real-world improvements — such as better urban mobility strategies or safer communities — keeps me motivated.
What is the most urgent issue social scientists need to tackle today and within the next three years?
One of the most pressing challenges is how to use AI and big data responsibly to shape equitable and sustainable policies. With rapid advancements in AI and predictive analytics, we must ensure that these technologies are used ethically and inclusively, avoiding biases while maximising social benefits. In the next three years, social scientists must work towards developing frameworks that integrate AI into decision-making processes while prioritising fairness, transparency, and privacy. Additionally, addressing climate resilience, urban sustainability, and digital inequality will be critical for shaping a just and data-driven future.
What does being a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences mean to you?
Being elected as a Fellow is a great honour and recognition of the impact that spatial data science can have in shaping social science research and policy. It is also an opportunity to contribute to the Academy’s mission by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and the responsible use of data in tackling societal challenges. I look forward to engaging with fellow social scientists to advance knowledge, influence policy, and drive positive change.