York University is home to three Ontario Research Chairs, a program established by the Government of Ontario to support research excellence in the province.
The Chairholders advance Ontario’s global leadership in critical research and teaching on the implications of science, technology and innovation, especially as this relates to the governance and social benefits of AI, digital technologies and biotechnology. The program fosters new ideas, products and knowledge that help keep the province competitive for investment.
These Chairs are supported by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities and administered by the Council of Ontario Universities.
Kean Birch
Ontario Research Chair in Science PolicyKean Birch is a professor in the Department of Science, Technology & Society and the Science Technology & Society Graduate program. He is also the director of the Institute for Technoscience & Society. His research concerns the assetization of digital data and the implications for the development of artificial intelligence.
Robert Gehl
Ontario Research Chair in Digital Governance for Social JusticeGehl is an associate professor in the Department of Communication and Media Studies in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. His research explores the intersections of technology, communication, and social change, with a particular focus on how digital platforms shape political discourse and activism.
Teshager Dagne
Ontario Research Chair in Governing Artificial IntelligenceDagne is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. His research explores legal, ethical, and regulatory considerations in the challenges and opportunities that the deployment of AI and related technologies bring in different spheres of activities.