Ruth Stalker-Firth, PhD (EPFL), fascinated by how people use technology, and vice-versa.
Hello, my name is Ruth, I’m a computer scientist and human-centred AI researcher and consultant, with over 25 years of experience bridging academia and industry.
I give talks and courses demystifying AI and related topics, including the history of when computers were women, which highlights how modern technology simply couldn’t exist without their invisible contributions.
For me, technology and storytelling are inextricably linked. When I ask people about their computers, they tell me about their whole lives, as telling stories is how we understand ourselves and the world around us. When we design software, we change how people work, and that is a political act. Technological development mirrors society, so understanding exactly how it works is the key to making us happier in our daily lives.
Key Highlights
- The Journey: Online since 1995, I represented Switzerland for technological AI innovation in 1997, and have been blogging here since 2007 with ~1.2 million hits a year.
- In the Press: Featured in WI Life magazine (February 2026), celebrated by VIA on the WI 111ths birthday (September 2026), and recognised on National Women in Science and Engineering Day 2025.
- Credentials: I hold a PhD in HCI, AI & Big Data from L’École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), a BSc (Hons) in Computing from Liverpool John Moores University, and postgraduate diplomas in AI, VR, and Journalism (LSJ).
- Academic & Industry Focus: With a decade of university teaching HCI, AI, cognitive science, biometrics, IT security, and web technologies at BSc and MSc levels, I teach HCI (1,320+ students and counting) and AI demystification to a wider audience of learners.
- Beyond the Tech: I serve as an elected parent governor at GOSH. I speak fluent French, terrible Italian, and Duolingo Dutch (still learning with a 1111+ day streak).
When I’m off the clock, you’ll find me roller skating or practising yoga.
Last updated: October 2026