Welcome to the PEAS in Pods Project
PEAs in Pods seeks to empower the Greater Manchester (GM) data science and artificial intelligence (AI) research communities to engage meaningfully with traditionally marginalised communities and embed co-production methods into individual and institutional research processes and governance. The project is divided into three pods. Click a Pod to find out more.
PEAs in Pods seeks to empower the Greater Manchester (GM) data science and artificial intelligence (AI) research communities to engage meaningfully with traditionally marginalised communities and embed co-production methods into individual and institutional research processes and governance. The project is divided into three pods. Click a Pod to find out more.
In 2025, the UK government's AI strategy focuses on economic growth by making the UK a global AI leader, improving public services, and fostering innovation through initiatives like dedicated AI Growth Zones and the UK Compute Roadmap. The strategy emphasizes developing talent, data, and compute infrastructure while establishing governance for safe and responsible use.
"With AI transforming every aspect of our lives, no one should be left behind. Everyone deserves the opportunities, confidence, and skills to engage in conversations about how AI shapes their everyday experiences.” — Prof. Keeley Crockett
However, the dimensions of trust in data-driven and AI technologies are complex. If we want people to trust data-driven and AI technologies, we must first reach out to them, inspire them to get involved and demonstrate that their voices have influence.
Our ambition is for this project to lay the foundations for significant long-term impact across the GM tech research community as a model for ethical, effective coproduction. We expect to see PEAs enthused and confident about integrating public engagement into their research, and we will monitor for sustained levels of engagement beyond the project.Inspired by the Champion’s sustained advocacy, PEAs, community co-researchers, the host institution and project partner universities will co-develop a sustainable way for communities to inform and influence research activities whilst addressing significant barriers and power imbalances.
This project has received funding from UKRI engineeringand Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC) Grant Ref: EP/W033488/1
