Our research
Data permeates every aspect of our lives. At Essex, we believe an interdisciplinary approach
is the only way to harness its full power and deliver meaningful insights that will make a real
difference to the world.
Our data scientists work together, crossing disciplinary boundaries, challenging conventional
approaches, and using data to solve the big problems we face in all aspects of our lives.
That's what makes us different. And that’s why we have such a great track record in
making the world a better place.
A history of pioneering new techniques
We have a long history in data science. Since the 1960s, our pioneering researchers have helped
the world make the most of the opportunities science and technology can bring.
Essex is one of the first three UK universities to house a central research activity in artificial
intelligence (AI). We’ve been working in AI, gamification, machine learning and understanding
complex systems for five decades.
Our researchers have been field-defining. They developed complex multi-agent systems models to simulate
prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies and understand the behaviour of social insects; they brought
together philosophy and the rigour of computational logic to spearhead understanding of artificial
intelligent systems and they created the first virtual world game.
Leading the way in the next generation of smart computational methods
What is the optimal age for children to start school? What are the most effective measures to support
children of given socio-economic characteristics to attain better outcomes? What is the best personalised
health plan for this individual?
These are just some of the important questions we’re trying to answer. The emphasis is no longer just on
predictive analytics, but on prescriptive analytics. Not just what is going to happen in the future, but
what we need to do to make it happen.
Essex scientists lead the way in the next generation of computational and analytical methods to derive
powerful insights from data. Our researchers work on advanced analytics and machine learning techniques
to enhance our knowledge of individuals and society.
We’re using the abundance of observational data available and can uncover complex and nuanced relationships
on a scale never before possible. Our findings enable decisions and actions at the individual level – much
better than making decisions based on averages that obscure important details.
Project showcase
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Big data, big threat?
Digital technology and the big data it generates about every aspect of our lives offers
unique opportunities, but the 2013 Edward Snowden revelations revealed it also comes with
great risks.
How can our big data be stored and accessed and by who? What are the implications for our
privacy, security and democracy, and how can big data be used to identify human rights abuses,
develop policies and to target humanitarian aid?
These are some of the questions being asked by Essex academics involved in a major study
funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the University.
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Understanding Society – one of the world’s largest household panel surveys
For 27 years, our researchers have collected data on the social and economic circumstances, attitudes,
behaviours and health of 100,000 individuals in 40,000 households. The project, led by Professor Michaela
Benzeval, is one of the world’s largest household panel surveys, providing valuable evidence about
twenty-first century life in the UK. ISER’s team of research and survey experts specialise in the production
and analysis of longitudinal data and provides evidence on how people’s lives are changing over time.
From 2016, we started collecting biomarkers, as well as socio-economic data. This allows us, and researchers
around the world, to analyse the way inherited genes and lifestyle choice determine life chances. We lead the
way in nurture-nature debates thanks to our genetic and epigenetic analysis of biological samples and DNA, and
the minority ethnic and immigrant boost sample added in 2015.
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EUROMOD – the tool to predict policy impact that went global
EUROMOD is a powerful tax-benefit micro-simulation model which allows researchers and policy analysts
to work out how taxes and benefits affect household income and work incentives for any country in the EU.
It is updated annually in collaboration with national experts from each EU member state.
The results are used to inform policy, from stress-testing a tax-benefit system to designing and testing
the effect of different incentives for citizens under different conditions. New models are being created for
developing countries across the globe.
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Reporting wartime human rights abuses
The Iraq war, prolonged civil unrest and the emergence of ISIS in the region have created a
humanitarian crisis and made life for ordinary Iraqis difficult, and often deadly.
Now the power is shifting and the people of Iraq have a tool, developed by our scientists,
to report rights abuses.
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Using data to predict crime
Advanced computer software designed to enable the police to predict both the perpetrator and
the timing of a crime has saved one Italian force close to €2.5 million in one year. Those
were the findings of the programme’s first academic evaluation carried out by Professor Giovanni
Mastrobuoni from our Department of Economics.
Contact us
We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in partnering with us. Get in touch.
Human Rights Big Data
The ESRC-funded Human Rights, Big Data and Technology project analyses the challenges and opportunities
presented by the use of technology and big data from a human rights perspective.
Education
We pass on our ground-breaking research methods by training the next generation of data scientists.
From undergraduate to PhD, our programmes aim to address the global skills shortage.
Business
We’re working with businesses, governments, local authorities, NGOs and third sector organisations, taking on the challenges that the data revolution brings.
How could Essex help your business?
Download brochure
Our work spans the full spectrum of data science, from data storage and curation to applying our
research to the real world. Download our brochure (.pdf, 54Mb)
to read more.