Profile
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Luke Chambers
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About Me:
I live with my girlfriend, two children, cat, chickens and ducks in Newcastle, England. I am a scientist who moved into law, and now work as a technology lawyer for really cool technologies like robots, space shuttles, and even submarines. I love video games and walking – but not at the same time!
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I always loved technology, mostly from video games. When I was young I wanted to be a video game developer. I didn’t go to university until I was 25 though, because I didn’t think I was clever enough! Luckily I eventually did, and saw a course in Artificial Intelligence which looked cool so I did my degree in that. After that I moved into a Master’s in Law (the next degree up), and I am now doing my PhD in Law – researching how AI (clever computers) work in our legal system.
I also work for a very big company who makes space rockets, submarines, and tanks – which is very cool! My job is to know all of the little pieces of these technologies and think a lot about making sure they’re all okay and safe to use, and that we’re allowed to use them.
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My pronouns are:
He/Him
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My Work:
For my job I look at how AI (computers that can decide to do things by themselves) works in law. I also spend lots of time looking at police surveillance tech, spaceships and submarines to understand how they work and keep track of each little piece to make sure it’s all safe and legal. It’s my job to know lots of the laws around technology.
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Computers are very clever at some things, but not all things. This is how computers can make mistakes. Lots of people believe that computers always get it right, which is not true. This causes problems when a computer makes a mistake but people believe it anyway. This is important when the decision is very important – like if police are investigating a crime or if a judge is trying to decide what proof there is that someone did a bad thing.
It’s also important to make sure that computers controlling big pieces of equipment know what they are doing and can’t make too big a mistake. This makes it safe for the people on board to do their important job!
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Education:
I went to Spring Gardens Primary and then to Kings School Tynemouth. I did my whole academic career at Northumbria University. I started in Artificial Intelligence (making clever computers), then did a degree in Law, and now do my PhD there.
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Qualifications:
I got As and Bs in my GCSEs, except a D in History which is strange because I loved history! Sometimes exams don’t do a good job of seeing how much you know.
In my A-Levels I did not do as well as I hoped. I got Cs and Ds.
As part of starting uni I did a foundation course in ICT before my main degrees. Then I did my computer science degree, then a master’s degree in law, and then my PhD. You don’t need to be clever to do any of this – just able to stick with it!
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Work History:
I have worked very many jobs before landing where I am now. I liked to explore lots of options. I have worked in hotels, pubs, as a motorcycle courier (delivering things on a motorbike) and even as a medic out in the Canadian wilderness. I have also worked at the Centre for Life a long time ago.
I currently work for a big engineering company who make lots of things for outer space or for the army or navy.
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Current Job:
I now work as a legal researcher (in my PhD) and as a Senior Engineer at an engineering company. Lots of being a researcher is about testing your own ideas. It’s not about being right, but finding out facts and testing theories. If you’re a scientist who is always right – you’re not doing anything new!
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Employer:
My employer is a very big company who makes things to explore outer space, as well as lots of different things for the army and navy like tanks and submarines. It’s a very cool job.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Keeps robots fair
What did you want to be after you left school?
I didn't know what I wanted to be. I actually lived in the Canadian wilderness for a bit, and also worked at the Centre for Life on the ice rink!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
If I ever had to change job, I think I'd like to be a writer. Both fiction and non-fiction.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Christina Perri
What's your favourite food?
Sushi
Tell us a joke.
What's the world's fastest cake? 'Scone!
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