The Pursuit of AI Education – Past, Present, and Future

Meet Sylvia Christie, Educational Partnerships Manager, who has played a leading role in growing our scholarship program, which has just celebrated its fifth anniversary.

What was your path to DeepMind?

Before DeepMind, I worked for a social purpose startup that was increasing access to mental health care. Then I got a job at a university working alongside faculty and students. At that point, I realized I was looking for a “Goldilocks” role that combined everything I loved about these different environments—the speed and excitement of a tech startup, the goals of impact, and the excitement of working with brilliant researchers. It seemed impossible to combine all of those things. Then enter the stage left: DeepMind.

During the job interview, I was surprised by how much the interviewers wanted to get to know me and how I felt about the culture being built by DeepMind. People from different backgrounds, disciplines and approaches come to DeepMind, and such an open discussion about the environment that I joined as a recent employee made me feel at home.

What attracted you to the education team?

I believe in ensuring that people from all backgrounds, and especially those from underrepresented communities and backgrounds, have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of AI. I have had the opportunity to work on some truly unique projects at DeepMind, but the fellowship program is – by far – the most rewarding program I have ever been a part of. Each academic year we see a recent crop of talented AI researchers become part of an international community of students and mentors. This is an incredibly special moment – I can’t wait to see what everyone achieves in the future!

How would you describe the scholarship program in one sentence?

The DeepMind Scholarship Program aims to remove barriers for students from underrepresented backgrounds who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in artificial intelligence (AI) and related fields.

What does a typical day look like for you? What about your team?

My days are always mixed. I like to have some time each day to focus on project or planning work, but the rest of the time can be filled with meetings, team meetings, or conversations with students and our partners at universities around the world. It is very diverse and never monotonous.

We are a relatively recent team, so we have had the opportunity to create a culture for our group from the very beginning. Personally, I find the Educational Partnerships team to be caring, respectful, and fun! We have grown a lot as well. In the past year, we have welcomed team members who have helped launch six recent partnerships and expand our educational programs.

What is the biggest challenge your team faces?

Finding the right ways for DeepMind to have a positive impact is the most critical challenge. We need to make sure that our work drives real change in the broader community and in AI education more generally. It’s a good challenge because it’s also an opportunity.

How did you celebrate your fifth anniversary?

We hosted the Scientist Summit. It was a virtual celebration of the program and the incredible mentors, students, and alumni. It was a great week full of fantastic panel discussions with DeepMinders and industry and academic speakers.

What are your most critical conclusions after five years of operation of the scholarship program?

How critical is cooperation. The scholarship program would not be possible without our amazing university partners around the world and the contributions of people across DeepMind – including those who started the program in 2017 and the mentors who volunteer every year. And, of course, the challenging work of the scientists themselves.

To date, over 335 Fellows have participated in our program. This academic year, we will welcome 115 recent Fellows from 26 academic institutions in 13 countries, so it is truly electrifying to see the program grow stronger year by year.

Any advice for students interested in applying for a DeepMind fellowship? Or perhaps a role at DeepMind?

Future scientists – keep checking our website! The scholarship application process and deadlines vary by university, so our website is the best place to stay up to date.

To those looking for a role at DeepMind, don’t write yourself off. I often hear from people that it’s intimidating. The imposter syndrome is real, and it still is for me, to this day. But if you care about the mission and are passionate about your work, then go for it!