DPhil student Emma McMillian named MPLS Outstanding Student ED&I Champion 2025

DPhil student Emma McMillian has won the 2025 MPLS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Award in the category of Outstanding ED&I Champion – Student.

This annual award recognises a student within the division who has shown exceptional commitment, leadership and impact in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion. Emma's award reflects her remarkable efforts to build a more inclusive community within computer science and beyond.

Emma is a DPhil researcher working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and computational cardiology. Alongside her contributions to one of the most pressing challenges in modern healthcare, Emma is committed to widening participation in STEM.

As a Department Ambassador and Researcher Role Model for Beyond Boundaries, Emma regularly speaks to young people about the real-world implications of AI and what a future in science might look like for them. Her work with students across the UK – from primary school through to sixth form – has had a lasting impact, demystifying AI and encouraging underrepresented voices to consider a path in STEM. She also serves as Vice President of Community Affairs at Reuben College, where she supports community-building efforts that prioritise inclusion and belonging.

Emma’s outreach and advocacy are grounded in her own experiences, where her passion for maths and science was sparked by an opportunity to meet the pioneering African American mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose calculations helped bring the astronaut John Glenn back from space: ‘In my positions I hope to change the classic narrative of what it ‘looks like’ to be a scientist and show that anyone can pursue big dreams’.

Whether leading outreach events, representing student voices at college and university level, or advocating for greater visibility in STEM, Emma is making a tangible difference. As the MPLS Division noted in the award citation, she ‘exemplifies unwavering dedication, sustained commitment, and effective leadership in advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion in computer science.’