B.Sc.(Eng.), M.Sc., M.Th., Ph.D., LTCL, FRSA
Emeritus Professor
- About
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- Email Address
- g.coghill@abdn.ac.uk
- School/Department
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences
Biography
I am retired, but still continue with some personal research. At the moment that is broadly in the areas of Theology and Science (specifically AI), and Analytic Theology (for which I received an MTh from Edinburgh Theological Seminary/ Glasgow University). I retain an interest in the Philosophy of Information and Model-based Reasoning.
I originally studied Engineering Science, but spent the bulk of my career in AI (the subject for which I obtained a PhD). At various times I have worked for Greater Glasgow Health Board (in Medical Physics), Heriot Watt University (RA), Aberystwyth University (lecturer) and finally Aberdeen University where I was latterly a professor of Computing Science and SICSA Chair in Systems Modelling. At Aberdeen I served in a number of capacities: Head of Computing Science (2010-2014; Director of Research and a Deputy Head of the School of Natural and Computing Sciences (2015 – 2018). I have served on a several committees in the institution including the Academic Standards Committee (Post-graduate), the Quality Assurance Committee, and the Research Policy Committee. I also did a few stints on Senate.
Externally I did the usual things expected of an academic: reviewing for journals and conferences, external examining (for research degrees and taught programmes) at a number of institutions in the UK and beyond; conference committees, Carnegie trust PhD selection committee, etc.
I am an Honorary Research Fellow at ETS (and on the ETS Senate, and Seminary Board).
I am also a singer and obtained a diploma from Trinity College London (LTCL) in 2014. I give recitals, and am building up my portfolio. You can find my music page on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/George-M-Coghill-Baritone-111362928143158
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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The Centre for History and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine
- External Memberships
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Honorary Research Fellow, Edinburgh Theological Seminary
Associate University Lecturer, University of Glasgow
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
Member of the Evangelical Theological Society
Member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society
Co-editor (with Dr Ximian Xu) of the T & T Clark Handbook on Artificial Intelligence and Religion
Latest Publications
Towards a Measure Theory of Semantic Information
Working Papers: Working Papers- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2508.00525
On The Modal Indeterminacy Of A Free Choice: Updating Donald M. Mackay’s Argument For Logical Intederminacy
Etica & Politica Ethics & PoliticsContributions to Journals: Articles“James Clerk Maxwell: Faith, Church, and Physics” by Bruce Ritchie
Theology in Scotland, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 106-110Contributions to Journals: Reviews of Books, Films and Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.15664/tis.v31i2.2813
Enhanced Affinity Propagation Clustering on Heterogeneous Information Network
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsDonald MacCrimmon MacKay (1922 – 1987): Scientist and Accidental Philosopher: A Critical Appreciation
Science and Christian Belief, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 83-102Contributions to Journals: Articles
- Research
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Research Overview
My main research was in the area of Model-based Systems and Qualitative reasoning (a branch of AI), but is now in the domain of Theology and Science (focussed on issues in Information and AI).
Current Research Interests:
Theology and Science/ Philosophical Theology
Analytic Theology
Philosophy of Information
Informational Philosophy of Science
Model-based Systems and Qualitative Reasoning
I have been fortunate to be involved in interdisciplinary projects with friends and colleagues across a wide spectrum of disciplines (e.g. Biology (Systems and Synthetic), Engineering, Medicine, Music, Sociology).