Professor Marian Ursu
Professor of Digital Creativity

Profile

Biography

Throughout my academic career, I have led strategic initiatives at the intersection of digital technology, creative practice, and humanities research. At the University of York, I pioneered the development of Digital Creativity, and at Goldsmiths, University of London, I played a central role in shaping the field of Creative Computing. Both institutions are now internationally recognised leaders in these areas.

I have contributed significantly to research leadership and curriculum development, helping secure over £85 million in research funding and establishing two pioneering undergraduate programmes and one master’s.

I hold an MEng in Computer Science and Engineering from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Brunel University.

My first full academic appointment in the UK began in 1998 at Goldsmiths, University of London, in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and Computing. I served there until 2014, progressing from Lecturer to Reader in 2008 and Professor in 2013. During my tenure, I held several leadership roles: Director of Studies (2001–2007), Deputy Head of Department (2007–2011), and Director of Research (2011–2013).

Between 2000 and 2010, the department underwent a radical transformation—from a traditional focus on Mathematics and Computer Science to a pioneering interdisciplinary environment for Creative Computing. This redefinition led to a seamless integration of digital technology and artistic practice. I was a core member of the leadership team behind this change.

A key contribution during this period was the development of research aligned with this new interdisciplinary vision. I founded the Narrative Interactive Media research group and secured over £2.5 million in funding through three large-scale EU collaborative projects totalling £25 million:

• New Media for a New Millennium (Co-Investigator, 2004–2007), which explored new tools and forms for interactive storytelling in film and television
• Together Anywhere, Together Anytime (Co-Investigator, 2008–2012), which developed intelligent technologies for telepresence and video-mediated communication
• Vconect (Principal Investigator, 2011–2014), which advanced telepresence systems for artistic performance and education.

In 2013, I joined the University of York as Professor of Interactive Media (while still holding my Professorship at Goldsmiths until the end of 2014) to establish Interactive Media as a new academic area within the Department of Theatre, Film, and Television. This has since grown into a vibrant area of research and teaching within the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

My most substantial contribution at York has been the co-founding and leadership of the Digital Creativity (DC) Labs, launched with an initial £16.5 million investment from UKRI, over 80 non-academic partners and three universities. I co-directed the Labs with Peter Cowling from 2015 to 2018, then served as Director until 2022.

DC Labs, one of the UK’s six Digital Economy Hubs, explored the convergence of games, narrative media, and performance through interactive, immersive, and intelligent technologies. Its innovations spanned entertainment, education, cultural heritage, the arts, and mental health. DC Labs fostered over 50 collaborative projects, generated 350+ peer-reviewed publications, and delivered more than 400 public engagement activities, resulting in significant societal impact—evidenced by five submitted REF 2021 impact case studies. DC Labs firmly established York as a national leader in technology-driven creative practice.

Building on the foundation laid by DC Labs, I continued to advance the field of Digital Creativity at York – and nationally – with several key initiatives:

• Co-Investigator and Co-Director (R&D Lead) for XR Stories (2018–2023): One of the UK’s nine Creative Clusters, XR Stories brought together academic researchers, regional screen industries, and creative practitioners to explore how emerging immersive technologies can transform screen-based narrative experiences.
• Co-Investigator on Weavr (2019–2021): One of the four UK Audience of the Future demonstrators, Weavr created highly personalised mixed-reality experiences for esports and sports, using AI and data analytics applied to live and historic data.
• Concept Creator and Digital Advisor for PlayOn! (2019–2024): An EU Creative Europe project focused on the creation of new forms of immersive theatre through interactive and mobile technologies.

In 2023, I launched a new master’s programme in AI for the Creative Industries, designed to address the growing demand for expertise at the intersection of artificial intelligence, media, and the arts.

In 2021, I was appointed Member of the DCMS College of Experts and in 2023, after holding the title Professor of Interactive Media for 10 years, my title was revised to Professor of Digital Creativity, to reflect my contributions to the development of this field.

True to form, I’ve written this bio in the first person. That said, I want to acknowledge that every achievement mentioned here is the result of collaboration with many talented and inspiring people I’ve been fortunate to work with.