Ilan Price

South Africa

Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing (MSc), 2017
New College, Oxford

Funding: Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

Ilan read for an MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing at the University of Oxford. After graduating (with distinction), he took up a position as a research assistant at Oxford’s Mathematical Institute. During his time at Oxford, Ilan got involved in RAIL – the Rhodes Artificial Intelligence Lab – first as a machine learning engineer and later as a project manager. RAIL puts together teams of Oxford students to work with partner NGOs, companies, and governments, to apply machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to aid the social impact work of these partners. He hopes to begin reading for a PhD focusing on machine learning and AI in September 2018. He believes this to be a field which will have a fundamental impact on important current and future social and political challenges, and which has the potential to significantly alter the way society functions and is organised.

Prior to Oxford, Ilan graduated with a BSc (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town in 2013, majoring in Applied Mathematics and Philosophy. Throughout his university years Ilan volunteered with various education-related NGOs in South Africa, and as a leader and youth facilitator for Habonim Dror Southern Africa – a youth movement for young South African Jews focusing on independent critical thought and activism on social justice issues in South Africa and Israel/Palestine. In 2014 and 2015 he served full time as the movement’s national and foundation head respectively.