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We are pleased to announce that Ron Chrisley, Professor of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence in the School of Engineering and Informatics at the University of Sussex and Director of the Centre for Cognitive Science (COGS), has been elected an Academician of WAAC for his systematic contributions to machine consciousness and theories of representation, as well as his construction of methods–architectures–experimental paradigms for complex artificial systems.
Over the years, Professor Chrisley has pursued a research program spanning machine consciousness—synthetic phenomenology—virtual-machine architectures—virtualist representation, building an evidence chain from philosophy to implementable computational architectures: together with Aaron Sloman, he advanced a virtual-machine framework for consciousness, emphasizing self-monitoring and reportability within multi-level software architectures (Virtual Machines and Consciousness); he articulated synthetic phenomenology, advocating the use of artificial agents (robots/programs) to characterize and test attributable phenomenal experience; and with Robert W. Clowes he developed “virtualist representation,” offering a new integrative pathway in debates over experience and representation. Taken together, this body of work has provided methodological and technical instruments for testable characterizations of conscious phenotypes, architectural requirements, and evaluation criteria.
- Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem
Academicians of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness hail from institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter. Honorary Academicians come from a wide range of countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. In addition, leading scientists from prominent research institutes and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and ZEEKR—also participate.
- About WAAC
The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.