Dr Crispin Cooper is sDNA’s lead developer. His research background was initially in Computer Science; with a degree from Cambridge University he went to work in Intelligent Systems for the University of York, where he helped to develop microchips capable of evolution, growth, self-repair and learning.

After a brief stint in industry, he decided to develop his interests in sustainable development, first working as a project volunteer in Uganda during 2006. Crispin then completed his PhD at Cardiff University’s Department of City and Regional Planning, using high performance computing to visualise and model large quantities of housing market and socioeconomic data collected from the UK census and Land Registry.

He now works for Cardiff University Sustainable Places Research Institute, with current research interests lying in the application of information technology to sustainability problems, either from the perspective of traditional modelling, or through creating tools for networking and public engagement.

He is a member of the PLACE panel advising Cardiff Council on sustainability strategy.