Co-director and Associate Professor in Conflict Studies
Lauren Gould is Associate Professor in Conflict Studies at Utrecht University and the principle investigator and project leader the Realities of Algorithmic Warfare (RAW) programme, the Intimacies of Remote Warfare (IRW) programme, and Assembling the Western Way of War in Afghanistan and Beyond project (at NIOD).
From a critical conflict and war studies perspective these trans- and interdisciplinary research programmes trace and conceptualize the changing character of the Western way of war and its impact on civilian harm and democratic accountability. Gould has conducted fieldwork amongst Western militaries and in conflict zones across the Middle East and East Africa. Her aim is to use the knowledge her teams generate to inform academic, public and policy debates.
Lauren sits on the executive board of the Nuhanovic Centre for War Reparations. As a member of a consortium, she also advises the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands on issues related to Protection of Civilians (PoC) policy, including efforts to reflect PoC principles in relation to the integration of AI in Dutch military operations.
