The project work is distributed into 7 Work Packages (WPs): (1) Theorising drone violence; (2) Drone violence as war; (3) drone violence as violent law-enforcement; (4) Drone violence as tele-intimate violence; (5) Drone violence as devolved (to AI) violence; (6) Workshops and interviews; (7) Project administration and research dissemination.
The Principal Investigator has recruited and managed two postdoctoral research associates (PDRA1 since December 2018 and PDRA2 since February 2019), and a project website was launched in May 2019. In July 2019 our research workshop in Southampton involved 14 participants (from Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, UK and US) discussing the theme “Governing Drone Violence: Concepts, Moralities, and Rules”. Selected workshop papers were revised into 9 chapters for a volume edited by the PI and published in January 2021. A policy-oriented workshop on “Developing the Armed Drone Code of Ethics”, in London in March 2022, involved representatives of non-government organizations. All project team members received approval from a University of Southampton research ethics committee to conduct in-person or online interviews. Research participants have been recruited, and an appointed Ethics Adviser has been available to give independent advice. Manuscript submissions to publishers: 11 articles, 8 chapters, 1 conference proceedings paper, 2 authored books, 1 edited volume, and 2 policy papers. Research findings also disseminated at 20 conferences, 14 workshops, and 51 other events.
The PI has: led WPs 1-3 and 7; contributed to WPs 4-6; maintained a website; liaised with the Ethics Adviser; recruited research participants for WPs 2 and 3; co-organized 2 project workshops; submitted to publishers 5 articles, 4 chapters, 1 edited volume (of 9 chapters), 1 book manuscript, and 2 policy papers; participated in 15 conferences and 4 workshops; and disseminated research findings at 30 other events.
PDRA1 has: led WP4; contributed to WPs 1, 6 and 7; recruited research participants for WP4; co-organized two project workshops; submitted to publishers 2 articles and 1 chapter; participated in 2 conferences and 2 workshops; and disseminated research findings at 3 other events.
PDRA2 has: led WP5; contributed to WPs 1, 6 and 7; recruited research participants for WP5; submitted to publishers 4 articles, 3 chapters, 1 conference proceedings paper, and 1 book manuscript; participated in 3 conferences and 8 workshops; and disseminated research findings at 18 other events.