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Maura Conway

Dr. Maura Conway

Maura Conway is Paddy Moriarty Professor of Government and International Studies in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU); professor of Cyber Threats in CYTREC at Swansea University, UK; and founder of VOX-Pol (voxpol.eu). Prof. Conway’s principal research interests are in the area of terrorism and the Internet, including the functioning and effectiveness of extremist and terrorist online content, online radicalisation, and so-called 'cyberterrorism.' She is the author of over 60 articles and chapters in her specialist area(s). Her research has appeared in, amongst others, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Media, War & Conflict, Parliamentary Affairs, and Social Science Computer Review. Prof. Conway has presented her findings before the United Nations in New York, the Commission of the European Union in Brussels, the UK House of Lords, and elsewhere. She is a member of the Academic Steering Committee of Europol’s Counter-terrorism Centre's Advisory Network on Terrorism and Propaganda and the Research Advisory Board of the European Commission's Knowledge Hub on Radicalisation 2.0. Previous appointments include, by the Irish Minister of Defence, to the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces (2020-2022). 

Research Interests

The intersections of extremism, terrorism, and the Internet, particularly the functioning and effectiveness of extremist and terrorist online content, and online radicalisation.

Funding Highlights

  • Horizon Europe (2026 – 2029): partner in a €3m+ project coordinated by University College London and titled ONLIVES (Grant no. 101308761), for research into youth online radicalisation in the context of ‘fluid criminal extremism’ 
  • European Union Internal Security Fund (ISF) (2023 - 2024): together with partners, including Tech Against Terrorism, €225,000 for Tech Against Terrorism Europe (TATE) (Grant No. 101080101), to support smaller hosting services providers (HSPs) in adhering to the EU’s terrorist content online (TCO) regulation
  • TASM Conference Sandpit (2019 – 2020): together with colleagues at Hedayah, Swansea University, Modus|Zad, funding for REASSURE project on well-being of researchers studying online violent extremism and terrorism
  • European Union Horizon 2020 programme (2019 – 2022): social media analysis aspects of BRaVE (Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism and Polarisation) (Grant no. 822189)
  • Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) (2018): funding for analysis of cyber security and online radicalisation in the Western Balkans
  • UK Home Office: funding for analysis, with colleagues at University of Sussex, of Ahrar al-Sham, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and the Taliban’s Twitter and other online activity (2018)
  • UK Home Office: funding for analysis, with colleagues at University of Sussex, of Twitter’s disruption of pro-IS accounts and its impacts (2017)
  • European Union Horizon 2020 programme (FCT-1) (2017 – 2020): ethical aspects of ASGARD (Analysis System for Gathered Raw Data) (Grant no. 700381) – Winner of the EU Commission’s 2022 Collaborative Technology Award
  • NATO, Science for Peace and Security programme: funding for Advanced Research Workshop on ‘Terrorists’ Use of the Internet: Assessment and Response’ at DCU, 27 - 29 June, 2016, in conjunction with The Cyberterrorism Project at Swansea University
  • European Union Framework Programme 7, Theme 10 (Security): €5.13 million Network of Excellence (2013 – 2018) entitled VOX-Pol (Grant no. 312827), for research into violent online political extremism
  • Terrorism and New Media Conference (Sept. 8 – 9, 2010) funding received from DCU’s Office of the Vice-President for Research, the Irish Research Council for the Humanities & Social Sciences, Fáilte Ireland, and the British International Studies Association.

CV

External Positions

  • Prof. of Cyber Threats, CYTREC, Swansea University
    19/06/2020 – Ongoing
  • Coordinator/Principal Investigator, VOX-Pol Network of Excellence
    2014 – 2022
  • Visiting Professor, Centre for Contemporary Middle East Studies, University of Southern Denmark
    2009 – 2010

Academic Qualifications

  • PhD, Trinity College Dublin
    … – 2006
    Project: Political Science
  • Master's Degree, University of Limerick
    … – 1998
    Project: International Relations
  • Bachelor's Degree, National University of Ireland, Galway
    … – 1997
    Project: Legal Science, Sociology & Politics

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