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About

Susan Stepney is a prominent researcher whose work spans unconventional computing, artificial life, and bio-inspired systems. Her most celebrated contribution, "Mechanical Computing" (2021), has garnered an impressive 263 citations, establishing her as a leading voice in exploring computation beyond traditional silicon architectures. This work reflects her broader fascination with how computational principles can be realized across diverse physical substrates, from ferromagnetic thin-film devices to reservoir computing systems. Stepney's research consistently bridges biology and computation. Her investigations into artificial biochemical networks demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how complex nonlinear dynamics — mirroring those found in living organisms — can be harnessed to design adaptive, evolving systems. This biological inspiration extends to her work on robotic locomotion, where coupled signalling networks enable six-legged robots to generate flexible, environment-responsive movement. As a thoughtful contributor to the artificial life community, Stepney has also engaged critically with the field's direction, co-authoring reflective pieces examining ALife's past, present, and future — including timely commentary on large language models and generative AI's implications. Her scholarship, spanning over a decade of active publication, positions her as both a technical innovator and an intellectual steward of emerging computational paradigms.