Angelina Spilnyk is a PhD researcher at the University of Southampton within the SustAI Centre for Doctoral Training, focusing on the intersection of sustainability, artificial intelligence, and marine governance. Her academic background is in international public and maritime law, and her research primarily intersects within how digital systems can support biodiversity protection and legal accountability in marine spaces.
Angelina’s current PhD research explores how AI can be used to automate and improve legal compliance with marine environmental regulations, particularly in relation to the protection of marine species and habitats impacted by shipping operations. Her work investigates how ecological and legal data can be integrated into real-time decision-support systems using natural language processing, neural networks, and vessel tracking technologies. By focusing on Marine Protected Areas and shipping corridors, she aims to build a system that proactively identifies risks and supports more responsive, enforceable ocean governance. Her research also contributes to global conversations about AI ethics, digital sustainability, and climate resilience in maritime contexts.
Supervisors
Dr Johanna Hjalmarsson
Prof Paul Kemp
Prof Leslie Carr
Themes
Oceans and Coasts
AI and Digital Governance
Environmental Law and Compliance Systems
