Professor Luca Viganò
Professor of Computer Science
- Associate Vice President (Middle East)
- Ambassador for International, Engagement & Service
Research interests
- Computer science
Contact details
Biography
Luca Viganò is Associate Vice President (Middle East) and Ambassador for International, Engagement & Service at King's College London.
He has worked at King’s since 2013, where he was previously Global Envoy for King’s, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, and Head of the Department of Informatics.
He is Professor at the Department of Informatics, where he was the founding Head the Cybersecurity Group from 2018 to early 2026. He is now the co-director of the Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) at King’s.
Luca's research spans cybersecurity and privacy, mathematical logic and automated reasoning, and AI and creativity. His two primary research focuses are formal methods and tools for the specification, verification, and testing of cybersecurity and privacy, and explainable cybersecurity. In the former area, he has developed a number of approaches and automated tools for the formal analysis of socio-technical systems. In explainable cybersecurity, he has been exploring the intersection of technology and storytelling, investigating how fairy tales, myths, cinema, theatre, and other narrative forms can make complex technological concepts more accessible and foster a deeper understanding of the digital world.
Alongside his academic work, Luca is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, writer, and translator. His plays have been published and staged in Italy, the UK, and Russia. His short film "The First" explores a near future in which human rights come into conflict with those of machines, and he has written a number of short stories set in the same future. He also writes fairy tales.
His work thus inhabits a borderland where the precision of science meets the richness of storytelling, and where even a fairy tale or a short story can open the door to some of the deepest questions of our time.
Luca was born in Genoa, Italy, and is an Ambassador of Genoa in the World.
More Information
Research
King's Cybersecurity Centre
An EPSRC-NCSC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). It provides expertise on most areas of cyber security, it has a critical mass of researchers working on three main research themes and their interrelationship.
Finance Hub
The Finance Hub conducts fundamental and applied research at the intersection of finance and computation, a sector which is colloquially known as FinTech.
Health Hub
The Health Hub centres on computational characterisation of medically relevant study cases and data.
Sustainability Hub
The Sustainability Hub consolidates the research related to sustainability
Security Hub
The Security Hub consolidates the research related to security
Trusted Autonomous Systems Hub
The Trusted Autonomous Systems Hub develops the trustable autonomous systems of tomorrow.
Cybersecurity
The group studies design, modelling, analysis, verification and testing of networks and systems.
Centre for Italian Politics @EIS
The Centre for Italian Politics at the Department of European and International Studies
Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
Arts & Creativity Hub
The Arts & Creativity Hub is composed of researchers interested in applying Informatics research to creative domains such as art, music, games, storytelling and theatre
News
Festival of Storytelling explores creativity, connection and the future
The Festival of Storytelling, hosted by the Digital Futures Institute at King’s, brought together a vibrant programme of 23 free events across three days (2–4...
War over AI, not with AI: experts warn of emerging security risks
The Digital Futures of Security brought together experts to explore how artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are reshaping the concept of security in the...
King's to develop next generation cloud security with leading cybersecurity consultancy
Developing a new approach to securing Kubernetes is the aim of the Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) between King’s and ControlPlane
Digital Futures Institute announces eleven new Fellows for 2025-26
Eleven interdisciplinary projects awarded Fellowships from the Digital Futures Institute for the 2025-26 cohort.
King's strengthens partnerships and explores future opportunities in Asia
Led by Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Shitij Kapur, the King’s delegation visited Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong to meet partner universities,...
DeepTech Roadshow shines spotlight on UK's Deep Tech Industry
A delegation of US-based Venture Capitalists (VCs) visit Bush House with the Department for Business and Trade.
Return of five-day Festival of Artificial Intelligence sees over 1500 people exploring AI at King's
Find out more about the King’s Festival of Artificial Intelligence held between 21 and 25 May 2024
New Scientist Live 2023
From fortune-telling with ChatGPT to the cybersecurity of fairy tales, King’s academics showcased their latest research and demonstrations in physics,...
'Inspirational, informative and thought-provoking': King's Festival of Artificial Intelligence
King’s opened its doors to the public to explore the latest AI developments at this five-day festival.
New scholarships scheme for postgraduate students
King’s is delighted to be one of the founding partners of the Martingale Foundation established to support students hoping to study for a PhD in STEM subjects.
Events
King's Institute for Human and Synthetic Minds Creativity Clinic
Creativity clinic for King's staff and students
Festival of Storytelling: Opening Event and Book Swap
Join our launch to learn about the upcoming highlights and hear from King's academics and invited guests on the power of a good story. Bring a book to swap...
Please note: this event has passed.
Digital Futures of Security
Leading experts explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the global security landscape.
Please note: this event has passed.
How To… Use AI in the Workplace
Session number four of the ‘How To…’ series of the 2023-24 academic year, supporting students and recent graduates to be well-prepared for the workplace and...
Please note: this event has passed.
The academic flyout culture panel
How do we minimise emissions from air travel while improving diversity and equity in academia and continuing our internal ambitions?
Please note: this event has passed.
The First
Attend this screening of a short film which explores what happens when humans turn the table on AI.
Please note: this event has passed.
Fairy Tales of AI and Cybersecurity
Professor Luca Viganò uses fairy tales to illustrate the concepts of cybersecurity and AI.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Cybersecurity: it's personal
Meet Luca Viganò, Professor of Computer Science, whose research explores how to keep people safe online.
Creativity Clinic
Creativity Clinic is a monthly event by King's Institute for Human and Synthetic Minds that help staff and students on their creative projects. It is hosted...
Can memes teach AI to be creative?
We all have sent and received memes (who hasn’t sent out This is Fine meme on a busy workday, right?), but how are they created, why do some of them go viral,...
Intelligence, Creativity and Information Processing in the Human and Synthetic Minds
King's Institute for Human and Synthetic Minds (KIHSM) exists to build and support interdisciplinary work on the human brain and the synthetic models we use...
Research
King's Cybersecurity Centre
An EPSRC-NCSC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). It provides expertise on most areas of cyber security, it has a critical mass of researchers working on three main research themes and their interrelationship.
Finance Hub
The Finance Hub conducts fundamental and applied research at the intersection of finance and computation, a sector which is colloquially known as FinTech.
Health Hub
The Health Hub centres on computational characterisation of medically relevant study cases and data.
Sustainability Hub
The Sustainability Hub consolidates the research related to sustainability
Security Hub
The Security Hub consolidates the research related to security
Trusted Autonomous Systems Hub
The Trusted Autonomous Systems Hub develops the trustable autonomous systems of tomorrow.
Cybersecurity
The group studies design, modelling, analysis, verification and testing of networks and systems.
Centre for Italian Politics @EIS
The Centre for Italian Politics at the Department of European and International Studies
Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
Arts & Creativity Hub
The Arts & Creativity Hub is composed of researchers interested in applying Informatics research to creative domains such as art, music, games, storytelling and theatre
News
Festival of Storytelling explores creativity, connection and the future
The Festival of Storytelling, hosted by the Digital Futures Institute at King’s, brought together a vibrant programme of 23 free events across three days (2–4...
War over AI, not with AI: experts warn of emerging security risks
The Digital Futures of Security brought together experts to explore how artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are reshaping the concept of security in the...
King's to develop next generation cloud security with leading cybersecurity consultancy
Developing a new approach to securing Kubernetes is the aim of the Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) between King’s and ControlPlane
Digital Futures Institute announces eleven new Fellows for 2025-26
Eleven interdisciplinary projects awarded Fellowships from the Digital Futures Institute for the 2025-26 cohort.
King's strengthens partnerships and explores future opportunities in Asia
Led by Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Shitij Kapur, the King’s delegation visited Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong to meet partner universities,...
DeepTech Roadshow shines spotlight on UK's Deep Tech Industry
A delegation of US-based Venture Capitalists (VCs) visit Bush House with the Department for Business and Trade.
Return of five-day Festival of Artificial Intelligence sees over 1500 people exploring AI at King's
Find out more about the King’s Festival of Artificial Intelligence held between 21 and 25 May 2024
New Scientist Live 2023
From fortune-telling with ChatGPT to the cybersecurity of fairy tales, King’s academics showcased their latest research and demonstrations in physics,...
'Inspirational, informative and thought-provoking': King's Festival of Artificial Intelligence
King’s opened its doors to the public to explore the latest AI developments at this five-day festival.
New scholarships scheme for postgraduate students
King’s is delighted to be one of the founding partners of the Martingale Foundation established to support students hoping to study for a PhD in STEM subjects.
Events
King's Institute for Human and Synthetic Minds Creativity Clinic
Creativity clinic for King's staff and students
Festival of Storytelling: Opening Event and Book Swap
Join our launch to learn about the upcoming highlights and hear from King's academics and invited guests on the power of a good story. Bring a book to swap...
Please note: this event has passed.
Digital Futures of Security
Leading experts explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the global security landscape.
Please note: this event has passed.
How To… Use AI in the Workplace
Session number four of the ‘How To…’ series of the 2023-24 academic year, supporting students and recent graduates to be well-prepared for the workplace and...
Please note: this event has passed.
The academic flyout culture panel
How do we minimise emissions from air travel while improving diversity and equity in academia and continuing our internal ambitions?
Please note: this event has passed.
The First
Attend this screening of a short film which explores what happens when humans turn the table on AI.
Please note: this event has passed.
Fairy Tales of AI and Cybersecurity
Professor Luca Viganò uses fairy tales to illustrate the concepts of cybersecurity and AI.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Cybersecurity: it's personal
Meet Luca Viganò, Professor of Computer Science, whose research explores how to keep people safe online.
Creativity Clinic
Creativity Clinic is a monthly event by King's Institute for Human and Synthetic Minds that help staff and students on their creative projects. It is hosted...
Can memes teach AI to be creative?
We all have sent and received memes (who hasn’t sent out This is Fine meme on a busy workday, right?), but how are they created, why do some of them go viral,...
Intelligence, Creativity and Information Processing in the Human and Synthetic Minds
King's Institute for Human and Synthetic Minds (KIHSM) exists to build and support interdisciplinary work on the human brain and the synthetic models we use...