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Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe, PhD
Chief Data and Technology Officer, Boon and Co-founder of beautifulplaces.ai - Passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology to create a positive global impact.
Dr. Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe is a prominent figure in the data science and artificial intelligence community, currently serving as the Chief Data and Technology Officer at Boon.34 She is also the co-founder of Beautifulplaces.ai, a platform that uses crowdsourced data and AI to map beautiful places worldwide.7
Academic Background and Research
Dr. Seresinhe holds a PhD in Data Science from the University of Warwick.1 Her research focuses on understanding how the aesthetics of the environment influences human wellbeing, using big online datasets and deep learning techniques.12 Her work has gained significant attention, being featured in prestigious publications such as The Economist, Wired, BBC, Scientific American, and MIT Technology Review.17
Professional Experience
Before joining Boon, Dr. Seresinhe held several notable positions:
- Director of Data Science at Culture Trip (August 2020 - March 2022)6
- Data Science Researcher at The Alan Turing Institute (September 2016 - October 2020)6
- Senior Data Scientist at Channel 4 (October 2018 - March 2019)6
Current Role and Projects
As the Chief Data and Technology Officer at Boon, Dr. Seresinhe is leveraging her expertise in data science and AI to solve complex problems related to human behavior.4 She is passionate about using technology to address challenging global issues.6
Dr. Seresinhe is also actively involved in projects that combine AI and urban planning. Her work with Beautifulplaces.ai aims to use AI and crowdsourced insights to guide urban planning, enhance well-being, and boost economic prosperity.57
Publications and Recognition
Dr. Seresinhe has authored several highly cited papers, including:
- "Using deep learning to quantify the beauty of outdoor places" (2017)2
- "Quantifying the impact of scenic environments on health" (2015)2
- "Happiness is greater in more scenic locations" (2019)2
Her innovative approach to combining data science with environmental aesthetics and human wellbeing has established her as a thought leader in the field.


