First ever AI for Net Zero conference joined by University of Leicester scientists
University of Leicester experts are exploring the role of AI in delivering Net Zero at a four-day conference this week.
The AI for Net Zero conference at the University of Exeter brings together a community of researchers who are addressing the challenges of – and seeking ground-breaking solutions to – the delivery of UK Net Zero by 2050.
The conference is co-organised by the seven research projects funded through the UKRI AI for NetZero Programme, and is hosted by the University of Exeter’s ADD-TREES project.
Researchers from Leicester and Exeter alongside other leading institutions (Durham, Imperial, UCL, Heriot-Watt, Aberystwyth, Surrey) will be among the speakers, alongside policy and industry practitioners, and delegates will include representatives from UKRI, the Alan Turing Institute, and DSIT, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Keynotes will be delivered by Professor Amy Binner from the University of Exeter Business School, Professor Veronica Brown from the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Dr Simon Gardner, Head of Digital Environment at the Natural Environment Research Council, and Saasha Nair, a Senior Tech Policy Advisor at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) who will introduce this year’s Manchester Prize (an annual AI prize this year awarding £1m for Clean Energy projects).
Thematic talks will focus on AI and agriculture, environment, energy, innovation and infrastructure, and panel sessions will allow for discussion on areas including the ethics of AI, and the opportunities and challenges for delivery of net zero.
University of Leicester researchers are using AI for purposes of exploring sustainable land use in Peatland and Ruminant farming.
Professor Heiko Balzter from the University of Leicester, who leads AI for NetZero, said: “The AI for Net Zero conference in Exeter brings together around 150 people interested in AI. The sessions cover modern technologies that can accelerate progress to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The projects funded by the UKRI programme on AI for NetZero gave demonstrations of their outputs. AI can help us get the climate crisis under control if used wisely by decision makers.”
Professor Daniel Williamson, from the University of Exeter, said: “With a packed programme of presentations, panel sessions, breakout sessions, lightning talks, hackathons and poster sessions, our first ever AI for Net Zero conference will be a showcase for Exeter’s expertise in environmental science and AI, and would be beneficial to researchers at any stage of their career, who are warmly invited to come along.”