Join us to gain practical insights, real-world examples, and connect with peers driving responsible AI adoption in research operations. All events are free — open to everyone in the research community.
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AI, Research Evaluation & REF 2029: What We Need to Understand Now
📅 Thu, Jan 22, 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM (GMT)
🎙️ Speakers: Mike Thelwall, Professor of Data Science, University of Sheffield (UK)
As AI use in research assessment accelerates, understanding what large language models can — and cannot — do is becoming essential for REF preparation and future funding decisions.
This session explores recent evidence on using LLMs to assess research quality across REF-style outputs, highlighting where they add value, where they fall short, and how they may responsibly support — but not replace — expert judgement.
Bridging the AI Divine: The Future of Research Management
📅 Thu, Dec 11, 2025 · 4:00–5:00 PM (GMT)
🎙️ Speakers: Tse-Hsiang Chen, EU Grant Advisor & Writer, UMC Utrecht
What if GenAI could help research managers build confidence, reduce uncertainty, and strengthen their support services — without the hype, fear, or complexity?
Join UMC Utrecht for a session exploring how their Research Office is integrating GenAI through two practical initiatives, FUTURE and LIFT. You’ll see how structured training, clear frameworks, and real-world lessons are helping teams adopt AI in meaningful, sustainable ways.
Discover how responsible GenAI can build literacy across research support, guide organisational readiness, and empower research managers to lead the next chapter of our profession.
AI Tool Demo: Profectus — How AI Elevates Research Proposal Success
📅 Tue, Nov 11, 2025 · 4:00–5:00 PM (GMT)
🎙️ Speakers: Dr. Anders Wennström & Dr. Folmer Bokma, Co-Founders of Profectus Academy
What if AI could help researchers strengthen their grant proposals — improving clarity, structure, and persuasiveness in just minutes?
Join Profectus Academy for a live demo of their AI-powered tool, trained on hundreds of real proposals and expert evaluations. The system provides detailed, reviewer-style feedback that helps researchers and institutions develop more competitive funding applications — all while keeping data private and secure.
Discover how responsible AI can democratise proposal-writing support, enhance fairness, and free research managers for more strategic work.
AI in Action: AI and Automation in Administrative and Enterprise Workflows
📅 Thu, Oct 23, 2025 · 4:00–5:00 PM (BST)
🎙️ Speaker: James Shelley, Western University (Canada)
AI is moving far beyond chatbots—itis now powering large-scale administrative and enterprise workflows across research institutions. Join James Shelley as he shares how AI is being used to provide tailored feedback on grant proposals, automate research communications, and streamline institution-wide operations.
Discover how AI and automation can increase efficiency, reduce administrative workload, and prepare teams for the future of research management. Gain practical insights on identifying high-impact use cases and scaling AI responsibly across your organization.
AI in Action: Integrating AI Solutions into Daily Research Administration
📅 Thu, Sep 11, 2025 · 4:00–5:00 PM (BST)
🎙️ Speaker: Jeff Warner, UC Irvine (USA)
AI is no longer a future concept—it’s transforming research administration today. Join Jeff Warner as he shares real-world use cases from UC Irvine, including AI-assisted contract redlining, automated grant workflows, and secure tools like ZotGPT.
Discover how AI can improve efficiency, accuracy, and staff capacity in research offices, and gain practical insights on scaling adoption in your own institution.
Becoming an AI in Research Lead: Building Communities That Drive Change
📅 Thu, Jul 17, 2025 · 4:00–5:00 PM (BST)
🎙️ Speaker: Anna Aston, Founder of AIRON
AI adoption in research isn’t just about technology—it is about people leading change. In this session, Anna Aston will share how the AI in Research Operations Leads Programme empowers professionals to champion AI adoption within their institutions and across the global research community.
Learn how AIRO Leads are building communities of practice, influencing institutional strategy, and turning AI’s potential into practical, ethical, and impactful change.
Demystifying ISO/IEC 42001: Responsible AI in Practice
📅 Thu, Jun 5, 2025 · 4:00–4:45 PM (BST)
🎙️ Speaker: Ashley Blake, Director of Research & Knowledge Exchange Support
As AI reshapes research and innovation, the need for robust, ethical, and transparent governance has never been greater. ISO/IEC 42001—the world’s first AI management system standard—offers a practical framework to manage risks, ensure accountability, and meet emerging regulatory and ethical expectations.
In this focused 45-minute session, Ashley Blake will explain what ISO/IEC 42001 is, why it matters now, and how organisations can begin their alignment journey. Expect clear insights, practical steps, and sector-relevant guidance for research organisations, funders, and compliance teams.
AI Adoption in Research Funding: Panel Discussion
📅 Tue, May 13, 2025 · 4:00–5:00 PM (BST)
🎙️ Panelists: Kirstin Williamson (Wellcome Trust), Brian Yim Lim (Barts Charity), Peter Kolarz (Research on Research Institute), Jon Holm (Research Council of Norway)
🎤 Moderator: Anna Aston
As AI reshapes research and innovation, the question is no longer if funders will adopt it, but how it will transform the future of research funding. This brings together leading voices from Wellcome Trust, Barts Charity, the Research on Research Institute, and the Research Council of Norway to share how AI is already being integrated into funding processes and what lessons are emerging. The conversation will explore whether AI can make peer review more efficient and fair, how to balance automation with human judgment, and what ethical and governance challenges must be addressed. Participants will gain a current snapshot of AI adoption across funders, practical reflections to support institutional preparedness, and a deeper understanding of the opportunities and risks shaping the future of research funding.
Product demo: Scite (scite.ai)
📅 Thu, Mar 20, 2025 · 4:00–4:45 PM (BST)
🎙️ Speakers: Josh Nicholson, Igor Osipov, Founders of Scite
Join us for a hands-on demo of Scite, the AI-powered research tool transforming how researchers discover, evaluate, and understand scientific literature. Scite goes beyond traditional citation indices by showing not just who cited your work, but how it was cited—while also offering one of the most powerful AI assistants for literature reviews and writing.
In this session, you will gain a practical understanding of Scite’s key features, see real-world use cases, and have the chance to ask questions tailored to your needs. This demo is open to researchers, research managers, librarians, grant writers, and anyone interested in smarter, more efficient ways to navigate scientific knowledge.
Facilitating AI Adoption in Research
📅 Thu, Mar 6, 2025 · 4:30–5:30 PM (BST)
🎙️ Speaker: Ranjit Sidhu, Change Management & Project Management Expert
Driving AI adoption in research management requires more than enthusiasm—it needs strategy and support. In this monthly discussion, Ranjit Sidhu will share how to articulate and champion AI adoption in ways that foster collaboration, reduce resistance, and build readiness for AI-driven change.
In this interactive session, Ranjit will offer practical strategies for creating supportive environments that embrace innovation, followed by group discussions where participants can share experiences and explore how to apply these approaches in their own institutions.
AI in Research: Do’s and Don’ts
📅 Wed, Feb 5, 2025 · 4:00–4:45 PM (BST)
🎙️ Speaker: Dr Christine O’Dea, AI in Education & Research Expert, King’s College London
What works—and what doesn’t—when applying AI in research? In this interactive workshop, Dr Christine O’Dea will share best practices, common pitfalls, and real-world examples drawn from her own experience using AI in both education and research.
Participants will gain practical insights on leveraging AI for efficiency and innovation, learn what mistakes to avoid, and explore ethical considerations that are critical for responsible adoption. The session will include an open Q&A, giving you the chance to ask questions and engage directly with an expert.
Designed for research managers, academics, and anyone navigating AI adoption, this workshop will leave you with clear, actionable takeaways to guide your AI journey.
AIRON 