Data Science and AI at Lancaster builds on the University’s longstanding strengths in computational and data-driven research. This environment is enriched by a broad interdisciplinary community of researchers working across fields including environmental science, health and medicine, sociology and the creative arts. Through the Data Science and AI Institute @ Lancaster (DSAIL), Lancaster is creating a world-class institute that sets the global standard for a genuinely interdisciplinary approach to contemporary data-driven research challenges. The Institute focuses on the foundations of data science and artificial intelligence, alongside a number of cross-cutting thematic areas.

DSAIL@Lancaster aims to be internationally recognised for its distinctive end-to-end interdisciplinary research capability, spanning infrastructure and fundamentals, globally relevant application domains, and the social, legal and ethical questions raised by data science and AI. By connecting expertise across disciplines, the Institute provides a focal point for research, education and engagement in data science and artificial intelligence across the University and beyond.

We are working to create a world-class Data Science and AI @ Lancaster Institute (DSAIL) that sets the global standard for a truly interdisciplinary approach to contemporary data-driven research challenges. DSAIL aims to have an internationally recognised and distinctive strength in being able to provide an end-to-end interdisciplinary research capability - from infrastructure and fundamentals through to globally relevant problem domains and the social, legal and ethical issues raised by the use of Data Science.

The Institute is initially focusing on the fundamentals of Data Science and AI including security and privacy together with cross-cutting theme areas consisting of environment, resilience and sustainability; health and ageing, data and society and creating a world-leading institute with over 350 affiliated academics, researchers, and students.

Our data science, AI, health data science and business analytics programmes have launched the careers of hundreds of data professionals over the last 10 years. Students from our programmes have progressed to data science roles at Amazon, PWC, Ernst & Young, Hawaiian Airlines, eBay, Zurich Insurance, the Co-operative Group, N Brown, the NHS and many others - please look at our Education pages for further details of the courses on offer.

Can AI judge? A keynote on trust, funding and generative AI

The day's keynote, "Trust in the VoIDs: following the trail of £580,000 of public funds", was delivered by Professor Claire Hardaker, Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University and DSAIL Integrity Theme Lead. The presentation explored what happens to trust and accountability when generative AI tools help decide who receives public funding. Professor Hardaker drew on her bid for funding into AI-generated voices, which was screened out at the AI assessment stage before reaching a human reviewer, to ask whether large language models could be relied on as reviewers.

Research across disciplines

The event reflected DSAIL's interdisciplinary approach and included a session on diversity in DSAIL, which introduced the Institute's diversity working group, whose aims are to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for underrepresented and underserved groups in data science and AI.

In sessions based on each of DSAIL's five research themes, attendees explored the fundamental methods behind data science and AI and how they affect people, organisations and the environment:

• Health brought together Lancaster researchers and external speakers to present the latest AI and data science research addressing key health challenges.

• Environment paired short talks from academics at Lancaster and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology with contributions from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts on the challenges they face around data science and AI.

• Foundations showcased the diversity of research under this theme, with Lancaster University colleagues presenting their work.

• Integrity took the form of a "data deli", where attendees shared ideas from their own fields relating to this theme and explored possible future collaborations.

• Creativity explored how the current technological wave is rewriting the rules of authorship and originality, and what it means to be creative. This session featured contributions and live demonstrations from artists, designers, practitioners and researchers.

Universities in the world of AI

A panel discussion on "The Role of Universities in the World of AI" explored the contribution universities can make as AI becomes further embedded in research, industry and society. With much of today's AI development led by large technology companies, panellists discussed how universities can bring a critical lens, work more closely with industry, and help students and staff use AI responsibly and productively. The conversation also touched on the environmental impact of AI and how governments might invest wisely in such a fast-moving field.

Chaired by Professor Nemeth, the panel brought together:

• Susan Zappala, Joint Nature Conservation Committee

• Vishnu Chandrabalan, Chief Clinical Information Officer, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria and Lancaster University

• Brian Green, Head of Innovation and Mobile Development, Lancaster University

• Dr Beatrice Wohl, RKE Research Fellow, Creative Computing Institute, University of the Arts London

• Joe Lindley, DSAIL Creativity Theme Lead and Senior Research Fellow, School of Arts, Lancaster University

• Gail Collyer-Hoar, PhD Student, Computing and Communications, Lancaster University

Building connections beyond the University

Alongside the formal event programme, the Showcase created space for researchers to meet representatives from businesses and industry, opening conversations on shared challenges and potential collaborations around ethics, trust, policy, skills and the deployment of data driven technologies. Lunch, refreshment breaks and a closing networking session gave attendees time to build those connections.

The event also reinforced DSAIL's role in connecting Lancaster's data science and AI community with the wider organisations it works alongside, helping translate research into real world impact.

For more information on DSAIL: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/data-science-and-artificial-intelligence/

About the Data Science and AI Institute @ Lancaster

The Data Science and AI Institute at Lancaster (DSAIL) brings together Lancaster University's interdisciplinary strengths in data science and artificial intelligence. Through its research, teaching and partnerships, DSAIL aims to connect people working on data and AI across the University, and to work with businesses and other organisations to develop these technologies in ways that are responsible and beneficial.