Roundtable convenes new community to chart Australia’s research infrastructure roadmap for AI in life sciences
A roundtable to discuss the opportunities and implications of the use of AI in the life sciences was recently convened by Australian BioCommons and Bioplatforms Australia. It brought together almost 30 experts from diverse groups across Australia to share insights, experiences, and perspectives on AI in biosciences.
While helping to inform the strategic direction of Bioplatforms and BioCommons in this rapidly evolving area, the event also provided a valuable chance for researchers to hear from the Interim Director of EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute, Dr Johanna McEntyre, about how Europe is approaching our shared challenges. Given the Memorandum of Understanding between Australian BioCommons, Bioplatforms Australia and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), it was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the value of international collaboration in this space while Jo was visiting Australia.
(L-R) Jeff Christiansen, Johanna McEntyre and Benjamin Goudey
While research infrastructure was the focus, a varied group of people who use, develop or support AI in Australian life science research participated in presentations, panel discussions and interactive exercises. People from universities, research institutes, computation service providers and other NCRIS facilities shared how they are using and building AI, and learned about needs, gaps, and constraints to their work.
The roundtable was a step towards finding strategic partners who can help to map the current landscape, identify gaps and define investment priorities. As our AI in Molecular Life Sciences community coalesces, we can expect to gain a deep understanding of the challenges facing Australian life scientists using and developing AI tools and models, and benefit from having a diverse partner network acting as a collective watchtower for trends and opportunities that can define the new shape of life sciences computing.
If you have insights into how AI will impact research methods and future discoveries, please consider contributing to the development of a BioCommons Infrastructure Roadmap for AI in the Life Sciences by engaging with this newly formed group.
Sign up to join a new community of people who will work together to identify and document the infrastructure challenges and investment priorities for Australian life sciences
Other opportunities to help shape the future of AI in life sciences research and training in Australia
