Scientific Research in the Age of Gen AI: Change, Disruption, and What We Choose to Keep

Generative AI is reshaping the practice of science faster than many disciplines can absorb — from literature synthesis and hypothesis generation to coding, proof assistance, data analysis, and even drafting papers. This panel brings together researchers from computer science, mathematics, physical sciences, biological sciences, and social science to compare how this shift is playing out across their fields, what it may mean for the future of research, and how researchers can respond thoughtfully. Join us for a candid, cross-disciplinary conversation about what it means to grow as a scientist when the tools, timelines, and expectations of research are all changing at once. What we'll discuss The panel will explore questions including: • Where is AI genuinely accelerating scientific discovery, and where is it introducing new risks? • Which research values are worth defending, and which norms may need to evolve? • What should labs and the broader research community be doing now to adapt responsibly? • What advice should PhD students and early-career researchers keep in mind while navigating this shift? The discussion will be followed by an open Q&A. Moderator Alwen Tiu Associate Professor at the ANU School of Computing, working on formal methods, computational logic, automated theorem proving, and computer security, modelling computational systems to verify their correctness or uncover vulnerabilities. Panelists Jing Jiang Professor at the ANU School of Computing and ACL Vice President–elect, whose natural language processing research focuses on steering large language model behaviour efficiently and on AI's integration into science, healthcare, and public-sector applications. James Tener Associate Professor at the ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute, ARC Future Fellows. Working on the mathematics of quantum field theory (conformal field theory, operator algebras, and vertex operator algebras), and HDR Convener at MSI. Louise Lu Professor at the ANU College of Business and Economics and Co-Director of ANCAAR, whose research analyses large volumes of corporate disclosures and executive communications for signals like risk, tone, and comparability — the kind of expert-driven, judgment-intensive work that AI and text-analysis tools are now starting to reshape. Additional panelists from a range of disciplines are being confirmed. Schedule 11:00 am–12:15 pm Panel discussion and Q&A 12:15–1:00 pm Informal discussion over snacks and a light lunch Venue Hanna Neumann Building, Room 1.33 Australian National University Hosted by the ANU Integrated AI Network.