Academic Round Table on international research collaboration in the current geopolitical situation and the use of AI at universities
Nyhed
Lagt online: 09.04.2025
Nyhed
Lagt online: 09.04.2025
By Susanne Clement Justesen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.
Photo: Anders Fast Nielsen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
On 3 April, the Academic Round Table 2025 was held in the Investors' Lounge at INNOVATE. This is the sixth time that AAU has brought the new honorary doctorate recipients together for a dialogue on complex topics. The agenda included how the geopolitical security situation affects cooperation between international researchers and universities, as well as how AI affects university education and research.
In his welcome address, Rector Per Michael Johansen mentioned the geopolitical challenges facing universities.
"It's like a ship on the high seas, and we don't know if we'll get to port safely."
He emphasized the shared passion for academia and the desire to take a scientific approach to understanding the world.
"Each of you represents the perspective and expertise of your scientific field. With your insight and international vision, you have a lot to offer. So it is a pleasure that we can spend time in each other's company in fruitful discussion."
He then gave the floor to AAU's first distinguished professor and moderator Gregory Lip who welcomed the new honorary doctorate recipients into their "second family" and framed the informal dialogue on the importance of the geopolitical situation for international research collaboration between researchers and universities, and the use of artificial intelligence in academia. This was followed by an introduction of Professor Emelia J. Benjamin, Boston University; Professor Liesbeth Lijnzaad, Maastricht University; Professor Ann Blandford, University College London; and Professor Elena Semino, Lancaster University. They all enjoy significant international recognition for their groundbreaking research.
The next topic was Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its consequences for universities where the honorary doctorate recipients shared their reflections and experience on using AI, from collecting data to developing models to solving specific problems. Among the issues they discussed were how AI places new demands on students' skills and the importance of examining and taking a critical approach to where data comes from and how it is used in research.
The last item on the agenda was the talent programme AAU Excellence, presented by Professor and Programme Director Henrik Halkier. The talented researchers asked the visiting professors for their views on the accelerated use of AI, and the challenges of reconciling private and professional life as a female researcher.
The message of the honorary doctorate recipients to these early-career researchers was that it is important to take the time to be clear on what is important to you as a researcher. That they must remember that research is a creative process that takes time. That it is important to show self-care. That they should tell others what they are good at. And that they must learn to deal with opposing views when, for example, they have a scientific article rejected.
Among the audience at AAU's annual Academic Round Table was Dean Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen, Faculty of Medicine. Again this year, he saw that the honorary doctorate recipients were very interested in discussing the topics and answering questions from the talented researchers.
"The AAU Academic Round Table gives the new honorary doctorate recipients a unique opportunity to get to know each other in an informal way, and contributes to them feeling welcome in the AAU family. This year's honorary doctorate recipients showed great interest in discussing the current important topics, and in the opportunity for a dialogue with talented researchers in the AAU Excellence programme."
Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen’s takeaway from this year's Academic Round Table was the concern for research collaborations across national borders.
"The development of the geopolitical situation and its significance for international cooperation between universities and researchers is extremely troubling. The development challenges the way research collaboration has previously functioned and entails significant negative consequences for researchers, universities and research in general."
Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.
