Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 3: Private Sector, African Group
Organizer 4: Technical Community, African Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 3: Private Sector, African Group
Organizer 4: Technical Community, African Group
Speaker 1: Daniel Jr Dasig, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Gabriella Marcelja, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Anna Karpenko, Technical Community, Eastern European Group
Speaker 4: Nicolas Fiumarelli, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 5: Saketa Wakwaya, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 2: Gabriella Marcelja, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Anna Karpenko, Technical Community, Eastern European Group
Speaker 4: Nicolas Fiumarelli, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 5: Saketa Wakwaya, Private Sector, African Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format is perfect for this workshop because it's all about interaction and collaboration. It creates a space where participants can share ideas and viewpoints, leading to a deep and lively discussion of the topic. This format encourages everyone to actively engage and contribute, making the session feel more inclusive and interactive, while also sparking new ideas and solutions. Plus, the roundtable setup fosters a sense of equality, where both speakers and participants feel equally involved in the conversation, making every perspective feel valuable. A one-hour session is ideal for this workshop. Each speaker will have up to 10 minutes to present their viewpoint, leaving plenty of time for a Q&A. This way, we can open the floor for a real dialogue, exploring different perspectives in a supportive and open environment.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format is perfect for this workshop because it's all about interaction and collaboration. It creates a space where participants can share ideas and viewpoints, leading to a deep and lively discussion of the topic. This format encourages everyone to actively engage and contribute, making the session feel more inclusive and interactive, while also sparking new ideas and solutions. Plus, the roundtable setup fosters a sense of equality, where both speakers and participants feel equally involved in the conversation, making every perspective feel valuable. A one-hour session is ideal for this workshop. Each speaker will have up to 10 minutes to present their viewpoint, leaving plenty of time for a Q&A. This way, we can open the floor for a real dialogue, exploring different perspectives in a supportive and open environment.
Policy Question(s)
1. What has digitalization already changed in science and what digital breakthroughs will we see in the near future?
2. Is the new generation of scientists able to strike a balance between honoring traditional values and embracing innovation?
3. Is the Internet economy a sustainable basis for financing scientific research?
What will participants gain from attending this session? This workshop will explore the vital intersection of responsible innovation and scientific research, focusing on how to harmonize cutting-edge technology with sustainability, integrity, and societal well-being. Expert speakers will discuss the dual-edged nature of emerging technologies like AI and big data, which accelerate innovation while raising critical questions about the reliability and transparency of research. Participants will engage in discussions about ensuring that scientific inquiry remains trustworthy as digital tools evolve rapidly. The workshop will also address pressing issues such as funding dynamics and their influence on research priorities.
By the end of the session, attendees will gain practical insights and strategies for fostering responsible, sustainable innovation that aligns with broader societal goals, empowering them to navigate the complexities of modern scientific exploration effectively.
Description:
Today, scientific research is more connected to digital technology than ever before, opening up amazing opportunities for exploration, data analysis, and collaboration. Tools like big data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed the landscape, enabling researchers to achieve breakthroughs faster than we could have imagined. The internet has also played a crucial role in facilitating global knowledge sharing, increasing the visibility of scientists and enhancing the prestige of their work, which in turn attracts more young talent into the field. However, this rapid advancement comes with significant challenges. With so much information available online and the rise of large language models and generative AI, it can be difficult to distinguish between well-researched studies and those that may not have undergone thorough review. Moreover, the intense focus on "trendy" technologies like AI and blockchain has diverted substantial funding away from other important areas of research, such as environmental science and basic physics. For instance, while AI attracts massive investments, critical fields like clean energy and sustainability often struggle to secure the resources they need. This commercialization of science, particularly in the startup industry, can sometimes prioritize profit over depth and ethical considerations. As a result, young scientists may feel pressured to choose their research areas based on prestige rather than personal passion, which could stifle truly groundbreaking discoveries. The startup boom has further contributed to this commercialization, where style can overshadow substance, and research is often driven more by marketing needs than by genuine scientific inquiry. Bearing in mind the importance of scientific research for both emerging technologies and Internet development, this workshop aims to understand the balance of things. How do we keep pace with technological advancements without sacrificing the integrity and relevance of scientific research?
Today, scientific research is more connected to digital technology than ever before, opening up amazing opportunities for exploration, data analysis, and collaboration. Tools like big data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed the landscape, enabling researchers to achieve breakthroughs faster than we could have imagined. The internet has also played a crucial role in facilitating global knowledge sharing, increasing the visibility of scientists and enhancing the prestige of their work, which in turn attracts more young talent into the field. However, this rapid advancement comes with significant challenges. With so much information available online and the rise of large language models and generative AI, it can be difficult to distinguish between well-researched studies and those that may not have undergone thorough review. Moreover, the intense focus on "trendy" technologies like AI and blockchain has diverted substantial funding away from other important areas of research, such as environmental science and basic physics. For instance, while AI attracts massive investments, critical fields like clean energy and sustainability often struggle to secure the resources they need. This commercialization of science, particularly in the startup industry, can sometimes prioritize profit over depth and ethical considerations. As a result, young scientists may feel pressured to choose their research areas based on prestige rather than personal passion, which could stifle truly groundbreaking discoveries. The startup boom has further contributed to this commercialization, where style can overshadow substance, and research is often driven more by marketing needs than by genuine scientific inquiry. Bearing in mind the importance of scientific research for both emerging technologies and Internet development, this workshop aims to understand the balance of things. How do we keep pace with technological advancements without sacrificing the integrity and relevance of scientific research?
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will have gained a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities digital technologies present to scientific research. They will explore how AI, big data, and machine learning can accelerate progress while also raising concerns about the quality and credibility of information. The session will help attendees think critically about the balance between innovation and maintaining research integrity, with a particular focus on how commercialization, funding priorities, and ethical considerations shape the scientific landscape.
Participants will also work together to come up with ideas for promoting responsible innovation, making sure there is no science field that is left behind. Organisers will encourage participants to create a community for exploring this topic further and even creating a framework for checking the quality of research in a world of fast-paced digital growth.
Hybrid Format: The session aims to be an open discussion. At first, moderator will introduce the speakers and they will share their experience about how technology affected their work in the scientific field they are working in (30 min). After that there will be Q&A session with the audience. The moderator will closely follow the discussion in order to give floor to all the speakers and any participants willing to speak. The aim here is to share, listen and create innovative approaches towards science in the digital era.
The onsite and online attendees will have equal opportunity to speak up and ask their questions on the topic. The best way of facilitation is to organize it in turn, alternating onsite and online attendees.
Workshop will also be using such tools as Mentimeter and Kahoot! to make participants engage more in the discussion. Moreover, both tools are great for hybrid audiences.