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AI - Climate Change friend or foe?
16 November 2021, 1:00 pm–2:00 pm
The panel will look at whether Artificial Intelligence is useful for understanding Climate Change impacts and solutions.
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
UCL Events
Location
-
Virtual Events
YouTube live stream
About the lecture:
The existential threat to humanity from Climate Change requires action at a scale and speed that can seem almost impossible, transitioning systems that have operated for decades on fossil fuels to a completely new paradigm. Aidan O’Sullivan will talk about how Artificial Intelligence is a natural ally and catalyst for this change and the fundamental characteristics of AI as a software technology are ideally suited to enable the scale and speed of action that we need to mitigate a climate disaster. Kate Jones will then look at whether AI can be useful for understanding climate change impacts and solutions and Geoff Mulgan will then discuss the potential of AI to combat climate change – but also and why we need radically different ways of organising data for the full benefits to be achieved and why AI needs to be combined with human collective intelligence.
This event is part of UCL’s climate campaign ‘Generation One’. Together we are the new generation taking responsibility for climate action and turning science into actionable ideas. Join our new era of climate action at ucl.ac.uk/generation-one
Please note that this lecture is taking place online only and we will circulate a link to join the event in good time beforehand.
About the Speakers
Professor Kate Jones
Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity at Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, UCL
Kate Jones is Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity in the Dept. of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, University College London. Prof Jones is a world-leading ecologist whose work focuses on crossing disciplinary boundaries to address critical global challenges, especially at the interface of ecological and human health. Prof Jones has made key advances in monitoring the status and trends in biodiversity and particularly in modelling and forecasting zoonotic disease outbreaks in humans (Ebola, SARS), breaking down traditional barriers between ecology, climate change and public health to inform global policy. Prof Jones won the Leverhulme Prize for outstanding contributions to Zoology in 2008 and is currently a scientific advisor for several national and international organisations, including the UK Climate Change Committee. Jones is co-leading UCL’s biggest expansion in its history – UCL’s new cross-disciplinary campus in The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opening in 2022, where she will be directing the People and Nature Lab - an environmental solutions hub focused on the links between human and planetary health.
Sir Geoff Mulgan
Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy & Social Innovation at University College London
Sir Geoff Mulgan is Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy & Social Innovation at University College London (UCL). He was CEO of Nesta, the UK's innovation foundation from 2011-2019. From 1997-2004 Geoff had roles in UK government including director of the Government's Strategy Unit and head of policy in the Prime Minister's office. Geoff advises many governments around the world. Past books include ‘The Art of Public Strategy’ (OUP), ‘Good and Bad Power’ (Penguin), ‘Big Mind: how collective intelligence can change our world’ (Princeton UP) and ‘Social innovation’ (Policy Press). His Twitter handle is @geoffmulgan. His website is geoffmulgan.com
Aidan O’Sullivan
Associate Professor in Energy and AI at UCL Energy Institute and Turing Fellow at Alan Turing Institute.
Aidan O’Sullivan is Associate Professor in Energy and AI at UCL Energy Institute and Turing Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. Prior to joining UCL he was a Postdoc in Machine Learning at MIT. His Research focuses on applications of AI that accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy system. He is Programme Chair for the UNESCO International Research Centre on AI Climate Change programme and CTO and Co-Founder of the UCL Spin Out Carbon Re, which is applying AI to the foundation industries to improve energy efficiency.