The Data Science and AI Institute at Lancaster (DSAIL) welcomed researchers, businesses and partners to Lancaster House Hotel on 28 September for a showcase event exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping research, industry and society, and the responsibilities that come with it.

The event "Exploring Data. Shaping AI. Driving Impact." combined interactive sessions, research presentations and a panel discussion to demonstrate the breadth of data science and AI work happening across the University while opening up new conversations on collaboration and responsible AI.

Opening the day, Professor Chris Nemeth and Professor Nigel Davies, Co-Directors of DSAIL, shared the Institute's successes so far, including its growth into a community of 461 members across the University. Attendees heard that 2025/26 was a record year for the Institute, with £16.9m awarded across 31 grants, while its 35 events drew more than 900 attendees.

Professor Nemeth said: "It was wonderful to see so many colleagues and external participants join the DSAIL Showcase. The event really highlighted the depth and breadth of Data Science AI research at Lancaster and the positive impact of DSAIL research on real-world challenges, such as flood resilience, disease tracking and early-years education, to name a few."

Professor Davies said: "The DSAIL showcase was a fabulous event that provided a chance to bring together staff from across the University to explore emerging research topics in AI in areas including health, the environment, creative industries and AI integrity."

Can AI judge? A keynote on trust, funding and generative AI

The day's keynote, "Trust in the VoIDs: following the trail of £580,000 of public funds", was delivered by Professor Claire Hardaker, Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University and DSAIL Integrity Theme Lead. The presentation explored what happens to trust and accountability when generative AI tools help decide who receives public funding. Professor Hardaker drew on her bid for funding into AI-generated voices, which was screened out at the AI assessment stage before reaching a human reviewer, to ask whether large language models could be relied on as reviewers.

Research across disciplines

The event reflected DSAIL's interdisciplinary approach and included a session on diversity in DSAIL, which introduced the Institute's diversity working group, whose aims are to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for underrepresented and underserved groups in data science and AI.

In sessions based on each of DSAIL's five research themes, attendees explored the fundamental methods behind data science and AI and how they affect people, organisations and the environment:

• Health brought together Lancaster researchers and external speakers to present the latest AI and data science research addressing key health challenges.
• Environment paired short talks from academics at Lancaster and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology with contributions from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts on the challenges they face around data science and AI.
• Foundations showcased the diversity of research under this theme, with Lancaster University colleagues presenting their work.
• Integrity took the form of a "data deli", where attendees shared ideas from their own fields relating to this theme and explored possible future collaborations.
• Creativity explored how the current technological wave is rewriting the rules of authorship and originality, and what it means to be creative. This session featured contributions and live demonstrations from artists, designers, practitioners and researchers.

Universities in the world of AI

A panel discussion on "The Role of Universities in the World of AI" explored the contribution universities can make as AI becomes further embedded in research, industry and society. With much of today's AI development led by large technology companies, panellists discussed how universities can bring a critical lens, work more closely with industry, and help students and staff use AI responsibly and productively. The conversation also touched on the environmental impact of AI and how governments might invest wisely in such a fast-moving field.

Chaired by Professor Nemeth, the panel brought together:

• Susan Zappala, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Vishnu Chandrabalan, Chief Clinical Information Officer, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria and Lancaster University
• Brian Green, Head of Innovation and Mobile Development, Lancaster University
• Dr Beatrice Wohl, RKE Research Fellow, Creative Computing Institute, University of the Arts London
• Joe Lindley, DSAIL Creativity Theme Lead and Senior Research Fellow, School of Arts, Lancaster University
• Gail Collyer-Hoar, PhD Student, Computing and Communications, Lancaster University

Building connections beyond the University

Alongside the formal event programme, the Showcase created space for researchers to meet representatives from businesses and industry, opening conversations on shared challenges and potential collaborations around ethics, trust, policy, skills and the deployment of data driven technologies. Lunch, refreshment breaks and a closing networking session gave attendees time to build those connections.

The event also reinforced DSAIL's role in connecting Lancaster's data science and AI community with the wider organisations it works alongside, helping translate research into real world impact.

For more information on DSAIL: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/data-science-and-artificial-intelligence/

About the Data Science and AI Institute @ Lancaster

The Data Science and AI Institute at Lancaster (DSAIL) brings together Lancaster University's interdisciplinary strengths in data science and artificial intelligence. Through its research, teaching and partnerships, DSAIL aims to connect people working on data and AI across the University, and to work with businesses and other organisations to develop these technologies in ways that are responsible and beneficial.