The UKAIRS Early Career Researcher Day is a dedicated opportunity for early career researchers working at the intersection of AI and society to connect, share, and grow. Whether you’re a doctoral student, postdoc, or independent researcher, this event offers a platform to present your work, engage with peers and mentors, and explore emerging ideas that shape the future of responsible AI. See below for a full agenda of the ECR Day.
To register for the ECR Day, please follow this link: Select Tickets – UK AI Research Symposium (UKAIRS) – Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Agenda for UKAIRS ECR Day 10 September, Urban Sciences Building, 1 Science Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TG
8.30-9.00 Registration
9.00-9.15 Welcome address
9.15-10.15 Industry keynote: ‘The human in the Loop’, Paul Wealls, Lenovo
10.15-10.45 Coffee Break
10.45-12.00 Interactive workshop on industry challenges
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-14.30 Workshops: Communicating your research online
- Create and record a podcast – Johanna Walker, UKRI Safe & Trusted AI CDT
- Social media engagement for ECRs – Savvas Papagiannidis, Edge AI hub. The “Social Media for Early Career Researchers” workshop is designed to inform you on considerations related to developing a purposeful and strategic online presence as you shape your academic path. With an eye on the evolving future of research communication, the session will explore how social media platforms and academic networks can be used not only to share your work but to connect meaningfully with researchers, institutions, and public audiences. During the session, you will be introduced to approaches for curating a professional digital identity, communicating research accessibly, and making the most the opportunities and risks that come with online visibility.
14.30-16.00 Workshops: Policy / Ethics
- Engaging with Policy in AI research – Reem Talhouk, UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence and RAi UK Keystone PROBabLE Futures
- Should Ethics Committees Expand Their Mandates to Review AI Research? – Elona Shatri, UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Artificial Intelligence and Music. As AI becomes increasingly integrated across research disciplines, existing Research Ethics Committees may not be equipped to address the unique challenges posed by AI development, deployment, and application in academic research. This session will explore whether ethics committees should expand their oversight to cover AI research, examining what risks currently fall through regulatory gaps and what new expertise might be needed. Through panel discussion and structured group dialogue, participants will consider how institutions can balance responsible innovation with research freedom in our rapidly evolving AI landscape.
16.00-16.15 Closing session
For those attending UKAIRS, please joins us for a drinks reception and networking on the 9th of September, hosted by the National Edge AI Hub and sponsored by Lenovo:
Time: 6.00-8.00pm
Location: Atrium, USB Building 1 Science Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TG