AI for Science Seminar Series

Agents of Discovery - Exploring the Rise of the AI Scientist

GAIL invites you to join us for Agents of Discovery - this flagship seminar series, led by GAIL Fellow Professor Filippo Menolascina, School of Engineering, explores one of the most transformative frontiers in modern research: the AI Scientist.

Edinburgh occupies a unique global position at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biological engineering. As the home of the Edinburgh Genome Foundry — the most automated academic biolab globally — our ecosystem is primed to explore the full capabilities of human-out-of-the-loop, biolab automation. This complements the work of Centre for Engineering Biology, a vibrant community of research leaders in Synthetic Biology, Edinburgh provides the ideal environment to bridge the gap between AI-driven theoretical and physical discovery.

 

 

Scientist working in Laboratory

As artificial intelligence moves beyond assistive tools toward autonomous agency, we are witnessing the birth of systems capable of independent hypothesis generation, experimental design, data interpretation and closed-loop discovery. This series brings together world-leading pioneers from industry and academia to discuss how these AI Agents are fundamentally reshaping the scientific method.

 

About the Series

Agents of Discovery is more than a sequence of talks; it is a collaboration space designed to unite the Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Engineering Biology communities. Each session features deep-dive explorations into:

  • Autonomous Discovery Pipelines: Moving from digital models to physical experimentation via robotics and embodied intelligence.
  • Agentic AI in Science: How LLMs and foundation models are evolving into active scientific collaborators.

Format & Schedule

The series runs from March to July 2026, featuring one session per month.

  • Format: A mix of in-person and remote seminars.
  • Structure: 45-minute keynote followed by an interactive Q&A session.
  • Networking: In-person events conclude with a networking reception to foster new interdisciplinary collaborations.

Upcoming Sessions

Check back soon for the full list of confirmed speakers and registration links.

Series Launch: March 2026

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