How AI Is Changing Scientific Discovery—Columbia Experts Weigh In

From uncovering hidden patterns in the human genome to modeling climate systems, AI is transforming how scientists make discoveries across disciplines. A workshop in the Columbia AI Summit will dive deep into how it drives breakthroughs in the natural sciences. 

This conversation, titled "The ABCs of AI in the Natural World: From Animals to Batteries to Climate" will be moderated by Columbia Provost Angela Olinto who, as Columbia’s chief academic officer and a renowned astrophysicist, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. The conversation will feature faculty using AI in fields ranging from genomics and molecular biology to ecology and astrophysics.

Speakers will include:

• Harmen Bussemaker (Biological Sciences and Systems Biology) – Develops AI/ML-driven models to predict how proteins and DNA interact, offering new insights into genetic diseases and how non-coding regions of the genome are interpreted by the cell.
• Dustin Rubenstein (Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology) – Uses machine learning and generative AI to analyze complex animal behaviors from video data and fine-scale morphologies from images in species ranging from crustaceans to birds.
• Richard Friesner (Chemistry) – Focuses on AI-driven computational chemistry methods to model molecular structures and reactions, advancing the design of new materials and pharmaceuticals.
• Tian Zheng (Statistics) – Develops AI-driven statistical modeling techniques to improve predictive analytics in scientific research, from public health to environmental science.

With faculty from multiple disciplines, this panel will offer a rare look at how AI is accelerating discovery across the sciences. Join faculty, students, and researchers in David Auditorium to explore AI’s impact on the future of scientific inquiry.