This panel discussion explores the multifaceted impact of AI across all stages of HDR candidature, including data collection, scholarly writing, and examination processes, including the nuanced challenges posed by AI for candidates engaged in creative practices. In recent years, AI tools have brought significant changes in the landscape of academic research, particularly for postgraduate candidates, where the emphasis lies on critical insights and original contributions to knowledge. This timely discussion on the implications of AI for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates will be chaired by DSC HDR Director Stephen Gaunson and includes representatives from across the university, including diverse academics renowned for their expertise in grappling with AI systems within their fields of research.

Speakers

Ingrid Richardson is Professor and HDR Delegated Authority in RMIT’s School of Media and Communication. Her research interests include philosophy of science and technology, social media and participatory media cultures, and the cultural phenomenology of games, augmented reality and mobile media.

Matt Duckham is a Professor in Geospatial Sciences and Director, Information in Society EIP (Enabling Impact Platform) at RMIT. His research expertise in digital infrastructure covers spatial computing, geovisualisation, and geospatial AI ("geoAI") and connects strongly with applications in areas such as emergency response, defence, transportation, and environmental monitoring. Before moving to RMIT, he was a Professor at the University of Melbourne and moved to Australia in 2004 from the US NCGIA (National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis) at the University of Maine.

Stephen Gaunson is the DSC HDR Director. In the School of Media & Communication he teaches undergrad courses and supervises postgrads in the area of cinema studies. Steve researches on national and international cinema industries. Over the past few years, a significant focus of his research has been investigating the social act of going to the cinema. He can be regularly heard on ABC Melbourne and Radio National as an expert cinema commentator.

Chris Speed FRSE, FRSA is Professor of Design for Regenerative Futures at RMIT, Melbourne, Australia, where he collaborates with a wide variety of communities and partners to explore how design provides methods to adapt toward becoming a regenerative society. Chris has an established track record in directing large complex grants and educational programmes with academic, industry and third sector partners, that apply design and data methods to social, environmental and economic challenges.

Tristan Badham manages the RMIT Library’s Research team, which provides support for HDRs and researchers in strategic publishing and research writing, expert guidance on the institutional research repository and research data management, as well as researcher profile curation and publication impact tracking. The team collaborates with university partners to drive the intuitional research agenda.

The DSC Doctoral Research Conference brings together the College's three existing symposia – Practice Research Symposium (PRS), Urban Futures Symposium and Social Change Symposium – to create a shared space for innovation, sustainability and resilience aligned with the theme of regenerative futures.

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