Policy Taboos: From [A]cademic [I]ntelligence to [A]rtificial [I]ntelligence: Implications of AI in/for the Academy

The emergence, evolution and uptake of generative AI over the last few years has provoked a flurry of questions about the potential/opportunities, challenges/risks and ethics/morality surrounding artificial intelligence. Within the academy AI is viewed with a mix of excitement and concern. On the one hand, it is seen as a means of enhancing the analytical capacity and efficiency of research. And, on the other hand, it is seen as undermining critical thinking and issues in relation to academic integrity, especially amongst students. The encroachment of generative AI within academic life and wider society warrants closer scrutiny.

The UWA Public Policy Institute and Forrest Research Foundation invite you to join us for a thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of the implications of AI in/for the academy with a multi-disciplinary panel of experts drawn from linguistics, law, and engineering.

Date: Wednesday 11th June, 2025

Time: 17.30 AWST

Location: Forrest Research Foundation, Forrest Hall 1, 21 Hackett Drive, Crawley WA 6009

Parking: Along Hackett Drive and within grounds of UWA.

Guests will be invited to stay for drinks and networking on conclusion of the formalities.

Speaker Bios

Professor Conrad Tucker

Dr. Conrad Tucker is the Director of Carnegie Mellon University-Africa (CMU-Africa) and the Associate Dean for International Programs-Africa. He is a Trustee Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and holds courtesy appointments in Machine Learning, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, and CyLab Security and Privacy. His research focuses on employing Machine Learning (ML)/Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to enhance the novelty (i.e., generative designs) and efficiency (i.e., functional evaluations) of engineered systems. His research also explores the challenges of bias and exploitability of AI systems and the potential impacts on people and society.

Professor Julia Powels

Julia Powles is a law professor known for her work on privacy, intellectual property, internet governance, and the law and politics of data, automation, and artificial intelligence. She leads bold, investigative research programs at the edge of tech development and tech accountability, drawing on two decades of experience across Europe, North America, and Australia. Currently serving as the founding Director of the Tech & Policy Lab at the University of Western Australia, Julia is about to commence a new adventure.

Professor Zach Aman

Zach is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chair of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Board of Studies, and the Chair of UWA’s Generative AI Think Tank. His research is focussed on gas hydrate kinetics and transportability, interfacial phenomena in multiphase systems, and environmental management of deepwater oil and gas releases. Zach received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

Assoc. Prof. Celeste Rodriguez Louro

A/Prof. Celeste Rodríguez Louro is Director of the Language Lab and Chair of Linguistics at UWA. She serves as Deputy Chair of UWA’s Generative AI Think Tank and will be a visiting fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford, in 2026. Her research on language change, decolonisation, and inclusive AI is supported by the Australian Research Council and industry partners including Google and the Heart Foundation. Her co-authored book with Nyungar scholar Glenys Collard is under contract with Cambridge University Press.

Moderator

Assoc. Prof. Paul Maginn

Assoc. Prof. Paul J. Maginn is the Director of UWA Public Policy Institute. Paul was program coordinator of the Masters of Public Policy Program (Admin and Governance Stream) in 2023 and was the inaugural programme coordinator for the undergraduate/ post graduate programmes in Urban and Regional Planning (2007-2020).

An urban planner and geographer, Paul is the author/co-editor of 10 books including: Peripheral Centralities: Instances of Anticipatory Urbanism; Peripheral Centralities: The Lost and Past Urbanity of the Suburbs, and, Suburbia in the 21st Century: From Dreamscape to Nightmare?