Powering intelligence – AI and the drive for sustainability

AI is reshaping our world – and offering powerful new tools to build a more sustainable future.

This cross disciplinary panel brings together leaders from academia, industry and policy to explore how artificial intelligence can accelerate environmental solutions, drive scientific discovery and support more efficient use of resources across society. 

From optimising energy systems and transforming research methods to enabling smarter infrastructure and more informed decision making, AI is opening new pathways towards environmental progress. At the same time, the rapid expansion of data centres and digital infrastructure brings growing energy consumption, water use for cooling, and increased demand for critical materials. The panel will examine how these pressures can be reduced through a range of approaches, such as advances in hardware efficiency, smarter system design, renewable energy integration and more transparent reporting. 

Can more collaboration between researchers, technology companies and policymakers embed sustainability into design, investment and governance from the outset? 

Chaired by: Anne Trefethen FREng, Professor of Scientific Computing at the University of Oxford 

Panellists: 

• Dr Felippa Amanta, DPhil student in the Environmental Change Institute 

• Dr Kevin Grecksch, Kellogg Fellow; Associate Professor of Water and Environmental Governance, School of Geography and the Environment 

• Dr Yee Van Fan, Senior Researcher in Digitalisation, Circular Economy and Net Zero Energy programme 

• Tech representative [TBC]

Additional information 

Organised in collaboration with the AI Competency Centre at the University of Oxford 

• Tea and coffee offered from 5.00pm 

• Main discussion, 5.30–6.30pm 

• Drinks reception for speakers and attendees, 6.30/6.45pm-7.15pm 

Open to: General Public, Members of Kellogg College,