The growing role of AI has been widely discussed in society, and it has become a common interest area for science, civil society, and media in recent years. In science, researchers are using AI to map forest lands and monitor degradation and wildlife. Source: Timberbiz
In civil society, a number of new startups and NGO initiatives are integrating AI in their tools and programs to, for example, inform field planning for land management practices.
Since AI is shaping not only how we conduct our day-to-day work but also the way our society is exposed to forest-related themes, it is an area where science, civil society, and media are urged to explore further its implications.
The European Forest Institute (EFI) is arranging a Young Scientists Session on AI and Forests at the EFI Annual Conference on 18 September 2024 in Bonn (Germany), to discuss how AI is used in current forest-related research and on-groundwork and discuss what the scientific and societal implications of AI might be in the forest context.
A Hackathon on “Forests and generative AI” on 17 September in Bonn will bring together young forest science researchers, non-profit representatives and media professionals to “explore, experiment and exchange” how AI might impact the way our society perceives and understands forest-related issues.
Participants will test how different generative AI text-to-image models interpret complex forest-related subject matter. The results will be presented during the Young Scientists Session on AI and Forests on 18 September.
EFI is providing grants of 1,500 euros for Young Scientists from EFI Associate and Affiliate Member organisations to:
- Participate in person in the Hackathon on “Forests and generative AI” on 17 September in Bonn, and
- Participate in person in the Young Scientist Session on AI and forests at the EFI Annual Conference on 18 September in Bonn, in particular:
- support the presentation of the results of the Hackathon
- give a 10-minute presentation on their own research or project which has involved the use of AI tools, reflecting on the opportunities and challenges the tools offer for forestry research and innovation.
Read the full grant call at https://efi.int/grants-training/grants/G-04-2024
