AI in action: smart applications in the lab

“The Power of AI: Pushing the Boundaries of Research“

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool in many different applications, including research. Here, the flexibility of AI can be used to overcome problems that traditional approaches struggle with. In this session, we will focus on the applications of AI in research. In addition to discussing how AI can help in metrology, we would also like to discuss what metrology can mean for AI.

Speaker: Marcel van Dijk, VSL

“Applications of AI in the laboratory: opportunities and reality”

Artificial intelligence offers great opportunities for laboratories. But how far have we come at Waterschap Fryslân? In this presentation we show the current state of affairs and a practical example: predicting chemical substances in surface water. What already works, what doesn't, and what is needed to make AI usable? We also briefly discuss the role of AI in metabarcoding and non-target screening — techniques for biodiversity analysis and the detection of unknown substances. Both methods can be greatly improved by the application of AI.
Expect an honest look at the opportunities and challenges of AI in the lab, with practical examples of current applications and steps for further integration. We will also discuss the ethical and practical considerations around implementing AI.

Speaker: Alexander van Meekeren, Wetterskip Fryslân

“The Robots Are Coming – Chemistry and AI for the 21st Century”

The major challenges of this century, such as the energy and materials transition, require a solution from chemistry par excellence. However, to accelerate these transitions, a radically new way of chemical analysis is needed. Since 2024, the Big Chemistry National Growth Fund has been building an automated laboratory where self-driving robots autonomously collect data, with which chemical AI is trained. This facility, which will also be available to industrial partners, will have enormous databases and models of fundamental and applied properties of molecules and formulations. In this lecture, I will discuss the challenges and initial successes of this robot lab.

Speaker: Mathijs Mabesoone, Radboud University