Overview

We are organizing a focused, invitation-only workshop to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the practice of advanced scientific research. This event brings together leading researchers across Advanced STEM fields to collaboratively investigate real scientific problems while integrating AI into their workflows. This workshop is supported by the Kavli Foundation.

Logistics

  • Dates: June 22–26, 2026
  • Location: Rinkan Studio (615-124 Ike, Ito, Japan, Shizuoka 413-0234, Japan)
  • Format: In-person, intensive collaborative workshop
  • Participants: ~12 invited attendees
  • Research fields: Theoretical and experimental astrophysics, cosmology, high-energy physics, and materials science.

Description

Motivation

AI is not only accelerating scientific research but also reshaping how scientists think and collaborate. This workshop aims to bring together leading researchers to explore how AI can be integrated into frontier scientific research intentionally and responsibly.

By creating an intensive environment for collaborative research on the target fields (see above), the workshop will examine how AI affects scientific reasoning, problem-solving, communication, and team dynamics. In parallel, it will generate insights into the broader question of how human–AI collaboration may transform advanced STEM research.

Format

The workshop will begin on Monday morning with AI experts introducing best practices for using AI tools, including prompting strategies, verification, and responsible use. On Monday afternoon, participants will form small groups of 3–4 people and brainstorm unsolved problems aligned with their collective expertise and interests.

From Tuesday to Friday, each day will start with a 30-minute group briefing to share research progress and discuss effective uses of AI. The remainder of the day will be dedicated to collaborative research, with teams intentionally integrating AI into brainstorming, literature review, coding, and calculations. At the end of each day, participants will take part in a group interview led by the social science team to reflect on the impact of AI on their research and collaboration.

Costs and Support

  • Local costs (including accommodation, meals, and on-site workshop expenses) will be covered by the organizers.
  • Travel support: Limited funding is available for transportation. Please indicate your needs in the registration form.
  • Childcare support: Childcare support may be available on request. Please indicate your needs in the registration form.

Registration

Closed.

Participants

  • Jia Liu (Kavli IPMU, Computational & Observational Cosmology)
  • Tom Melia (Kavli IPMU, High-Energy Theory)
  • Leander Thiele (Kavli IPMU, Machine Learning & Cosmology)
  • Evgeniia Boliachkina (NIMS, Materials Science)
  • Anton Bolyachkin (NIMS, Materials Science)
  • Patrick de Perio (Kavli IPMU, Neutrino Experiment)
  • Ken Nagamine (Osaka, Computational Astrophysics)
  • Tomomi Sunayama (ASIAA, Cosmology)
  • Kazuhiro Terao (SLAC, Neutrino Experiment & Machine Learning)
  • Patricio Vielva (IFCA, Observational Cosmology/CMB)
  • Ehsan Tavakoli-Nabavi (ANU, Sociology/AI)
  • Adrian Bayer (Flatiron Institute, Machine Learning & Cosmology)
  • Anamaria Hell (Kavli IPMU, Theoretical Physics)
  • Tomoharu Okada (NHK, Science Documentaries)

Organizers

  • Jia Liu
  • Hiromi Yokoyama
  • Shan Wang
  • Melody Benjamin
  • Leander Thiele
  • Tom Melia
  • Katerina Vovk

Additional Information

  • The event is intentionally small to support deep discussion and sustained collaboration.
  • Participants will be selected to ensure a breadth of expertise across relevant areas of advanced STEM research.
  • The workshop is expected to contribute both to ongoing scientific work and to broader reflection on the future of human–AI collaboration in research.