AI in science: the promise, perils and path forward – AI and our environment

Did you know that asking ChatGPT a question uses ten times more energy than a simple Google search?

AI can have a big environmental footprint – but it can also be a powerful tool to help us protect and restore the natural world.

Join us to explore these two sides of AI’s impact on our environment with two experts working at the cutting edge:

• As co-founder and CEO at Xylo Systems, Camille Goldstone-Henry’s groundbreaking intelligence platform is demystifying biodiversity data to turbocharge threatened species management, and to help businesses make nature-positive decisions. 
• Associate Professor Chang Xu is harnessing ‘green AI’ to build next-generation AI systems that are more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Come along to learn more about the promise and perils of AI for the environment, and get inspired by innovators making a difference for nature with technology.

Event details 

Date: Tuesday 10 June 2025 

Time: Canapes and drinks are served from 5.30pm, with the talks (and the livestream) from 6 to 7pm AEST. 

Venue: The Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Acton ACT (and online livestream) 

Cost: $20pp ($15pp for students), livestream free

Speakers

Camille Goldstone-Henry, CEO, Xylo Systems 

Camille is an experienced conservation biologist and Kamilaroi woman. After working for years on the front line to save the world’s most endangered species, like the Tasmanian devil and Sumatran tiger, Camille turned to tech to create an even bigger impact for nature.

Associate Professor Chang Xu, University of Sydney 
Chang is an Associate Professor in machine learning and computer vision at the University of Sydney’s School of Computer Science. His research interests lie in machine learning, data mining algorithms and related applications in AI and computer vision, including multi-view learning, multi-label learning, visual search and face recognition.

Series details

Series dates

The events are held at the Shine Dome in Canberra on the second Tuesday of every second month:

Tuesday 11 February: What is AI? (recording available)
Tuesday 8 April: AI and our health (recording available)
Tuesday 10 June: AI and our environment 
Tuesday 12 August: AI and our food 
Tuesday 14 October: AI and our safety 
Tuesday 9 December: AI in science and research 

Series host

The Academy is pleased to welcome ABC’s Lish Fejer as the host for all the events across this series. As a seasoned radio broadcaster and passionate science communicator, Lish will deliver illuminating sessions with her engaging style and thought-provoking questions.

Series convenors

Thank you to the convenors supporting the series in 2025:

• Professor Bob Graham AO FAA FAHMS, Vice President and Secretary for Biological Sciences, Australian Academy of Science 
• Professor Ian Chubb AC FAA FTSE, Fellow, Australian Academy of Science

Series supporters 

For more information about the series and the other events, please visit the series webpage. For all enquiries, please email events@science.org.au.