The Global Metascience Conference, this year based in London, will examine how scientific research is conducted, with the goal of enhancing research practices and outcomes. It aims to bring together researchers, funders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to share knowledge, foster community, and set priorities for future research and interventions. The conference will take place in London from June 30 to July 2, 2025, and is organised by Research on Research (RoRI) at University College London.

Various academic disciplines study research processes, with advocates and reformers proposing methods to improve them. Decision-makers, funders, publishers, and other influential stakeholders shape the systems that underpin research. They are interested in evaluating the effectiveness and potential issues of proposed changes, as these impact progress, knowledge dissemination, and practical applications. Together, these groups collaborate to refine research practices and infrastructure.

The upcoming Metascience 2025 Conference aims to bring together these stakeholders to exchange ideas, assess evidence, and promote ongoing improvement.

Professor Sabina Leonelli, Scientific Director of the Ethical Data Initiative, will join a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council; Patrick Vallance, UK Minister of Science and Innovation; and Anna Koivuniemi, Head of Google DeepMind Impact Accelerator, to discuss the role of AI in science.

Professor Leonelli will participate in two sessions, sharing insights from her work with the multidisciplinary Ethical Data Initiative and her Philosophy of Open Science project (Phil_OS). She will also reference her contribution to the 2024 Royal Society study on Science in the Age of AI.

Her sessions include:

– The plenary discussion titled “AI in Science: Accelerating Discovery,” where she will address risks such as conservatism and the tendency to prefer convenience in current AI research developments.

– The session “Funding by Algorithm: AI as Object and Enabler of Research,” where she will offer a philosopher’s perspective on how AI and digital technologies are transforming science, along with the policy and funding challenges they present.

Find out more about the Conference and its aims on the official Web site: https://metascience.info/