On February 4, 2025, in cooperation with the MERIT project, we hosted the online workshop AI-Powered Research: Opportunities and Challenges – Day 1, which attracted more than 200 researchers. The event was designed to help researchers integrate artificial intelligence into their work and guide them through both the opportunities and risks it presents. Daniel Mertens from Schiller & Mertens led the session, introducing practical AI tools for literature review, data analysis, visualization and manuscript writing. Participants also explored AI-driven collaborative platforms and strategies for improving research efficiency. The discussion also touched on ethical considerations, highlighting the need for responsible AI use in research.
Building on the knowledge from the online session, an in-person training AI-Powered Research: Opportunities and Challenges – Day 2 took place on February 5, 2025, at ELI Beamlines in Dolní Břežany. Led by Michaela Liegertová from the University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně in Ústí nad Labem, the training focused on practical AI applications for research workflows. 70 international researchers representing 14 different research organizations and universities, learned how to customize AI tools to support different aspects of their research, from managing data to drafting funding proposals. The session demonstrated how AI can assist with scientific writing, automate repetitive tasks, and help researchers structure complex projects. Attendees also worked on designing personalized AI-powered research assistants, allowing them to experiment with various tools and workflows to fit their specific needs. Also 2 presentations were given by researchers Václav Pavlík (MERIT MSCA COFUND programme fellow) and Patrik Čechvala (P4F MSCA COFUND programme fellow), who shared their overview about how AI advances their projects in astronomy and astrophysics.
A guided tour of the ELI Beamlines facility provided insight into cutting-edge laser research, and a networking session allowed participants to exchange experiences.