Innovedum - Doctoral Student Experimenting Lab (Block Course): Explore the responsible use of AI in generating scientific texts, images, audio and code (1 ECTS)

Doctoral Student Experimenting Lab (Block Course): Explore the responsible use of AI in generating scientific texts, images, audio and code (1 ECTS)

Dr. Melanie Paschke | D-USYS

How do early-stage researchers get the experience to use generative AI in a responsible, efficient and professional way? In six hands-on sessions on the responsible use of the generative AI on four topics: Session 1) Prompting for non-biased results 2) Training your co-pilot to avoid biases 3) Responsible image creation and scientific visualization 4) Protecting your privacy

Abstract

How do students and early-stage researchers get the practice and experience to use generative AI in a responsible, efficient and professional way in their daily scientific work? PPSC in its doctoral student programs will carry out six hands-on sessions (4-hours each) for experimenting on the responsible use of the generative AI in a 3-day block course in November 2024 (and repeated in April 2025; offered as part of a new doctoral course and open to all departments: 1 ECTS). These sessions will be carried out in the PBLab (tbc) and are open to all PhD students, Post-doctoral researchers (or advanced Master’s students of ETHZ. They follow the structure of the Montly MondAIs in 2023 to June 2024, that concentrated on generative AI in scientific writing.

Project goals

Target 1: Organizing of 3 block days (6 sessions: 4hours each, 1 ECTS) and establish in curriculum as full doctoral course. Due to the timeliness of the topics, we will carry out the course two times: in November 2024 & April 2025 with updates of the contents. Mentoring and exchange between PhD students (early adopters of generative AI-based tools in the scientific process with use cases from their own work. Bringing in experts – they are able to show best-practice examples and techniques of using generative AI in a responsible way. Target 2: Documentation and publishing guidelines of good practices after the block course.

Effects of the project

Students gather, (*) Hands-on training on using generative AI in a responsible, efficient and professional way in daily scientific work (*) Competencies to deal with limitations, potential pitfalls and benefits of AI-based tools in relation to research integrity and ethics. (*) Experiences about generative AI through experimenting with AI. Faculty BLock course is open to PhDs and postdoctoral fellows. The tutorials (documentation of knowledge) are shared with all interested lecturers and faculty members of ETH. In general, to our experience, mechanisms of increasing knowledge in faculty are from early-stage researchers to senior researchers. The entire degree programme(s) In accredited structured Doctoral program for ETHZ research skills as well as transferable skills are raised in carefully coordinated and embedded curricula. The doctoral program in Plant Sciences is one example at D-USYS and D-BIOL but with open courses to all departments. Thus, embedding and developing this teaching course here is timely. The doctoral programs are at the forefront in guiding the next doctoral generation.

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