Driving innovation: Meet the new MCAA Sustainability Working Group and AI General Interest Group

The newly established Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) Sustainability Working Group, led by Alexandra Dubini, and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) General Interest Group, led by Quentin Loisel, are now fully operational, with various activities planned.

Committed to empowering innovation while tackling pressing global challenges, the MCAA launched two new thematic groups in the summer of 2024 to drive sustainability and AI awareness within the research and innovation community: the Sustainability Working Group and the AI General Interest Group. Dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and exploring the role of AI in research and beyond, these new groups are open to all interested members of the MCAA community.

Driving sustainable change

Amidst the growing interest in integrating sustainability into research and innovation, the Sustainability General Interest Group evolved into a full-fledged Working Group dedicated to collecting, developing, integrating, and applying sustainable practices in research, education, and training activities linked to both science, in general, and to individual behaviour, in particular, to reduce the human impact and harm on the environment.

Key goals of the Sustainability Working Group include supporting the implementation of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Green Charter, analysing sustainability issues, offering training to the MCAA and broader scientific community, and engaging in global policy discussions. The Working Group, with over 65 members, will convene on  October 17th 2024, to kick off its activities and discuss the path ahead.

“The group is open to anyone interested in sustainability. Together, we can work to have a greener Association and impact in society,” says the Sustainability Working Group Chair and previous MCAA Vice-Chair and Board member, Alexandra Dubini.

Embracing the power of AI

As AI continues to evolve, its potential to transform research, science, and society is becoming increasingly apparent. The AI General Interest Group was created to address the growing impact of AI with three objectives in mind: disseminating knowledge about AI to make it accessible across disciplines, co-creating and delivering AI training to empower the research community, and advising policymakers on the transformative impact of AI in science.

To achieve its goals, the AI General Interest Group will organise educational webinars and workshops, offer collaborative training programmes, curate a resource library, and engage in policy forums.

“AI is now more accessible and versatile than ever before. While its widespread adoption offers tremendous benefits, it also brings significant risks,” notes the coordinator of the AI General Interest Group, Quentin Loisel, who’s also the current Chair of the MCAA United Kingdom Chapter. “Our General Interest Group has been created at a critical moment to lead the exploration of how to harness AI’s potential responsibly,” he adds.

For further information about the activities or how to get involved, please contact the Sustainability Working Group at sustainability@mariecuriealumni.eu and the AI General Interest Group at ai@mariecuriealumni.eu.