DkIT Postgraduate Summer School 2026 Day 2 - Theme: Building AI Skills

Join us in person for Day 2 of the DkIT Postgraduate Summer School! Dive into the exciting world of AI and boost your skills with hands-on sessions and expert talks. Whether you're a newbie or looking to level up, this day is packed with cool activities to get you ahead in AI. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn, network, and have fun!

Info: A hands-on tutorial teaching researchers how to leverage AI tools to create compelling visual content for diverse research outputs, from academic papers and conference presentations to policy briefs and public-facing blogs. The session covers essential skills including crafting effective prompts for generating graphics, selecting appropriate tools for different visualisation needs, editing and refining AI-generated images, ensuring accessibility and clarity in visual communication, and navigating copyright and attribution considerations. Through demonstrations and guided practice, you will explore both generative AI image tools and data visualisation platforms.

Info: A presentation examining how artificial intelligence is transforming teaching and learning in higher education, exploring both its exciting potential and significant challenges. Researchers and educators will gain insight into current AI applications in the classroom, from personalised learning tools and automated assessment to AI writing assistants, while critically considering concerns around academic integrity, equity of access, and pedagogical effectiveness. The session addresses practical questions about integrating AI responsibly into curricula, helping students develop AI literacy, and maintaining rigorous academic standards in an AI-enabled learning environment. Attendees will come away with evidence-based perspectives on navigating this rapidly evolving landscape and making informed decisions about AI adoption in their own teaching contexts.

Info: A panel discussion with leaders from industry, academia, and the creative sector will share insights on emerging career pathways, evolving skill requirements, and new modes of collaboration as AI reshapes roles in research, healthcare, creative industries, technology, and business. The conversation will address critical questions for early-career researchers: Which capabilities will remain distinctly human? How can postgraduates position themselves for AI-augmented workplaces? What opportunities exist at the intersection of disciplinary expertise and AI literacy? With perspectives spanning diverse sectors, the panel offers researchers practical guidance for navigating career transitions, identifying transferable skills, and capitalising on the opportunities AI presents while remaining adaptable in a rapidly changing professional environment.

Info: AI has many uses for researchers and those in the arts; it can generate in moments what used to take hours. Alluring as this may be, when we outsource our early thinking to AI, we risk losing the ability to actively think through problems physically, to surprise ourselves, to learn through making, to flex our creative muscles. Humankind has used hand sketching as a communication tool and a method for finding design solutions for millennia. However, by relying on prompting AI too early in the communication or design process, the ability to think through a solution can become redundant. In this workshop, we are going to learn how to use our existing sketching skills with AI rather than relying solely on AI-only solutions. We are all going to sketch badly together to improve our AI future. Please bring your laptops for this session and create a generative AI account, such as ChatGPT or Openart.ai. Sharpies and paper will be provided.

Info: A workshop exploring how researchers can maintain healthy relationships with technology while managing the unique digital pressures of academic life. Participants will examine common sources of digital anxiety in research environments, from email overload and constant connectivity expectations to social media comparison and the pressure to maintain an online academic presence. The session offers practical strategies for setting boundaries with digital tools, managing information overwhelm, and creating sustainable work practices that support both productivity and mental wellbeing. Attendees will leave with personalised techniques for reducing digital stress while staying engaged with the collaborative and communication tools essential to modern research.

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