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Gerard van Westen Invited as Speaker at Palace Symposium ‘Biological Design Through Artificial Intelligence’ Highlighting a Sustainable Future

AMSTERDAM – On the evening of Tuesday, November 19, the Palace Symposium took place at the Royal Palace Amsterdam, with this year’s theme being ‘Biological Design Through Artificial Intelligence’. His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Máxima hosted the event, and Princess Beatrix was also present at this inspiring gathering. Around 150 guests from various sectors of society – including representatives from science, culture, and business – attended to explore and discuss the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in building a sustainable future.

The symposium featured three distinguished speakers:
1.    Prof. Gerard JP van Westen, Professor of AI and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Leiden University, discussed the applications of AI in developing innovative medicines.
2.    Prof. Max Welling, Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Amsterdam, presented how AI can contribute to designing new materials capable of reducing CO2 emissions.
3.    Prof. Annelien Bredenoord, Chair of the Executive Board at Erasmus University Rotterdam and Professor of Ethics of Biomedical Innovation, concluded the evening with a thought-provoking column on the ethical challenges and responsibilities of using AI in this context.

The event was expertly moderated by Marcel Levi, Chair of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and Vinod Subramaniam, President of the Executive Board at the University of Twente, both members of the Palace Committee. After the presentations, a dinner was followed by an interactive session, during which attendees could engage with the speakers, who participated as a panel to answer questions. The evening concluded with a reception for all guests.

The Palace Symposium, held twice annually since 1979, once again provided a unique platform for integrating science, ethics, and societal impact. With its focus on biological design and AI, the event underscored the importance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration in striving for a sustainable future. The lectures can be played back at https://lnkd.in/ePNEUMZt.

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