Texas A&M Hosts First-Ever RAISE Workshop to Advance AI in Science and Engineering
Texas A&M University recently held its inaugural RAISE (Research in AI for Science and Engineering) Workshop, bringing together nearly 200 participants at the Zachry Engineering Education Complex. Faculty, students, and AI researchers gathered to explore how artificial intelligence, especially large foundation models, can accelerate progress across science and engineering.
The workshop, led by Dr. Shuiwang Ji, focused on how AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can generalize across tasks and support discovery. These foundation models, with billions of parameters, are becoming central to research workflows. However, as noted during the event, they still lack core scientific understanding. One goal of the RAISE initiative is to embed domain-specific knowledge into AI systems, enhancing their value for scientists and engineers.
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AI Meets Human Expertise in Scientific Research
Morning sessions focused on tutorials and model explainability. Attendees learned how advanced AI tools function as flexible assistants for modeling, hypothesis generation, and data processing. Still, these systems need human guidance to interpret results and avoid errors—especially in high-stakes environments like atomic simulations or semiconductor analysis.
Afternoon presentations highlighted real-world use cases for AI in disciplines such as drug discovery, turbulence modeling, and materials science. Researchers emphasized that AI can reduce simulation times and optimize experiments, but scientific oversight is essential.
Conversations also touched on the risks of unverifiable claims and “AI-washing.” Open science practices, peer-reviewed models, and collaborative data sharing were presented as safeguards. The workshop stressed integrity and transparency in both research and AI development.
SuperPOD and the Road Ahead for RAISE
During lunch, attendees previewed Texas A&M’s SuperPOD, a powerful GPU-based computing infrastructure supporting AI and high-performance computing. With over $45 million invested, it stands among the university’s most significant infrastructure upgrades.
Looking forward, the RAISE Initiative plans to launch a multiday bootcamp and extend partnerships across Texas. This first workshop lays the groundwork for deeper integration of AI into scientific inquiry—guided by core values and a commitment to innovation.
