Dolby Symposium: AI in Science

Explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence across scientific discovery, innovation, and society at the 2026 Dolby Symposium

Following the success of the inaugural Cavendish Science Festival last June, the event returns in 2026 with a refreshed format and under a new name.

The Dolby Symposium is a one-day meeting focused on a single, unifying theme designed to foster engaging dialogue and provide fresh insights on the topic.

The theme for 2026 is “AI in Science”.

The programme of talks and panel discussions will explore how AI can be used across the sciences from computational biology, integrated into autonomous laboratories and the wider impact on society and policy.

We are pleased to announce that Dr John Jumper, Distinguished Scientist at Google DeepMind, will be a key speaker. Dr Jumper, awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sir Demis Hassabis and Professor David Baker, is an artificial intelligence researcher and biophysicist, whose work on AI-based protein structure prediction has enabled the routine prediction of protein structures to atomic accuracy.

Programme

9:30 - Registration and coffee

10:15 - Welcomes

10:30 - Session 1

• Plenary Lecture – John Jumper, Google Deep Mind
• AI to Drive Scientific Discovery, Dirk Englund, MIT

12:00 - Lunch

13:30 - Session 2

• AI in Biological and Physical Sciences, Alexandre Tkatchenko, University of Luxembourg
• AI in Healthcare, Mihaela van der Schaar, University of Cambridge

15:00 - Break

15:30 - Session 3

• AI for Materials Discovery, Matt Rosseinsky, University of Liverpool
• Panel discussion: AI for Science and Society

17:00 - Closing remarks

17:15 - Drinks reception

18:30 - Event close