Network Session – AI Thinking Session

We organized an artificial intelligence (AI) thinking session aimed at fostering collaboration within the AI community focused on fisheries research. To facilitate engagement and build trust among participants, we utilised the Liberating Structures framework.

The session was divided into four sections. We began with an icebreaker, asking the group a series of questions to help them connect and engage with one another. In the second part, participants took part in a drawing exercise where they were tasked with drawing a fish multiple times, each time with less time available. This exercise was designed to encourage creative thinking and prepare them for the final two sections.

In the third section, we asked participants to individually answer the question, "Where do you need AI?". Afterward, they paired up to discuss their answers. These pairs then joined with another pair, forming groups of four. In this larger group, each participant shared their partner’s ideas with the others. Finally, each group of four selected one idea, and a selection of these ideas was shared with the entire room.

The final part of the session was another drawing activity. This time, participants were asked to visually represent their answer to the question, "What inspires you to use AI in marine research?", using a set vocabulary of five symbols. First, each participant created their own individual drawing. Then, in pairs, they explained their drawings to one another. Afterward, they formed groups of four where each drawing was interpreted by the other members of the group.