AI: Cutting-Edge Overview with Dr Sanson Poon

Talk Title

Using AI to Accelerate Natural Science Research: The Journey from a Museum Lab to a National Programme

Talk Summary

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how research is conducted, yet the journey from concept to real-world impact often begins with small, focused experiments. This talk shares the story of the NHM AI Lab at the Natural History Museum, created to explore how AI and data science can transform traditional research practices in the earth and life sciences. From biodiversity analysis to digitisation of collections, the lab has demonstrated how computational methods can accelerate discovery and generate practical innovations, including a project that has led to a patent filing, while also opening new opportunities for scientific exploration, funding, and business impact. Building on this foundation, the NHM AI Lab became the inspiration for the DCMS AI Pilot Programme, a national initiative designed to scale these methods across the UK’s research landscape. The talk will reflect on how a museum-based experiment grew into a seed for a national programme, showcase projects delivered through the pilot, and consider what lies ahead for embedding AI more deeply into natural science collections and research.

Speaker’s Bio

Dr Sanson Poon is the founder of the NHM AI Lab at the Natural History Museum, where he integrates AI and data science into earth and life sciences research, with an initiative that led to a patent filing. Dr Poon also founded a consultancy that delivers AI and data science solutions across healthcare, government, and industry, leading projects that address national-scale challenges in service delivery, public health, and research. With a background in physics and complex systems modelling, he applies computational methods across domains from disease dynamics to astrophysics. His work demonstrates how AI can be harnessed to improve outcomes and shape the future of research.