UPEI hosts Research on Tap presentation on November 16 about artificial intelligence
The University of Prince Edward Island is reviving its popular Research on Tap series with a presentation titled “Versatile applications of AI in chemistry and education” on November 16 at 6 pm at The Fox & Crow, W.A. Murphy Student Centre at UPEI.
Dr. Jason Pearson, professor of chemistry at UPEI, will provide a look into the versatile applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in chemistry and education, based on a decade of research. Starting with a broad introduction, he will then highlight how AI can be used to model chemical reactivity and assess the potential of drug molecules, thereby speeding up the discovery process.
He will describe the findings of extensive studies involving thousands of undergraduate students across North America. These studies reveal the ability of AI to offer personalized tutoring, improve writing and critical thinking skills, correct flawed logic in real time, and quicken accurate recall, ultimately enhancing student readiness and performance.
Pearson’s talk is designed for a wide audience curious about the transformative impact of AI on academia and the world. Attendees will gain an understanding of the current state of AI, its various applications, and its potential to shape the future of the world.
In addition to his teaching role at UPEI, Pearson leads an interdisciplinary research group in computational methods for chemistry spanning quantum chemistry, electronic structure theory, and artificial intelligence for molecular discovery.
He is also a co-founder of Stemble Learning, a seed-stage data-driven teaching and learning platform for chemistry classes and laboratories. Stemble delivers course content and learning analytics to over 10,000 students each semester. These include assessments driven by artificial intelligence and fully interactive virtual lab experiences.
Dr. Pearson has won numerous awards including the Reg Friesen Award from the Chemical Education Division of the Canadian Society for Chemistry, the Hessian Award, the Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership, and the Brightspace Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
