ECRI Inaugral Guest Lecture with Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi CBE FREng FRS, Vice-President (Research & Innovation) and ARM Professor of Computer Engineering at King’s College London : Rethinking Research: The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs*
On Wednesday 4 February 2026, ECRI hosted its inaugural guest lecture featuring Professor Sir Bashir M. Al Hashimi CBE, who delivered a thought-provoking talk on The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs.
The event brought together over 100 researchers for an engaging and highly stimulating session that actively challenged assumptions and sparked fresh perspectives on the future of scientific research and doctoral training in an AI-driven world. Attendees responded enthusiastically to the lecture, with many reflecting on how it prompted them to rethink established approaches and consider new forms of collective thinking.
The energy continued beyond the lecture itself. At the drinks reception that followed, researchers from across Imperial gathered for lively, in-depth discussions with Professor Sir Bashir M. Al Hashimi CBE and with one another. The animated conversations and strong turnout reflected the genuine interest and engagement the talk generated, marking the event as a highly successful inaugral ECRI guest lecture.
The full lecture was recorded and can now be viewed online via the following link: Guest Lecture 2026
