How can artificial intelligence and autonomous drone swarms help protect wildlife and monitor ecosystems?

In this talk, we explore how AI and coordinated drone systems can be used in nature conservation projects — from monitoring harbour porpoises in Danish waters to tracking zebras across large landscapes in Kenya.

The presentation gives an accessible introduction to how machine vision algorithms can detect and identify animals from aerial imagery, and how groups of drones can collaborate intelligently to collect new datasets that are not possible with a single drone alone.

Using visual examples, videos, and real-world case studies from Africa, the talk demonstrates how research in AI and swarm robotics can support biodiversity research and conservation efforts in challenging environments.

Speaker:

Edouard Rolland, Phd. Student at UAS Centre, (University of Southern Denmark). 

When Software Moves Power: The Evidence Boundary Between AI Decisions and Physical Energy Systems

As AI and optimization increasingly control EVs, batteries, and intelligent buildings, an explanation alone is not enough before an action reaches physical infrastructure. This talk presents an approach combining explainable AI, formal verification, and model-based validation so energy systems can determine when to act, replan, or fall back.

Speaker:

Johannes Koch, Assistant Professor at the SDU Center for Energy Informatics (University of Southern Denmark, Odense).