On April 4, 2025, the PollinERA project was presented at the MetaBeeAI Workshop in Oxford, UK. Fabio Sgolastra from the University of Bologna introduced the initiative to a select group of researchers. The workshop brought together around 20 international scientists with expertise in bee ecotoxicology, providing a platform to explore potential areas of collaboration between PollinERA and MetaBeeAI.
During his presentation, Sgolastra offered an overview of PollinERA, discussing its framework, goals, and consortium members. He used a PowerPoint presentation to detail both the broad and targeted aims of the project. Another institutional partner involved in the event was Lund University.
MetaBeeAI is an international consortium of bee ecotoxicologists and AI experts developing a pipeline that leverages large language models to automate the systematic review and meta-analysis of research on bees and pesticides. This approach enables the synthesis of a vast and heterogeneous body of literature—spanning multiple bee species, pesticide classes, experimental methodologies, and toxicological endpoints.
The MetaBeeAI Workshop brings together leading researchers in bee ecotoxicology and artificial intelligence to advance project objectives through collaborative discussions, knowledge exchange, and hands-on activities. The workshop aims to refine methodologies for systematic review and meta-analysis using large language models, explore the implications of sublethal effects on bees, and establish a roadmap for future research and applications. Participants engaged in breakout sessions, invited talks, and networking opportunities to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
The discussion that followed Fabio Sgolastra’s presentation demonstrated considerable interest from participants, with several questions reflecting strong engagement from the scientific community. This interaction highlighted the relevance of the topics presented and the potential for meaningful collaboration between the two research initiatives.
👉 Workshop details available here: https://metabeeai.github.io/metabeeai-workshop/index.html