Oxford Brookes Staff Artificial Intelligence Showcase

16 July 2025, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. This event has now finished.

Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we teach, work, and collaborate and your colleagues are already finding creative ways to use it.

Whether you’ve got something to share or simply want to see what’s possible, this event is your chance to get involved. Read on to find out how you can join the Oxford Brookes Staff AI Showcase.

What’s it about?

This is a relaxed, informal in-person event (Headington campus, Wednesday 16 July, 10.00am to 1.00pm) for academic and professional services staff to:

Demystify AI through practical, real-world examples.
Share how you're using AI to boost productivity, learning, or accessibility.
Inspire others to try out AI in their own work.
Build a community of AI users across departments.

If you're curious about how AI could support your work, but not sure where to start, you're not alone and this event is for you. Come along to see how colleagues across Oxford Brookes are using AI in practical, everyday ways. Whether you're exploring tools for teaching, admin, or productivity, you'll leave with fresh ideas and real examples you can try out yourself. No prior experience needed just an interest in learning.

This is not a technical or an academic conference, just colleagues learning from colleagues.

Questions

Contact the organising team at:

Charlie Simpson charlessimpson@brookes.ac.uk
Sam Folley sfolley@brookes.ac.uk
Nicola Beer n.beer@brookes.ac.uk

Let’s explore AI together, see you at the showcase!

Programme

Please see the Programme live google document (Brookes login required) for recordings of the sessions.

Time	Session
09:30	Arrival and coffee / tea available at entry to Chakrabarti
10:00	Welcome, purpose of showcase and format
10:05	Louise Taylor (Information Technology team) Artificial Intelligence Hub The Oxford Brookes Artificial Intelligence Hub is an online resource within ServiceNow that brings together guidance from across the University, along with insights from trusted external sources. Whether you’re new to AI or more experienced, it offers accessible support for staff and students to understand AI tools, stay up to date with the latest news and trends, learn about data privacy and information security, and engage with the ethical and practical issues surrounding AI use. Grounded in University guidance, the AI Hub is designed to build confidence and competence in using AI—both in academic and professional contexts.
10:20	Adrian Pawley (Specialist technician media arts) Creating Images with AI for Fun, Function and Inspiration This presentation will demonstrate how text prompts can be used in Generative AI platforms to create unique images, ranging from painterly styles to photorealistic renderings. Adrian will showcase two applications—Microsoft Copilot and Adobe Firefly—and explore how such tools could support brainstorming, poster design, presentations, or simply creative inspiration across various university departments.
10:35	Charlie Brampton (Academic liaison library team) Getting Started with Prompt Engineering Learn how to write clear and effective instructions to get useful results from AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot. This session covers simple strategies, common pitfalls, and practical examples to help you ask better questions—and get better answers.
10:50	Nicola Beer (OCAED) Using Goblin Tools to Simplify Everyday Tasks Discover how this free web and mobile app can support individuals—particularly those who are neurodivergent—in managing their workload, planning tasks, analysing tone, and organising scattered thoughts. These tools are valuable for anyone who finds everyday task management or communication a challenge.
11:05	Rachel Wang (Senior lecturer Business School) Using ChatGPT to Transform a Central Concept into a Mind Map See how to turn a simple concept into a structured mind map using ChatGPT. The session will demonstrate how to generate key themes and connections, and export them into visual formats compatible with appropriate third-party — ideal for brainstorming, planning and teaching.
11:20	Nav Krishna Viswana (Enterprise Centre) Smarter Slide Creation: Using AI to Enhance Presentations Explore how AI platforms can convert rough notes into polished slides with effective visuals in minutes. Whether for teaching, training or strategic communication, this session will demonstrate how these tools save time, support inclusive design, and boost confidence in presentation delivery.
11:35	Emma Mellors (Senior lecturer School of Nursing and Midwifery) Using Co-Pilot as an Article Reading Assistant Discover how Microsoft Co-Pilot can help both students and staff better access dense or technical research articles. A quick, effective way to make research more approachable and more easily critiqued and applied in academic or practical contexts.
11:50	Kevin Stoba (Global Banking School) Designing Assessments That Encourage Student Use of AI This session explores how customised AI tools were embedded into assessments across two degree programmes. Learn how these tools supported student engagement with learning outcomes, enhanced structural components of assignments, and improved assessment dynamism. The talk will also reflect on the development process, student response, and implementation challenges.
12:05	Isabel Virgo (Learning resources team) Using AI in Literature Searching Recommendations and Guidance from the Library Did you know there are AI tools tailored for literature searching and summarisation? This session highlights the Library’s current guidance and introduces two tools—NotebookLM and Undermind—that can support ethical and efficient literature exploration for both staff and students.
12:20	Lucy Turner (Portfolio transformation HST Faculty) Exploring NotebookLM See how Google’s NotebookLM helps students and staff work with complex material more effectively. This session will showcase selected features of Notebook LM such as creating summaries and structured notes from source materials (e.g. transcripts, rough notes, documents).
12:35	Presenter (TBC)
12:50	Charlie Simpson (Senior Lecturer HST Faculty) Introducing AI Avatars: Create Videos with Virtual Presenters Explore how to create engaging videos using A.I. avatars as virtual presenters. This session will demonstrate how to generate professional-looking content without needing to appear on camera, with options to personalise the avatar's appearance, voice, and language. I will also showcase the potential to use A.I. Avatars to have real time conversations.
13:05	Conclusion (showcase organisers) In this closing session, we’ll reflect on key themes from the showcase and highlight practical takeaways for applying A.I. in teaching, research, and professional practice. We’ll also explore next steps—how to stay informed, build confidence, and collaborate across the university to shape effective, ethical, and innovative uses of A.I. going forward.