👩💻 Leading the future of science:
ana conesa appointed vice president of iscb
A New Chapter for 2026
Ana Conesa, LongTREC Coordinator, has been appointed Vice President of the International Society of Computational Biology (ISCB). This global society is dedicated to advancing the scientific and social impact of computational biology and bioinformatics.
Conesa, who has been an ISCB fellow since 2023, expressed that we are currently living through an “exciting time” for the field, though one that presents significant challenges for the broader scientific community.
Following a period of training alongside newly elected President Bonnie Berger, Conesa will officially take office in January 2026. Her leadership comes at a time when the ISCB aims to remain a primary driving force for global scientific discovery and collaboration.
The Two Pillars of Her Vision
According to Ana Conesa, the scientific community faces two critical hurdles in the near future:
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Defending the Scientific Method: There is a “worrying decline” in public confidence in science. Conesa warns that personal or political interests are increasingly leading people to question data and rigor, which threatens evidence-based decision-making and the very definition of truth.
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Guiding AI Integration: While Artificial Intelligence offers enormous opportunities, it also brings a set of “pressing responsibilities” that the scientific community must address.
Navigating the AI Transformation
AI is already revolutionizing how researchers analyze and interpret complex data, accelerating the pace of discovery like never before. However, Ana Conesa emphasizes that this progress must be managed with a focus on responsibility and sustainability.
To ensure AI remains a force for good in science, she highlights several key focus areas:
1. Open Data: Shared data sets must remain the cornerstone of the field to ensure continued transformation.
2. Algorithmic Integrity: We must actively address algorithmic bias and improve transparency in how these tools operate.
3. Environmental Impact: The significant environmental costs associated with massive computational power must be recognized and mitigated.
Ultimately, Conesa believes the ISCB must lead the way by developing community-driven standards and best practices for sustainable AI.
1. Open Data: Shared data sets must remain the cornerstone of the field to ensure continued transformation.
2. Algorithmic Integrity: We must actively address algorithmic bias and improve transparency in how these tools operate.
3. Environmental Impact: The significant environmental costs associated with massive computational power must be recognized and mitigated.
Ultimately, Conesa believes the ISCB must lead the way by developing community-driven standards and best practices for sustainable AI.