Keynote Speaker

Dr. Leo S. Lo

Leo S. Lo is University Librarian and Dean of Libraries, Advisor to the Provost for AI Literacy, and Professor of Education at the University of Virginia.

As President (2024–2025) of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Lo established the ACRL AI Competencies Task Force and leads national efforts to develop AI competencies for library professionals. He consults and publishes widely on AI literacy, workforce development, and higher education innovation.

Lo holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Information Studies from Florida State University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in AI from Oxford University.

Keynote Title

Staying Ahead: AI Literacy and the Future of Research Publishing

Abstract

AI is reshaping every stage of the research process, from literature review to publication. Yet as the tools advance, publisher policies are shifting rapidly, creating uncertainty for emerging scholars. Drawing on three national studies of AI literacy and practical upskilling programs, Dr. Leo Lo will highlight what Ph.D. students need to know to responsibly incorporate AI into their work and avoid pitfalls in publication. He will show how publishers’ stances on AI mirror the challenges revealed in libraries: issues of equity, ethics, and evolving norms. The talk will provide doctoral researchers with strategies to remain both innovative and compliant while building scholarly careers in an AI-driven era.