Join the Policy Institute at KAUST for a timely discussion on how governments use scientific evidence in policymaking and how emerging technologies can help assess its real-world impact. 

The session features Dr. Basil Mahfouz, research fellow in metascience at University College London, and is moderated by Professor David Pugh, instructional assistant professor in the Computer Science Program, Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE) Division, KAUST. 

Drawing on an AI model trained on millions of research papers and policy documents, the session explores how machine learning can identify research likely to have policy impact, even when it is not explicitly cited. This introduces a new approach to understanding how governments engage with evidence and what drives the adoption of policy-relevant research. 

The discussion also highlights how these insights can strengthen alignment between research and national policy priorities, while enhancing institutional capacity to translate knowledge into measurable impact. 

• This session is part of the Policy Institute Speaker Series, which brings together global experts to explore how science, technology, and innovation can better inform public policy in Saudi Arabia and beyond.