Generative Artifical Intelligence tools such as Chat GPT and Google's Gemini have rapidly become an everyday part of internet search for all of us.
Whilst most educators in Higher Education are well aware of the impact of these tools, there is a lack of debate- and even discussion- on how to handle these tools in a teaching and learning context.
Here, we provide space for these conversations by inviting you to a light-hearted debate on the future of Generative AI in Higher Education.
The motion will be: 'This house believes that Generative AI should play no role in teaching and learning at universities', and you are invited to bring along questions for our panel of educators who will speak for and against the motion.
This event has been organised by the North East regional committee.
About the speakers
Dr Jacob Miller is a Human Geographer and Assistant Professor in the School of Geography and Natural Sciences at Northumbria University. Jacob’s work draws on post-structuralist theories and qualitative methodologies to understand the intersections of space, society and identity in the contexts of urban change and the role of consumerism in the world today.
Dr Miranda Prendergast-Miller is an Environmental Scientist and Assistant Professor in the School of Geography and Natural Sciences at Northumbria University. The focus of Miranda's research is on understanding how the ecosystem services provided by the complex interactions between microbes, soil fauna and plants can be disrupted by anthropogenic activities.
Dr Andy Suggitt is an Ecologist and Assistant Professor in the School of Geography and Natural Sciences at Northumbria University. Andy's research examines the effects of environmental change on the natural world.
Dr Sarah Peck is a Human Geographer and Assistant Professor in the School of Geography and Natural Sciences at Northumbria University. Sarah's work is centred on civic space, migration and global development, and collaborative research methods.
Please note: The views of our speakers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Royal Geographical Society.
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Further resources
On the environmental impact of AI, particularly statistics on water usage:
On the reproduction of colonialities through AI:
One of the final quotes used for the proposition (01:05:10):
- ‘Strong assumptions that AI is desirable and unavoidable, obscure the unequal impacts of AI on the world’ from:Ricaute, P. (2022). Ethics for the majority world: AI and the question of violence at scale. Media, Culture & Society. 44(4) 726–745.
And inspired by in relation to the Global development context specifically:
- Roberts, T. (2025). Ten reasons not to use AI for development and ten routes to more responsible use.
On the environmental impact of AI, particularly statistics on water usage:
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2024) AI has an environmental problem. Here’s what the world can do about it.
On the reproduction of colonialities through AI:
- Muldoon, J. & Wu, B. (2023) Artificial Intelligence in the Colonial Matrix of Power. Philosophy & Technology 36 (80).
One of the final quotes used for the proposition (01:05:10):
- ‘Strong assumptions that AI is desirable and unavoidable, obscure the unequal impacts of AI on the world’ from: Ricaute, P. (2022). Ethics for the majority world: AI and the question of violence at scale. Media, Culture & Society. 44(4) 726–745. DOI: 10.1177/01634437221099612
And inspired by in relation to the Global development context specifically:
- Roberts, T. (2025). Ten reasons not to use AI for development and ten routes to more responsible use.
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