Section Comments: Title - Exploring Artificial Intelligence in Environmental and Ecological Research This two-credit graduate seminar will explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) in environmental and ecological research. The course comprises a series of discussion-based modules focusing on the history, subfields, current applications, ethical considerations and future potential of AI. We will be introduced to AI and language models, AI subfields like Machine Learning and Deep Learning, and reflect on the evolution of AI within ecological research. Students will be exposed to real-world applications of AI in ecological research and explore the potential use and misuse of language models, particularly ChatGPT, in different stages of research, including literature review, hypothesis generation, data analysis and synthesis, and manuscript writing and reviewing. The course also examines ethical considerations of AI usage in research, addressing issues of accuracy, privacy and equitable benefits distribution. Students will be encouraged to contemplate the broader societal and ethical responsibilities associated with the utilization of AI in environmental predictions and policy-making. The seminar allows students to explore AI's role, applications, and ethical implications in environmental and ecological sciences.