Dr. Mark Robinson will give a lecture on “Managing the Collective” at the Institute of Chemistry

On 3 October, Dr. Mark Robinson, Senior Advisor at the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, will give a lecture at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Chemistry titled “Managing the Collective”, exploring the particular challenges of managing large-scale scientific and technological projects through the case studies of CERN and the ITER nuclear fusion project.

Dr. Robinson is Senior Advisor at the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative and an expert in Big Science collaborations, international management, and science diplomacy. His research draws on case studies from CERN and the ITER Nuclear Fusion Project, offering insights into managing in a Big Science–High Tech context. Key themes include the source of agency and light-touch management.

Lecture abstract
The lecture examines how leadership can be understood beyond traditional heroic or individual-centered models, focusing instead on collective dynamics in large-scale scientific and technological projects. Drawing on his experience with CERN and ITER, Dr. Robinson explores how collective agency emerges, and how light-touch management practices enable collaboration across international and interdisciplinary teams. The talk will provide both theoretical framing and practical insights relevant for leadership studies and management practice.

The session will last 40 minutes, followed by Q&A, with active engagement and dialogue encouraged throughout.

The lecture is open to all those interested and will take place at Ravila 14a-1020, at 10:15.