FOURTH MEETING OF PHD MENTORS AND PHD STUDENTS
The fourth meeting of PhD mentors and PhD students will be organized on Thursday, 19 February 2026, between 11:00 and 13:00 at the University of Primorska University Library (Trubar Hall, Hall 2). The event will be held in Slovenian and will be moderated by Sara Maksimović (SZK UP).
Programme:
Welcome address
Prof. Štefko Miklavič, PhD, Vice Rector for Research and Development at the University of Primorska
Babylonian Laboratory: Science, Illusions, and the Crisis of Meaning in the Age of Algorithmic Authority
11:05-11:30 │ Prof. Dean Korošak, PhD, Vice Rector for Scientific and Research Activities at the University of Maribor
The contemporary crisis of science and scientific communication is largely driven by the rise of large language models and algorithms that shape our perception of truth. Science is no longer a »pure library« of organized knowledge, but a Babylonian laboratory – an endless archive where truth is lost in an ocean of noise and machine-generated »scientific mush«, which, together with disinformation, undermines trust in science. In this lecture, we discuss the crisis of scientific communication in the age of algorithmic authority. We try to analyse how large language models act as »quantum librarians«, simulating meaning without understanding, and how the metrics of scientific production are becoming ideological »looms of fate«. At a time when universities risk becoming simulacra of education, we seek what remains irreplaceable: the human hunger for knowledge and understanding. A machine can generate a perfect text, but since it cannot lose anything, it does not care about the truth. The future of science is therefore not in a race with algorithms, but in preserving the vulnerability and responsibility that separate the researcher from the machine.
Ethical challenges in the supervision process: responsibilities, dilemma resolution, and formal procedures
11:40-12:10 │ Prof. Vita Poštuvan, PhD, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska
A good relationship between the student and the mentor is crucial for a successful PhD process. In this process, the student is not completely independent. Due to the connection with the mentor, the student’s behaviour regarding scientific research and personal integrity affects the mentor’s perception of them. If the student is successful and gains a reputation, this is beneficial for the mentor; otherwise, friction and dilemmas related to various aspects of the work arise. A particular problem arises in the case of a violation of ethical principles and assuming responsibility for the consequences. Of course, the opposite is also true, since the actions of the mentor affect the student. In this lecture, we will discuss (formal) procedures and responsibilities related to ethics and resolving ethical dilemmas in practice.
Discussion and conclusion
12:20-13:00
Registration for the event is required >>
Invitation to the 4th Meeting PhD Mentors and PhD Students >>