The Genesis Mission: Universities' Opportunity to Shape AI-Driven Scientific Discovery

The Data Foundation held a dynamic virtual forum focused on the Genesis Mission Executive Order, signed on November 24, 2025. The Order establishes a sweeping national initiative to accelerate AI-driven scientific discovery through the creation of the American Science and Security Platform. This public forum invited researchers, policy experts, technologists, advocates, university research leaders, and federal partners to examine the Order's immediate implications for university-federal research collaborations, particularly workforce pathways that will shape how higher education institutions engage with this initiative, and the new partnerships and data governance frameworks may be necessary. The forum aimed to educate and garner actionable insights for university and nonprofit leaders for promising approaches to implement the requirements of the Order.

After an opening session providing an overview of the Executive Order’s requirements, the forum was structured around 5-minute presentations. The virtual forum offered a fast-paced and highly engaging format that encourages concise, impactful contributions. Speakers were grouped by the key topics listed below, and within each group, talks will explore various themes associated with the topics. This structure creates a space for targeted discussion, focused recommendations, and strategic insights tailored to specific implementation requirements for the Executive Order.

With implementation timelines as short as 90–120 days for key provisions, universities have a narrow window to understand requirements and help shape how to operationalize them. This forum offers an early opportunity to identify challenges, share institutional perspectives, and inform implementation in ways that preserve productive research partnerships.

Following the forum, the Data Foundation will analyze key takeaways, highlight recurring themes, and elevate actionable ideas for stakeholders in a brief report.

Speakers

• Christopher Marcum, Senior Fellow, Data Foundation

Lightening Round #1 

• Daniel Crowley, Penn State University
• Patrick McGarry, ServiceNow
• John A. Bottega, EDM Association
• Erin Mote, InnovateEDU

Lightening Round #2

• Joelle Petrus, JMPetrus Consulting
•  Erin Mote, InnovateEDU
• Christopher Marcum, Data Foundation
• Jake Pasner, Georgetown Massive Data Institute

Lightning Round #3

• Carly Robinson, SPARC
• Leremy Colf, University of Oklahoma College of Nursing
• Kate Cochran, InnovateEDU