NYU Abu Dhabi hosted a talk by Prof. Debdeep Mukhopadhyay on the intersection of machine learning and hardware security. The talk covered using ML/DL for side-channel attacks, leakage assessment in crypto-devices, and threats to hardware security primitives. Prof. Mukhopadhyay is a visiting professor at NYU Abu Dhabi and Institute Chair Professor at IIT Kharagpur. Why it matters: The talk highlights the growing importance of hardware security in modern systems and the role of machine learning in both attacking and defending hardware vulnerabilities.
Xi Chen from NYU Stern gave a talk at MBZUAI on digital privacy in personalized pricing using differential privacy. The talk also covered research in Web3 and decentralized finance, including delta hedging liquidity positions on Uniswap V3. Chen highlighted open problems in decentralized finance during the presentation. Why it matters: The talk suggests MBZUAI's interest in exploring the intersection of AI, privacy, and blockchain technologies, reflecting growing trends in data protection and decentralized systems.
Michael Holland from NYU's Center for Urban Science & Progress (CUSP) presented a keynote lecture at KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) 2015 on the importance of urban science. CUSP, launched in 2012, aims to make New York City a world capital of science and technology through multi-sector research and education. Holland emphasized how analyzing urban data can improve city government, planning, policy, and citizen engagement. Why it matters: As urbanization increases, the development of urban science and the effective use of urban data become crucial for sustainable and efficient city management in the GCC region and globally.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have signed a collaboration agreement to deepen strategic collaboration in research, education, and talent development. The partnership includes a Research and Development Sponsorship Agreement and a Framework Fellowship Program Agreement. TII and NYUAD will collaborate on joint research projects across areas like AI, robotics, and quantum science, and TII will sponsor NYUAD students for research in priority technology domains. Why it matters: The partnership aims to bridge fundamental research with real-world applications, accelerate scientific discovery, and develop a pipeline of skilled researchers in Abu Dhabi.
KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau hosted a gathering of KAUST alumni in Beijing in May 2014, marking the first formal alumni event outside of Saudi Arabia. The event included graduates, former post-docs, and incoming Chinese students. KAUST plans to form a working group to establish an alumni chapter in China. Why it matters: This event highlights KAUST's growing international network and its commitment to fostering relationships with alumni in key regions, especially China.
A professor from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore gave a talk at MBZUAI about "Just-Noticeable Difference (JND)" models in visual intelligence. The talk covered visual JND models, research and applications, and future opportunities for JND modeling. JND can help tackle big data challenges with limited resources by focusing on user-centric and green systems. Why it matters: Exploring JND could lead to advancements in AI applications related to visual signal processing, image synthesis, and generative AI in the region.
The KAUST China Alumni Chapter donated anti-pandemic materials, including 2,000 face masks and two Health Guard Robots, to KAUST during the COVID-19 crisis. The donation also included technical advice from alumni. The Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology (HAST) supported the donation of masks. Why it matters: This contribution highlights the strong connection between KAUST and its international alumni network, showcasing their commitment to supporting the university during challenging times.