KAUST Associate Professor Aurelien Manchon has been appointed as the Wohlfarth Lecturer for the Magnetism 2020 conference. The conference, organized by IEEE UK Magnetic Chapter and the Institute of Physics, will be held in Sheffield, U.K. Manchon's research at KAUST focuses on spintronics and the development of high-speed, energy-efficient microelectronics. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to cutting-edge research in spintronics and magnetism, areas crucial for advancing microelectronics and data storage technologies.
KAUST Professor Peter Richtárik received a Distinguished Speaker Award at the Sixth International Conference on Continuous Optimization (ICCOPT 2019) in Berlin. Richtárik's lecture series, totaling six hours, focused on stochastic gradient descent (SGD) methods, drawing from recent research by his KAUST group. He highlighted key principles and new variants of SGD, the key method for training modern machine learning models. Why it matters: This award recognizes KAUST's contribution to fundamental machine learning optimization, which is critical for advancing AI in the region.
KAUST Professor Marc Genton has been selected as the 2020 Georges Matheron Lecturer of the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. Genton will present a lecture at the 36th International Geological Congress in Delhi, India, focusing on geostatistics, climate model outputs, and the ExaGeoStat software developed at KAUST. His lecture will cover Matheron's theory of regionalized variables and showcase ExaGeoStat, a high-performance software for geostatistics with exascale computing capability developed at KAUST. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to advanced statistical methods and high-performance computing in geosciences, enhancing its international reputation in these fields.
Dominique Sciamma, Managing Director at Strate School of Design in France, gave a presentation at KAUST during Enrichment in the Fall of 2017. The title of the presentation was "From Descartes to Morin." The event was held at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Why it matters: While the event is dated, KAUST's ongoing enrichment programs contribute to fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge exchange in Saudi Arabia.
Keith Ross, Dean of Computer Science, Data Science and Engineering at NYU Shanghai, will be giving a talk on recent advances in Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL). The talk will review DRL breakthroughs and discuss algorithmic research on DRL for high-dimensional state and action spaces, with applications to robotic locomotion. Ross's research interests include deep reinforcement learning, Internet privacy, peer-to-peer networking, and computer network modeling. Why it matters: Reinforcement learning is a core area of AI research in the GCC region, and a talk by a prominent researcher can help inform and inspire local researchers.
Munther Dahleh, director at the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS), discussed his group's research on network systems at the KAUST 2018 Winter Enrichment Program. The research focuses on the fragility of large networked systems, like highway systems, in response to disruptions that may lead to catastrophic failures. Dahleh's team studies transportation networks, electrical grids, and financial markets to understand system interconnection in causing systemic risk. Why it matters: Understanding networked systems is crucial for building resilient infrastructure and mitigating risks in critical sectors across the GCC region.
Dr. Jeffrey Schnapp from Harvard University discussed the shift from mobility to movability and human-centric autonomy in robotics at KAUST's 2018 Winter Enrichment Program. He presented Gita, a cargo robot designed to move like humans and support pedestrian lifestyles. Piaggio Fast Forward, Schnapp's company, aims to create robots that coexist with humans and enhance the quality of life in pedestrian-friendly environments. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's engagement with innovative robotics research and its focus on exploring human-robot interaction for future urban development in Saudi Arabia.
MBZUAI board member Kai-Fu Lee will give a talk on December 16 about his book "AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future," discussing AI's transformative impact. The talk will cover AI's potential to revolutionize industries, improve well-being, and create new forms of interaction and entertainment. Lee will also address the limitations and potential perils of AI, such as privacy and security concerns. Why it matters: The lecture provides insights into the future of AI from a leading expert, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges for the field and its impact on society.