Category Archives: Computer Science
Two UWF teams place in top 5 in national artificial intelligence competition – University of West Florida Newsroom – UWF Newsroom
Hosted by the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific and the Naval Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Coordination Office, 32 teams from public and private institutions across the country participated in the competition. Various research institutions including those from the Ivy League, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutes competed in the $200,000-prize challenge.
UWF graduate computer science students Tobias Jacob, Raffaele Galliera and Muddasar Ali placed third, winning $35,000 for the UWF Department of Computer Science. The students participated in the competition as members of UWFs AI and Data Analytics (AIDA) Research Group. Dr. Thomas Reichherzer, chair of computer science, served as the sponsor and Dr. Sikha Bagui, professor in computer science, served as the faculty advisor for the AIDA Research Group. UWF computer science major Zach Mueller, a machine learning intern at Novetta Solutions LLC mentored the students.
When we found out we finished third we couldnt believe it, said Galliera, who, like Ali, is pursuing dual masters degrees from UWF and Ferrara University in Italy. That whole morning, we talked about the things we went through during the challenge. We were so happy and so proud of what we accomplished.
The second UWF team, ArgoTracks, finished fifth and secured $20,000 for the Department of Intelligent Systems & Robotics. The team consisted of Bhavyansh Mishra, a doctoral student in intelligent systems & robotics, and mechanical engineering majors Brendon Ortolano and Luke Fina. Dr. Hakki Erhan Sevil, intelligent systems & robotics assistant professor, served as their sponsor and faculty advisor. The students are members of the Sevil Research Group at UWF. UWF alumnus Carson Wilber, a research associate at Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, mentored the students.
ArgoTracks formed its team a month after the challenge started. Mishra learned about the challenge from Wilber and then contacted Sevil who assisted him in finding teammates. The students put in long hours to catch up and submitted their entry just a few hours before the deadline.
Computer vision is my bread and butter, so I just hopped onto it as soon as Carson told me, Mishra said. Considering the fact we only had one month compared to most teams that had two months, we felt good about where we placed.
Each team was tasked with developing a computer vision system capable of plotting the tracks of shipping traffic exclusively using the passive sensing capability of a single onboard camera. Current traffic avoidance software relies on an automatic identification system and radar for tracking other craft and avoiding collisions. In a contested environment, emitting radar energy presents a vulnerability to detection by adversaries.
Organizers provided each team a dataset consisting of recorded camera imagery of vessel traffic along with the recorded GPS track of a vessel of interest that was seen in the imagery. Submitted solutions were evaluated against additional camera data correlated to recorded vessel tracks. The same vessel and the same instrumentation were used in both the competition dataset and the judging dataset. Judging criteria was based on track accuracy and overall processing time.
The two UWF teams were among only five that submitted solutions that worked. Ten of the teams submitted solutions that only partially worked or failed to work, and the remaining teams failed to submit solutions.
It was really difficult because the data they gave us wasnt preprocessed, the camera wasnt calibrated and we didnt have a lot of data, said Jacob, who is pursuing a masters degree at UWF after earning his bachelors degree from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. We had many moments where we thought, OK, this isnt going to work, and then we always found a way to make it work.
For more information on the AI Tracks at Sea Challenge, visit challenge.gov/challenge/AI-tracks-at-sea/. For more information on UWFs Department of Computer Science, visit uwf.edu/computerscience. For more information on UWFs Department of Intelligent Systems and Robotics, visit uwf.edu/isr.
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WNMU Board of Regents Virtually Sits Down With Legislators, Governor – WNMU News
As per tradition during the first meeting of the calendar year, the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents spent time communicating with state legislators, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, during their Thursday assembly over Zoom. They also agreed on the university presidents performance goals, voted to extend regent Janice Baca Argabrights term as the board Secretary/Treasurer until a new board is constituted, and approved the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Audit Report and the Fiscal Year 2021 Quarter 2 Financial Certification.
When you are at the legislative session, its really a place for someone like me to listennot talkand understand what your priorities are, Gov. Lujan Grisham said. New Mexico was successful in quashing the virus, largely thanks to higher education. You led in terms of figuring out ways to serve your students and faculty.
The governor praised WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard for compelling the states colleges and universities into collective action. Higher education came to the table early making sure their outcomes would be higher and helped us figure out a whole new education design. That was Joe Shepard. That was very powerful and that did not happen across the country. You all are something really special, she said.
Regent Chair Jerry Walz, who is completing his service after a dozen years on the board, said, We have not just been sitting around waiting for COVID-19 to pass. Weve been focused on our recruiting efforts and continue to compete for students not only on the local levels but on an international scale.
Echoing the chairs sentiments, Vice Chair of the board Dr. Mary Hotvedt said, Western New Mexico University has been using this time to think outside the box about how to make our university even greater as we emerge from this pandemic.
Acting Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Higher Education Department Stephanie Rodriguez briefed the board on legislation intended to support students in obtaining degrees and certificates through initiatives like the Opportunity Scholarship, also encouraging leadership to apply for available funding, particularly in the realm of early childhood education a field which she said WNMU has a premier focus on.
District 28 Senator Siah Correa Hemphill discussed her familys legacy of attending WNMU and expressed gratitude for the institutions compassion when she needed to take a break from her masters program.
District 39 Representative Luis M. Terrazas said, Im thankful I can reach out to Dr. Shepard when I have a question.
Legislative Finance Committee Director David Abbey noted themes emerging from the meetings conversation: family, business and political relationships. Its been a tough budget time in the past year procedurally and politically and financially. We presented a recommended budget with a cost of living adjustment of 1.5%. I dont need to tell the university about the consequences of falling behind in compensation in terms of retention and recruitment, he said.
What were seeing in the legislative session this year is a more supportive tone for higher education, said Kathy Ulibarri of New Mexico Independent Community Colleges.
Executive Director of the New Mexico Council of University Presidents Marc. H. Saavedra told the board that, with the leadership of Dr. Shepard, the group has developed a unified approach in their work with the legislature. He discussed the two budget recommendations on the table: the executive recommendation and Legislative Finance Committee recommendation, the latter of which he said looks more favorable for higher education. President Shepard has done an amazing job of advocating for higher education all around. He has been diligent and used great diplomacy in terms of how hes expressed where were at, Saavedra said.
Progressing to their agenda items, the regents addressed the proposed performance goals for Dr. Shepard, who explained, Its the board saying to the president, This is what we want you to accomplish, and well be evaluating you on this instrument.
The item was approved unanimously.
WNMU Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Jack Crocker presented two faculty members for sabbatical, recommending sculpture professor Michael Metcalf and math and computer science professor Dr. Nancy Livingston.
Metcalfs proposal outlined his intentions to design and fabricate a strategically placed entry sculpture on campus. During a 2006-07 sabbatical/leave-of-absence, he created two 30-foot tall sculptures for the City of Albuquerque, and over the last 15 years, he has designed and fabricated five large scale, publicly and privately commissioned sculptures. In this one-semester sabbatical, Metcalf plans to create a 30-foot outdoor site-specific sculpture for WNMU. I care passionately about WNMU and want to create a work that captures the WNMU experience. I will collaborate with students and faculty to gain student quotes about their WNMU experience and the ALAS program. Theses student quotes will be incorporated into the pillars that define the sculpture and suspend the earth form boulder in a tenuous way. The form implies the complexities of our current civilization and our students (spire forms) are the ones to carry the future burdens, he wrote. I plan to use durable materials such as stainless steel, bronze, and granite to create a lasting work that will serve the university and stimulate students for the next 100 years.
During her requested sabbatical leave, Dr. Livingston wishes to accomplish three interdisciplinary objectives: WNMU Cliff Swallow Research, Java Programming Study, and Data Science with Python Study.
She began a cross-disciplinary study of the Southwestern Cliff Swallow in late 2019 and, with university support, installed data logging sensors at nesting locations across campus. These sensors collected daily nesting location temperature, humidity and light values for the entire 2020 nesting season. Dr. Livingston and students supported through New Mexico AMP funding documented the birds with photographs and video footage. Along with studies completed by other university employees and students plus data collected by the Silver City Audubon Society, there is multivariate data to organize, synthesize and analyze, which Dr. Livingston plans to do using opensource statistical programming environment R and RStudio. Though I was attempting to complete this project in my free time, as it was a completely voluntary effort on my part, I have discovered that it is impossible for me to complete during my working semesters. These annual visitors are part of the universitys history, culture and future, and are thus important to document, she said.
In anticipation of the retirement of both WNMU computer science professors, Dr. Livingston aims to become qualified in teaching the Java programming courses. Also seeing the increasing importance of handling large data sets and gleaning correct information from the data and the related job opportunities for graduates skilled in this area, Dr. Livingston is going to be working toward establishing a new masters program in data science.
Discussing the results of the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Audit was auditor Chris Garner from Patillo, Brown and Hill. First describing the firms responsibility under U.S. and Government auditing standards, he said, We give whats called reasonable assurance. We state the financial statements are fairly presented without our standards. We have to communicate significant matters that come to our attention. If we come across anything, were required to report that as a finding. We issued an unmodified opinion. This is the highest level of assurance that we can give, he said.
Garners presentation showed that the university financial records are being maintained in good order. Our overall opinion was an unmodifiedor cleanfinding, he said.
WNMU Faculty Senate President Dr. Sue McFeaters said that the faculty body is working with Dr. Shepard and Dr. Crocker to strategize from an academic standpoint how faculty can be part of increasing enrollment.
In his report to the board, WNMU Staff Senate President Michael Acosta said, The pandemic has allowed us to identify certain weaknesses and allowed us to increase improvements. Some of those things are how we interact between faculty and staff.
Associated Students of WNMU President described how students are working to maximize their student fees and stay as engaged as possible while most of their education is online. Weve been creating a safe campus by promoting the protocols and guidelines we need to follow, she said, noting that many students remaining on campus are athletes, who also follow rigorous screening and testing regimens.
Dr. Shepard advised the board that fewer students are enrolled at WNMU this spring, amounting to a 7% drop. The silver lining is theyre taking more classes. Were only down about 1% in credit hours, he said.
Announcing a goal to increase enrollment to 4,000 students by fall of 2022, Dr. Shepard said, I will be looking for ways to incentivize and reach that goal. If we all pitch in and help, that would lift us up substantially, he said. We think this is actually a promising time, because well have some one-time money to invest over the next two years.
The university president concluded his report saying, Were off to a great start this semester, as difficult as its been.
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WNMU Board of Regents Virtually Sits Down With Legislators, Governor - WNMU News
Here’s why you should get a master’s in computer science – Study International News
Should you get an advanced degree in computer science? Technological advances can only translate to constant changes to the expertise needed to thrive in the field. A masters in computer science could be beneficial for you if youre looking to sharpen your skills and open the door to more career opportunities.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in computer and information technology occupations will grow 11% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.Computer science-related occupations are projected to add over half a million new jobs. Demand for these workers will stem from greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security, it said.
Computer science graduates can also earn more than the average worker. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was US$88,240 in May 2019, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of US$39,810, said the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Depending on the programme, you dont necessarily need a background in computer science to pursue an advanced degree in the field, but a strong aptitude for mathematics and logical reasoning would be useful.The University of Texas at Austin, for instance, requires applicants to have completed a bachelors degree in computer science and want to further their studies. Admission to the programme is highly selective with a limited number of openings and many strong applicants each year, said its website.The University College London, conversely, doesnt require students to have a computer science or information technology to apply.It can take about a year to complete the programme.
In terms of job opportunities, the boom in tech companies around the globe spells opportunities for individuals with advanced computer science degrees.Tech giants such as Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Tencent, and ByteDance in the US and China need computer science talent.Other startups and corporations also require the expertise of computer science graduates.
UCL notes that MSc Computer Science graduates go on to secure careers in a wide variety of organisations, including global IT consultancies, as IT analysts with City banks, or as IT specialists within manufacturing industries. The degree can also open up many different career paths, either to be employed by some of the worlds leading IT companies such as Accenture, Barclays Capital, and Credit Suisse, to starting their own companies or joining startups. Some may even choose to do their PhD to engage in research.Other jobs that you might qualify for with a masters in computer science include software developer, computer systems analyst, and computer network architect, to name a few.
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Here's why you should get a master's in computer science - Study International News
Expansion project to grow computer science learning, research at Algoma University – Northern Ontario Business
FedNor announces $1.98 million for Sault Ste. Marie institution
A major expansion of Algoma Universitys School of Computer Science and Technology will result in modernized labs for students, expanded capacity for increased enrolment, and new applied research partnerships with industry.
Although the project has been in the works for some time, the arrival of COVID-19 had put it in jeopardy, noted Algomas president, Asima Vezina. But funding of $1.98 million from FedNor has meant that the project can move ahead.
What were looking at is the development of what will be a critical ICT (information and communications technology) ecosystem in the North, Vezina said during an online announcement on Jan. 26.
We want to contribute to building that ecosystem to ensure that our region and our community will have the talent and the graduates that are going to be required to compete globally in what is being coined as the economy of the future.
The funds provided by FedNor will be used to expand the physical space and enable the school to increase program capacity.
Space in its programming is currently tapped out, Vezina noted, and yet graduates have close to a 100 per cent employment rate, putting them in high demand.
One of the things that the School of Computer Science has made very clear is they want to create spaces that really produce creative, innovative thinkers in our graduates, she said.
They want us to be partnering with industry, with the community to help solve real problems, with our students at the forefront.
Construction on the physical space is currently underway, and its expected to be ready to welcome students in September 2021.
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Dr. Simon Xu, the schools director, said theyll now have additional capacity in teaching and tutorial labs, as well as a unique gaming lab and spaces for student collaboration.
Programming is currently offered in the Sault and at the schools Brampton campus, but a near-term goal is to also offer it in Timmins.
Creating space for high-end computers additionally means that Algoma will be able to support programming at the Bachelor, Masters and certificate levels, Xu noted.
He also expects to see an increased ability to embark on more research projects.
In addition to delivering an innovative, cutting-edge computer science program, our faculty are engaged in research in a number of growing areas within the ICT sector, such as computer interface, wireless networking, computer gaming, robotics, and software evolution, Xu said.
I believe this project will allow faculty and students to expand current research and focus on the new research areas.
Vezina said this project is in line with Algomas strategic plan, which has a goal to increase enrolment to 3,000 students within five years.
That goal became more precarious after COVID-19 hit, with the school predicting a 20 to 30 per cent decline in enrolment, she said.
To overcome that challenge, she said, its going to be critical that we are driven by vibrant and innovative programming.
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Teacher of Year finalist expanding Walden Grove computer science program – KGUN
SAHUARITA, Ariz. (KGUN) Arizona Athletics and KGUN9 proudly present the nominees for the University of Arizona Online Outstanding High School Faculty Award.
Walden Grove's Amy Kueck is equally proud of her high school and being named a finalist.
"It's our 10 year anniversary this year," said Kueck. "Which would be a big tadoo if we weren't virtual."
Kueck is talking about highly acclaimed Walden Grove High School, and a tenth anniversary that will not be properly celebrated because of COVID.
Her teaching at Walden Grove hasn't gone unnoticed.
She is a finalist for the Arizona Online Outstanding High School Faculty Award.
"I work with amazing teachers," Kueck said. "It's kind of strange being the one who was picked. So many of the teachers at our school go above and beyond. It's a huge honor."
Kueck teaches math and computer science at Walden Grove.
She has been in the Sahuarita District for the past 15 years, but teaching is actually here second career, and the Tucson area is actually her adopted home.
"After college I worked in Washington D.C. as a programmer," recalled Kueck. "Then 911 and everything blew up in D.C. We had kids and I was like let's find a little town somewhere. We ended up in Tucson."
She turned to teaching math and wound up in Sahuarita.
Now, she's trying to grow the Walden Grove computer science program.
"Computer science is so important," Kueck said. "It's going to be in every career that you can think of. So it's really good to introduce the kids. I'd say that probably 90% of the kids that go through the computer science program actually major in computer science in college."
She says teaching remotely has been a challenge, especially with making that important connection with her students.
"That's been the hardest part is trying to learn about the kids and build that relationship with them."
Kueck says she really appreciates this honor.
She often hears from former students years later, thanking her for the impact she had on their lives.
"It's not an immediate recognition a lot of the time. Sometimes it doesn't happen for awhile. It is really nice to get recognition and a thank you now and then."
Kueck is one of nine finalist for the Outstanding High School Faculty Award. The winner will be announced in early March.
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Teacher of Year finalist expanding Walden Grove computer science program - KGUN
Professor in Computer Science – The Voice Online
Responsible to: Head of Department
Grade: Grade 10
Salary Range: Competitive salary based on our professorial Pay Scales (starting at 64,606 and going considerably higher based on experience)
Working arrangements: The role is full time but we will consider requests for flexible working arrangements including potential job shares
Preferred start date: Successful candidates will ideally be in post by 1st Sept 2021
The Department of Computer Science at Durham University seeks to appoint two number of talented individuals to the role of Professor. We welcome applications from those with research and teaching interests from across the spectrum of Computer Science but apart from theoretical computer science (we are not looking to expand the research group Algorithms and Complexity in Durham, ACiD, at present). The Department is currently restructuring its Research Groups and (as well as ACiD) the following research groups will be very likely to be formed within the next few months. We invite applications from candidates who can contribute to and strengthen these groups but we are also happy to receive applications from candidates working in other areas.
We are also interested to hear from candidates who wish to start a whole new group. Please note we are also advertising a number of Assistant and Associate Professor positions and so collectively there is also the possibility of moving a whole group to Durham.
Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of Computer Science with the ability to take a leading role in the development of the Departments research and teaching, and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. The University provides a working and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.
Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University. We are committed to equality: if for any reason you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on your career path, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will recognise that this may have reduced the quantity of your research accordingly.
Durham Universitys Athena Swan institutional award recognises and celebrates good practice in recruiting and supporting the development of women. We have also signed up to the Race Equality Charter, a national framework for improving the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.
To apply please visit: https://durham.taleo.net/careersection/du_ext/jobdetail.ftl?job=21000050&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=Europe%2FLondon [durham.taleo.net]
Apply Now
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Stanford AI scholar Fei-Fei Li writes about humility in tech – Fast Company
Ive spent two decades as a researcher and educator in artificial intelligence, drawn to the field by the opportunity to explore the mysteries of perception and cognition. But life is rarely as simple as wed like, and the arc of my career has paralleled my mothers escalating health struggles, including a chronic, life-threatening cardiovascular condition. As all-consuming as the world of academia can be, it sometimes feels as if Ive spent as much time in hospitals as I have in my lab.
Im happy to report my mother continues to persevere, but her resilience hasnt been the only silver lining to this ordeal. Years spent in the company of nurses and doctorsunfailingly committed, but perpetually overworked and often sleep deprivedconvinced me that the power of AI could radically elevate the way care is delivered. Intelligent sensors could keep tireless watch over patients, automate time-consuming tasks like charting and transcription, and identify lapses in safety protocols as they happen. After all, if AI can safely guide cars along freeways at 70 miles per hour, I wondered, why cant it help caregivers keep up with the chaos of the healthcare environment?
At the heart of this idea was an obstacle, however. I was proposing research that extended beyond the limits of computer science and into an entirely different field, with decades of literature and traditions stretching back generations. It was clear I needed a collaboratornot just an authority in healthcare, but one with the patience and open-mindedness to help an outsider bring something new to the table. For the first time in my career, success would depend on more than the merits of my work; it would require the humility of researchers like me to recognize the boundaries of our knowledge, and the graciousness of experts in another discipline to help us overcome them.
Thankfully, luck was on my side. In 2012, a colleague introduced me to Arnie Milstein, a Stanford Medical School professor and member of the National Academy of Medicine with an interest in both the policy and the technology that drives healthcare. Our first real conversation on the topic turned a casual lunch at a Vietnamese pho restaurant into an impromptu, hours-long brainstorming session. The exuberance of that day never wore off, as we convened a coalition of researchers to explore the automated tracking of surgical tools during operations, privacy-preserving monitors that ensure the safety of high-risk patients and vulnerable seniors, and networks of smart sensors that help hospital staff maintain hand hygiene throughout their shifts. Finally, in September, after years of experimentation, refinements, and presentations at conferences all over the world, our research was published in Nature. And now, with the help of legal scholars, bioethicists, and even a philosopher, were partnering with select hospitals and senior homes to pilot its use in the hands of real caregivers.
The success of my collaboration with Professor Milstein demonstrates an important idea: AIs applications are vast, but technology will represent only part of any given breakthrough. The remainder will be found in the contributionseven leadershipof experts from a growing list of fields, of which healthcare is only one example. Similar partnerships await as AI intersects with economics, energy, environmental science, public health, education, and even the humanities.
For instance, its hard to talk about any application of technology in 2020 without addressing the coronavirus pandemic. This was among the motivating factors behind the launch of AI Cures, an MIT initiative that brings together researchers in machine learning and life sciences to accelerate the speed with which antivirals can be identified, evaluated, and ultimately deployed. Its applications in the face of COVID-19 are obvious, but its broader goal of elevating our defense against pathogens of all kinds will remain relevant long after the challenges of the present moment are behind us. In addition to its core research mission, the group has organized impressively inclusive events in recent months, providing a venue for presenters with backgrounds in computer science, infectious disease, cardiology, synthetic biology, and many others.
Similarly encouraging is the work of my colleague, Stanford law professor Dan Ho. His lab has published extensively on the utility of AI in the public sector, and is now working with the EPA to use machine learning to dramatically improve the tracking of ecological contamination at a national scale. The underlying technology is transformative, but its the involvement of legal scholars, policymakers, and government representatives that truly makes it applicable in the real world.
These stories are a testament to the power of humility, but the sheer scale of the challenges that remain calls for a more organized response. It was with this in mind that I partnered with Stanford professor of philosophy and former provost John Etchemendy to co-found the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, or HAI, in 2018. Its ongoing mission is to reframe the pursuit of AI in unequivocally human terms, to reflect its dependence on interdisciplinary alliances, and to ensure ethics, compassion, and societal responsibility are baked in from the earliest stages of our workwhether its an algorithm, a commercial product, or even legislation.
HAIs reach as an institution is helping to cross new divides as well, beyond those that separate academic worlds. Partnerships with corporations, governments, and NGOs, for instance, will be essential in building a larger community around these values. Already, for example, theyve helped us organize cross-disciplinary workshops that bring ethical, philosophical, and legal expertise to bear on contentious technologies like facial recognition, with audiences of executives and legislators at both the state and federal level. And our relationships with tech leaders like Google and Amazon allow us to offer powerful cloud computing accessa foundational but often cost-prohibitive resource for modern AI researchto young, innovative thinkers in the form of grants.
Ultimately, however, this appreciation for the power of humilityopenness, transparency, and a reverence for the expertise of otherscant be mandated from the top down. It must be built up from a cultural level, and thus requires an investment in educational efforts to instill them in the next generation of AI practitioners. Here at Stanford, political science professor Rob Reich co-created a course in the computer science department entitled Computers, Ethics and Public Policy, intended to augment the education of engineers with an awareness of their impact on people and communities, while Harvard computer science professor Barbara Grosz explores similar issues in a course called Embedded Ethics. These are encouraging signs of a shift in the way we educate not just tomorrows technologists, but business leaders, social scientists, and politicians. Its my hope that universities across the world will be inspired to follow suit.
The excitement and anxiety surrounding AI can lend it a fatalistic tone, with aggressive language like revolution, tectonic shift, and force for change all too common. But while it might seem inevitable that AI will reshape the world, collaborations like these are a chance for the worldin all its messy, complicated vibrancyto reshape AI in turn. So although Im continually excited by what were learning about intelligent machines, Im even more excited by what we can learn from each other. All it takes is the willingness to ask, and that great, understated strengthour humility.
Dr. Fei-Fei Li is the Sequoia Professor, Computer Science Department, and Denning Codirector, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Stanford University. She is an elected Member of the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine.
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Stanford AI scholar Fei-Fei Li writes about humility in tech - Fast Company
STEM Majors: Interested in a 1-Credit Course About Teaching Math, Science or Computer Science? – University of Arkansas Newswire
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STEM majors interested in a 1-credit hour course about teaching math, science or computer science are invited to enroll in Introduction to Teaching STEM (ARSC 1201) for the spring semester.
Students will experience model STEM activities and get to plan and teach their own mini lessons. This course counts toward a 15-credit hour minor in STEM Education and a 9-credit hour STEM Education Certificate.
For students interested in becoming licensed to teach math, science or computer science in addition to a degree in a STEM subject, this course will count toward the approximately 24 credit hour licensure program that fits into most STEM degree plans. Students who haven't completed University Perspectives may also take this course to satisfy that requirement.
Visit UAteach for advising guides for licensure programs. Contact Michelle Childress mjc1219@uark.edu or teach@uark.edu with questions.
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Optimizing Traffic Signals To Reduce Intersection Wait Times – Texas A&M University Today
Many traffic lights today are managed by simple computers called signal controllers.
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Traffic lights at intersections are managed by simple computers that assign the right of way to the nonconflicting direction. However, studies looking at travel times in urban areas have shown that delays caused by intersections make up 12-55% of daily commute travel, which could be reduced if the operation of these controllers were more efficient.
A team of researchers led by Guni Sharon, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, has developed a self-learning system that uses machine learning to improve the coordination of vehicles passing through intersections.
The researchers published their findings in the proceedings of the2020 International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems.
Many traffic signals today are equipped with signal controllers that serve as the brains of an intersection. They are programmed with various settings to tell the traffic display when to change colors depending on the time of day and traffic movement. This gives the signals the ability to handle fluctuations in traffic throughout the day to minimize traffic congestion.
Recent studies have shown learning algorithms, based on a concept in psychology called reinforcement learning where favorable outcomes are rewarded, can be used to optimize the controllers signal. This strategy enables controllers to make a series of decisions and learn what actions improve its operation in the real world. In this instance, the result would be a reduction in the buildup of traffic delays.
But Sharon noted that these optimized controllers would not be practical in the real world because the underlying operation that controls how it processes data uses deep neural networks (DNNs), which is a type of machine-learning algorithm. They are commonly used to train and generalize a controllers actuation policy, which is the decision-making (or control) function that determines what actions it should take next based on the current situation its in. It consists of several sensors that give information about the current state of the intersection.
Despite how powerful they are, DNNs are very unpredictable and inconsistent in their decision-making. Trying to understand why they take certain actions as opposed to others is a cumbersome process for traffic engineers, which in turn makes them difficult to regulate and understand the different policies.
To overcome this, Sharon and his team defined and validated an approach that can successfully train a DNN in real time while transferring what it has learned from observing the real world to a different control function that is able to be understood and regulated by engineers.
Using a simulation of a real intersection, the team found that their approach was particularly effective in optimizing their interpretable controller, resulting in up to a 19.4% reduction in vehicle delay in comparison to commonly deployed signal controllers.
Despite the effectiveness of their approach, the researchers observed that when they began to train the controller, it took about two days for it to understand what actions actually helped with mitigating traffic congestion from all directions.
Our future work will examine techniques for jump starting the controllers learning process by observing the operation of a currently deployed controller while guaranteeing a baseline level of performance and learning from that, Sharon said.
Other contributors to this research include Josiah P. Hanna, research associate in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, and James Ault, doctoral student in the Pi Star Lab at Texas A&M.
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Optimizing Traffic Signals To Reduce Intersection Wait Times - Texas A&M University Today
JUST IN: Computer scientists in breakthrough – The Herald
The Herald
George Maponga in MasvingoTwo Masvingo computer experts have designed a computer system they say will give impetus to the fight against Covid-19 as their software can differentiate ordinary pneumonia from the one induced by the novel virus that is sweeping across the world like a plague.
Mr Pardon Mukoyi(22) who is an ex-Computer Science student at Great Zimbabwe University and Mr Wisdom Murombo(23),a third year in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering student at NUST claim they developed a system known as Covid-19 Pneumonia Diagnostic System which also helps monitor the diseases(pneumonia) progression in those infected with coronavirus.
Their system, which according to them, is able to interpret chest X-rays to diagnose Covid-19 induced pneumonia is key in the early assessment stages as it is able to pick out coronavirus-induced pneumonia.
The pair recently hogged international limelight after coming second out of more than eight countries that participated in the 9th International Competition of Appropriate Technology(ICAT) that was held virtually last week because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The system, also known as Covid-19 C-Ray Diagnostic System, is based on artificial intelligence and they successfully showcased it at ICAT. They walked away with a second price of $US900 after beating other budding computer scientists from countries such as Russia.
According to the pair there have many systems which they have developed and can help the nation make strides in health delivery. Mr Murombo yesterday appealed for assistance from Government to regularise their Covid-19 Induced Diagnostic System so that it can be used by local health institutions.
We need government support so that our system is accepted as a duly registered software that can be used in local health institutions, said Mr Murombo.
Our hope is to closely work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care so that we can roll out our system which we hope will go a long way in stemming Covid-19 deaths through early diagnosis.
He disclosed other systems that required funding to fine tune before they could be showcased include the one for early diagnosis of breast cancer while plans were afoot to delve into lung cancer.
We have been in touch with some officials in the Ministry of Health and Child Care with a view to have our system regularised and approved for use in local healtg institutions and we are still waiting for a response, said Mr Murombo.
Deputy director(Information and Surveillance)in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Mr Manes Munyanyi confirmed the duo had approached his office with their system.
Mr Munyanyi said they were interested in the alleged innovation by the two computer science experts and would invite them to make presentations on their invention.
Yes its true I have been in touch with those guys(Murombo and Mukoyi) and we are keen to have them make a presentation on their system. We have not yet invited them to make the presentation I just went through their documents and I have since forwarded communication to the Director of Informatics in the ministry so that they can make the presentation, said Mr Munyanyi.
Hopefully in the near future they will be able to make a presentation so that we can see how their systems works or whether it needs further development to improve its efficacy but we are really interested in such innovation.
Mr Munyanyi said his office welcomed innovations which extend even to other sphered of health adding that doors to his office will always be open to such innovative individuals.
If the software is finally put to test and makes the mark, it will be a major breakthrough in the local innovation sphere while also giving hope in the fight agaisnt Covid-19.
Mr Murombo said he was skilled in design and concept generation using AutoCAD, Solid Edge, Solidworks, Auto Desk Inventor and Python Programming Language.
As an Artificial Intelligence enthusiast, Mr Murombo said he passionate about incorporating machines with code(automation), use of machine learning, deep learning and convolutional neural networks techniques to solve real life problems.
He has deep passion in design and coming up with practical industrial solutions to help his community.
Mr Mukoyi is a self-declared cyber-security and Artificial Intelligence expert.
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