Research & Innovation at Manchester Met’s Post

This paper was presented to the Digital Sciences Initiative at The University of Sydney in April, and explored how the humanities, arts and social sciences can work productively with science, engineering and IT around issues of trust in AI https://lnkd.in/ghK8MKpg

I am thrilled to announce that I have published my first research paper at the prestigious IEEE Conference The International Conference on Machine Intelligence and Smart Innovation (ICMISI) ! 📚✨ This milestone represents a significant achievement in my academic journey and reflects countless hours of research, analysis, and collaboration. My paper, titled "Enhancing Human Emotion Classification in Human-Robot Interaction," explores creating a language agnostic dataset for the purpose of SER as well as the creation of a light weight machine learning model to classify emotions into 7 categories. I am proud to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field and eager to continue this path of discovery. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my mentors Omar Shalash, Noha Seddik Tawfik and Ossama Ismail, and everyone who supported me throughout this process. Your guidance and encouragement were invaluable. To fellow researchers and professionals, I am excited to connect and discuss potential collaborations, insights, and innovations. Let's push the boundaries of what's possible together! #IEEE #Research #Innovation #Technology #AcademicAchievement #ProudMoment #Collaboration #Networking #Engineering #Science

🌟 Mark your calendars for Lauren Klein’s keynote at #CHR2024 "When Theory Leads: Towards a Humanities-Forward Model of Computational Research" The advent of Large Language Models and the cultural data they rely upon has renewed a longstanding conversation about the role of the humanities, and humanities scholars, in computational research. This role has to do not only with the application of #LLMs (and related computational methods) to humanities research questions, but also with the application of humanistic methods to computational research. Using a series of projects about social movements from the Emory Digital Humanities Lab as case studies, this talk will show how humanistic methods—and theory in particular—can not only inform the overall design of computational research projects, but can also shape the development of computational models themselves. Connecting the contributions of these projects back to the broader landscape of AI/ML, I will argue that humanities theory, and the scholars who produce and engage with it, have very clear roles to play if we are to envision applications of LLMs (and AI/ML more generally) that enhance our knowledge of the cultures we seek to understand and support. Explore the full program, and register for the conference here https://lnkd.in/dMAFkXZb 🚨 Registration closes on November 25 – secure your spot now!

Check out the blog post by Kristoffer Nieblo, Folger Kardorp, and me on the new CHR Journal. Several highlights: - One exciting innovation of the journal is the decision to organize Associate  is the decision to organize Associate Editors by method. We want the structure of the editorial board to reflect how this journal is centering computational methods in humanities research, broadly defined. - Promote interdisciplinary collaboration: Encourage collaboration among researchers from diverse fields, including computer science, data science, and various humanities disciplines, to explore methodologies and share insights. - Driven by values: Including inter/trans-disciplinarity, innovation, diversity and inclusivity, as well as transparency and reproducibility. Have quesitons about CHR? Please reach out!

The UK and Germany have signed a new partnership agreement to deepen science links, aiming to boost science and research ties between the two countries. The Joint Declaration of Intent commits both nations to broadening and deepening their science and research links, with a focus on areas such as quantum, AI, clean technology, and research security. This collaboration brings together leading scientists from both countries' research communities to explore promising opportunities for R&D teamwork. The event also marked the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to ensure these high ambitions are matched with concrete plans for delivery. Join the conversation: Will we see more of these collaborations in the future? #ScienceCollaboration #UKGermanyScience #ResearchPartnership

Computers Made from Living Tissue In the search for less energy-hungry #AI, some scientists are exploring living computers “Artificial intelligence systems, even those as sophisticated as #ChatGPT, depend on the same silicon-based hardware that has been the bedrock of computing since the 1950s. But what if computers could be molded from living biological matter? Some researchers in academia and the commercial sector, wary of AI’s ballooning demands for data storage and energy, are focusing on a growing field known as biocomputing. This approach uses synthetic biology, such as miniature clusters of lab-grown cells called organoids, to create computer architecture. Biocomputing pioneers include Swiss company FinalSpark, which earlier this year debuted its “Neuroplatform”—a computer platform powered by human-brain organoids—that scientists can rent over the Internet for $500 a month. […] Jordan is well aware of the considerations involved in using cultivated human neurons for nonmedical purposes. An ongoing bioethical debate concerns whether mini brains could gain consciousness, though there is as yet no evidence it has ever been created in a lab. Jordan says he is currently seeking philosophers and researchers with the “cultural background to help us answer these ethical questions.” Adamatzky acknowledges that brain organoids “might offer advanced functionalities due to their complex and neuronlike structures” despite his advocacy of fungal computing. Jordan, for his part, is confident in FinalSpark's choice for its biocomputers. Of all the cells to pick from, he says, “human neurons are the best at learning.”” By Jordan Kinard https://lnkd.in/e_whziXT #biotech #biocomputing #technology #ArtificialIntelligence #climatechange

What does the future of the academic library look like? This report by architectural firm WARREN AND MAHONEY provides some pointers based on analysis of 32 libraries worldwide. The study was set up by the Council of Australian University Librarians and the Council of New Zealand University Libraries. The majority of institutions covered are from Australia and New Zealand, but the study also draws on examples in the UK, Europe, North America and Hong Kong, China. Happily, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Library is one such example of a forward-looking research library. In particular, the report references: 🖥️ our Digital Scholarship Lab and the broad work of the CUHK Library Digital Initiatives team 👓 the Learning Garden (LG) including VR Zone and Maker Space. The LG also hosts wellbeing events to support mental health and resilience of our user community ✨ Special Collections exhibitions and treasures, including oracle bones that were used for divination some 3,000 years ago 🤝 Citizen Science initiatives in partnership with Faculty and with local communities in Hong Kong https://lnkd.in/gxjM2XHS #futurelibrary The Chinese University of Hong Kong

'During your doctoral studies and postdoc, try to acquire a broad conceptual and methodological training, for example by changing topics or approaches between your doctoral degree and postdoc. A large skill set will help you throughout your career, as it will increase your ability to break scientific boundaries by entering new directions with confidence and solving problems using orthogonal approaches.' https://lnkd.in/dE5JzfXS

The UK and Germany have signed a new partnership agreement to deepen science links, aiming to boost science and research ties between the two countries. The Joint Declaration of Intent commits both nations to broadening and deepening their science and research links, with a focus on areas such as quantum, AI, clean technology, and research security. This collaboration brings together leading scientists from both countries' research communities to explore promising opportunities for R&D teamwork. The event also marked the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to ensure these high ambitions are matched with concrete plans for delivery. Join the conversation: Will we see more of these collaborations in the future? #ScienceCollaboration #UKGermanyScience #ResearchPartnership

A growing field known as biocomputing uses synthetic biology, such as miniature clusters of lab-grown cells called organoids, to create computer architecture. Biocomputing pioneer, a Swiss group called “FinalSpark” earlier this year debuted a “Neuroplatform”—a computer platform powered by human-brain organoids that scientists can rent over the Internet. Their principal goal is artificial intelligence for 100,000 times less energy than what’s currently required to train state-of-the-art generative AI. Of all the cells to pick from, FinalSpark co-founder Fred Jordan says “human neurons are the best at learning.” Neuroplatform uses a series of processing units hosting four spherical brain organoids each. Every 0.5-millimeter-wide organoid is connected to eight electrodes that electrically stimulate the neurons within the living sphere; that also link the organoids to conventional computer networks. The neurons are selectively exposed to the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine to mimic the human brain’s natural reward system. These twin setups—positive dopamine rewards and electrical stimulation—train the organoids’ neurons, prompting them to form new pathways and connections much in the same way a living human brain appears to learn. There is as yet no evidence consciousness has ever been created this way in a lab.