1st Keynote Speaker

 

 Ms. Ao Kong

United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries

Senior Programme Advisor

 

Title: Re-programming international development: how do computing innovations and cross-sector partnerships help the most vulnerables reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals

 

Abstract: Cross-sector disciplines and collaborations have opened new grounds to advance human development in a way that’s unthinkable before. New concepts such as Nobel-prize winning development economics, as well as ESG, AI doctors, agri-business, and climate change mapping are just a few examples of aligning technology and business with social missions. How does computing and its new frontier “re-programme” international development? Can advanced computing application also benefit the 46 least developed countries, and the most vulnerable population to also reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals? It is time for the brightest minds in the computing sector to work with international organizations and policy makers to re-think and use technology and innovation as powerful means to help societies and communities most left behind to build sustainable productive capacities and promoting structural economic transformation.

 

Bio: Ms. Ao Kong is Senior Programme Advisor and Chief of Resource Mobilization and Outreach to the United Nations Technology Bank. She has more than 17 years of international cross-sector experience in global strategy, technology for peace and development, and public-private partnerships in the United Nations system, private equity firms, tech, and leading think tanks. Her work has covered all 5 continents and more than 100 countries. Ms. Kong was a “Pacific Delegate” by Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Relations. She is also a featured speaker on emerging business and development topics at leading international fora such as the Milken Global Conference and Harvard Business Review China Forum. She is also part of MIT Solve’s Challenge Leadership, guiding tech-based social entrepreneurs to solve world challenges. She has also been featured on culture talk shows and serves as a columnist on culture and philosophy topics.

2nd Keynote Speaker

Prof. Denis Trystram

MIAI Grenoble Alpes

Title: Toward sustainable resource managers for parallel and distributed systems

Abstract: Today, humanity is facing an unprecedented climate challenge with global warming. The digital sector contributes significantly to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is particularly crucial to optimize the energy use of computing applications, particularly in HPC clusters. In this presentation, we propose to survey possible energetic leverage mechanisms that optimize the job allocations. We present a complete processing chain from job submission to their execution. It is based on the analysis of execution traces by learning to characterize the energetic profile of jobs and the design of adequate management policies of job priority.

Bio: Prof. Denis Trystram is currently a distinguished Professor at Grenoble INP Institut d'ingenierie et de management working at Laboratoire d'Informatique de Grenoble in the team DataMove-INRIA. He is an honorary member of the Institut Universitaire de France. His research interests include Design and analysis of efficient algorithms for optimizing all aspects of the use of resources in parallel and distributed systems, such as large-scale multi-cores, GPU accelerators, clouds, smart objects, IoT. A special emphasis is put on reducing the energy consumption in these areas. He also focuses in the design and analysis of approximation algorithms for scheduling and packing problems, in multi-objective optimization (performance, waiting times, fairness, reliability, energy consumption). He explores learning algorithms for data analytics, and their links with resource management, particularly on distributed (federated) learning. In the past, he has also worked in implementing parallel applications (molecular dynamic, oceanic simulations) and bio-computing (multiple alignments, phylogenetic trees).

3rd Keynote Speaker

Yuhao Zhu

University of Rochester

Title: Visual Computing: A Horizontal Approach

Abstract: The demand for intelligent visual computing applications such as Augmented/Virtual Reality, autonomous machines, and digital cultural heritage shows no sign of slowing down. In this talk, I will break away from the conventional vertical, cross-layer approach in computer systems, and discuss how a horizontal approach spanning different forms of information-processing computing architecture such as optics, image sensors, and human visual systems is critical to the next decade of visual computing.

Bio: Yuhao Zhu is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at University of Rochester. His research group focuses on applications, algorithms, and systems for visual computing. His work is recognized by the Honorable Mention of the 2018 ACM SIGARCH/IEEE-CS TCCA Outstanding Dissertation Award, multiple IEEE Micro Top Picks designations, and multiple best paper awards/nominations in computer architecture, Virtual Reality, and visualization. More about his research can be found at: http://horizon-lab.org/.