Excellence at IEEE EESYC Pune 2024: IEEE DBCE’s Success

The IEEE Student Branch of Don Bosco College of Engineering, Goa, actively participated in the IEEE Engineering Education Student & Young Professional Congress 2024, held from 22nd to 24th August 2024 at Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune, under the leadership of Prof. Yeshudas Muttu. With a mission to inspire and empower the next generation of engineers, the event aimed to provide participants with insights into cutting-edge technologies, foster professional growth, and enhance their understanding of IEEE’s global initiatives.

 DAY 1 (22 AUGUST 2024)

1. Inauguration

The inaugural event of the IEEE Engineering Education Student & Young Professional Congress on 22nd August 2024 was a significant milestone in expanding IEEE’s presence and influence. The event aimed to introduce the chapter’s mission, outline its strategic objectives, and foster networking among professionals and academics. The event commenced with participant registration, followed by a short video where Thomas M. Coughlin, the IEEE President, spoke about the organization and the 140th anniversary of IEEE. This was followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp, symbolizing an auspicious start. The inauguration successfully introduced the activities and sessions planned for the upcoming days, generating enthusiasm among the attendees.

2. Keynote Address on “Generative AI: The Future of Creativity and Innovation” by Mr. Murari Ramuka

On 22nd August 2024, Mr. Murari Ramuka from Google India delivered an insightful session on Generative AI at the Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune. The session explored how Generative AI is revolutionizing various fields, simplifying user experiences, and facilitating content creation. Mr. Ramuka introduced Project Astra, a cutting-edge initiative designed to convert text into valuable data, and demonstrated capabilities powered by Gemini.ai. The session included live demonstrations, an interactive Q&A, and a discussion on AI hallucinations and strategies to minimize errors. The event emphasized Generative AI’s future implications for driving innovation and enhancing creativity.

3. Session on “Explainable AI and Multimodal Deep Learning for Healthcare Data” by Dr. Ketan Kotecha

Dr. Ketan Kotecha, a leading expert in AI and ML from Symbiosis International University, conducted an enlightening session on Explainable AI (XAI) and its applications in healthcare. He emphasized the importance of XAI in enhancing trust and transparency in AI models used in sensitive healthcare applications. Dr. Kotecha highlighted a groundbreaking AI model by Google that predicts cardiovascular risk from retinal images. He also provided a historical perspective on AI and discussed various algorithms used in healthcare, concluding with recommendations for advancing XAI in the healthcare sector.

4. Session on “Machine Learning for Physical-Layer Security Breach Diagnostics” by Dr. Marja Furdek

Dr. Marja Furdek from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, delivered a session on using Machine Learning (ML) for diagnosing physical-layer security breaches. She detailed various ML techniques, including supervised, semi-supervised, and unsupervised learning, and their application in security diagnostics. Dr. Furdek emphasized the need for sophisticated ML approaches to enhance the resilience and security of network systems against evolving threats, such as tampering and signal jamming.

5. Mentoring Session on “Opportunities for Establishing New Chapters and Promoting Member Engagement” by Dr. Sai Prashanth

In this mentoring session, Dr. Sai Prashanth discussed strategies for establishing new IEEE chapters, enhancing member engagement, and exploring funding and research opportunities. He provided valuable insights on executing successful events and securing necessary funding, highlighting various IEEE societies offering grants. The session concluded with a group photo, capturing the memorable moment.

DAY 2 (23 AUGUST 2024)

1. Session on “Powering the Future: Exploring Smart Grid Research and Career Opportunities” by Dr. Balijepalli Venkata Sita Krishna Murthy

Dr. Balijepalli Venkata Sita Krishna Murthy from Liteon Technology, Singapore, led a session on smart grid technology, emphasizing its role in modernizing outdated infrastructure, accommodating renewable energy sources, and enhancing grid resilience. The session explored research opportunities and career prospects in this dynamic field, highlighting IEEE’s role in developing essential standards for smart grid interoperability and security.

2. Session on “Empowering the Next Generation: Engaging Students and Young Professionals through ComSoc YP and Opportunities in the Communications Domain” by Mr. Anjaneyulu Devarasetty

Mr. Anjaneyulu Devarasetty from L&T Technology Services shared insights on engaging students and young professionals through IEEE ComSoc YP. The session highlighted the benefits of networking, access to technical committees, and emerging opportunities within the communications domain. Participants engaged in interactive discussions on leveraging these networks for academic and career advancement.

3. Session on “Enhancing Communication Networks with 5G: Challenges and Opportunities”  by Dr. Sai Prashanth

Dr. Sai Prashanth Mallellu, the chair of the IEEE ComSoc Student Engagement Committee, presented on 5G technology, focusing on its improvements to communication networks and the challenges and opportunities in its implementation. The session included an architecture walkthrough of the 5G system and discussed customized configurations and trace generation, essential for designing secure and efficient 5G networks.

4. Session on “Innovation & Technology Readiness Levels” by Dr. Prashant R. Nair

Dr. Prashant R. Nair from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham delivered a session on Innovation & Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). He explained the TRL framework, which assesses the maturity of a technology from concept to operational system. The session offered insights into achieving success in IEEE hackathons and emphasized the importance of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in innovation dynamics.

DAY 3 (24 AUGUST 2024)

1. Session on “Scalability of Blockchain Networks” by Dr. Kalpesh Kapoor

Prof. Kalpesh Kapoor from the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Pune, discussed the scalability challenges of blockchain technology. He examined solutions like the Lightning Network, sharding, and sidechains to overcome these barriers. The session emphasized the importance of key blockchain properties, such as concurrent access, operation isolation, durability, verification, and low latency, supported by a decentralized peer-to-peer network.

2. Session on “Applied Deep Learning in Image Forensics” by Dr. Puneet Goyal

Dr. Puneet Goyal from IIT Ropar presented on the applications of deep learning in image forensics, particularly focusing on deepfake technology. He discussed both the potential benefits and risks of deepfakes, highlighting the challenges of deepfake detection and the importance of safeguards to prevent misuse. The session explored various technical approaches, including camera model identification, to enhance the accuracy of deepfake detection.

3. Session on “Introduction to Data Science” by Dr. Vikrant Karale

Dr. Vikrant Karale from TCS introduced the fundamentals of data science, covering its applications in various fields like search engines, finance, transport, and healthcare. He discussed the different types of analytics, including descriptive, diagnostic, and predictive analytics, and emphasized the importance of data cleansing and modeling in extracting valuable insights.

This event proved to be an enriching experience for all 17 IEEE members from Don Bosco College of Engineering, Goa. Their active participation and excellent performance in the contests at the IEEE Engineering Education Student & Young Professional Congress 2024, held at Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune, earned the IEEE Student Branch of Don Bosco College of Engineering a well-deserved award. Special recognition goes to the IEEE student coordinators, Mr. Soham Tulaskar – IEEE DBCE Chair, and Mr. Vihaan Naik Karmali – IEEE DBCE Joint Treasurer, for their exemplary coordination throughout the event.