Every spring, we take the time for an engaging event with the growing community of the TU Delft AI Labs & Talent Programme. The aim of this day is to learn & inspire from and with each other. After a moment to Meet & Greet, we kick the day off with introductory words on behalf of the Pro Vice Rector AI, the AI Labs & Talent Programme management team, and a few of the newly started AI Programme Faculty Members. The rest of the morning is dedicated to “Sustainable AI Futures”. We will jump into the topic through inspiring and concise keynotes from three panellists (TBA), and then dig deeper into this troubling space and the force fields at play through a panel discussion and Q&A with the audience moderated by dr. Maria Luce Lupetti.

In the afternoon it’s time learn some new skills, or practice and perfect some old ones. Everyone gets the opportunity to follow two workshops: 1) Creating impact with your AI research – hosted by Venkatesh Chandrasekar, AI Business Developer; 2) Open (AI) Science Futures – hosted by dr.ir. Frank van der Hoeven, Programme Manager Open Science TU Delft; 3) Communication is Key – hosted by Sonja Nollen-Smith, Communications Manager AI Initiative TU Delft; and 4) Educational Problem Solving – hosted by Teaching & Learning Services TU Delft. After a short recap, we’ll close the day with the most exciting pub quiz of the season – the AI-mazing Quiz – the ultimate battle of wits and knowledge! Our quizmaster extraordinaire, dr. Ujwal Gadiraju, has prepared a two-part extravaganza packed with mind-blowing facts, legendary myths, and endless fun. Are you ready to battle it out for the title of the ultimate quiz champion at this year’s Spring Event? Then gather your friends, your sworn allies, or make new ones as you take on the competition. Either way, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable event finale full of entertainment and excitement.

This event is organised in collaboration with Mondai | House of AI and TU Delft AI Initiative. With over 175 talented and ambitious academics connected to and through the AI Labs & Talent Programme, we look forward to an exciting third edition bringing together colleagues from all faculties, Delft AI Labs and from all corners of the AI-field at our university!

(This event will be held in English)

Programme
10:00 – 10:30 Meet & Greet
10:30 – 10:45 Opening by Geert-Jan Houben and Alessandro Bozzon
10:45 – 12:15 Town Hall: “Sustainable AI Futures” moderated by Maria Luce Lupetti
12:15 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 15:15 Two workshops of your choice in parellel rounds
15:15 – 15:30 Close
15:30 – 17:00 Pubquiz and Borrel hosted by Quizmaster Ujwal Gadiraju

Dr. Maria Luce Lupetti

Sustainable AI Futures –this can be interpreted in multiple ways: we can think of AI as a force for achieving sustainability goals or, on the contrary, we can look at AI as a technological development that comes with an massive ecological footprint. Where should we stand? When is AI worth engaging with? And how can enable ‘better AI’ strategies?

We will jump into the topic through the inspiring and concise keynotes from three TBA panelists, and then dig deeper into this troubling space and the force fields at play through a panel discussion and Q&A with the audience moderated by dr. Maria Luce Lupetti. During this morning you’ll be encouraged to broaden your perspective on dilemmas and challenges for sustainable AI futures with new ethical, technical and application insights.

Prof.dr.ir. Andy van den Dobbelsteen, Professor of Climate Design & Sustainability at TU Delft and Principal Investigator at AMS Institute (Amsterdam)
Andy teaches architecture students sustainable design of cities, buildings and techniques. He was ‘faculty advisor’ to TU Delft’s three successful Solar Decathlon teams (Prêt-à-Loger, MOR and SUM) and is responsible for the free online course Zero-Energy Design, winner of the edX Online Prize 2020 (best online course in the world). Together with his team, Andy has led and implemented many national and international research projects on energy transition, climate adaptation, circularity and other sustainability themes. His mission is to devise and realise fully sustainable solutions that improve the liveability of the planet, getting as many people as possible on board. To this end, he measures himself in his CO2 emissions and is now working to make the entire TU Delft CO2-neutral, circular, climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive. For his sustainability work, Andy was appointed Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion in 2018.

Dr.ir. Roel Dobbe, Assistant professor in Data-driven/Algorithmic Systems at TU Delft
Roel’s research addresses the integration of data-driven technologies in societal infrastructure and institutions, with a focus on safety, sustainability and justice. His research strands include:

> Data-driven methods for design and control of complex systems and services
> Integrating design and governance for the responsible integration of data-driven and algorithmic systems
> The political economy of advanced learning and control systems and their information technology infrastructures
> The environmental implications of “artificial intelligence”
> Safety of AI systems in sociotechnical design and policy contexts

Roel’s research is motivated by problems in energy (intelligent planning and operation of electric power distribution), public administration and healthcare.

Dr. June Sallou, Postdoc in (Sustainable) Software Engineering at TU Delft
June is currently a Postdoc in the department Software Engineering, in the SERG research team, under the supervision of Luís Cruz. She did her PhD in Software Engineering at the University of Rennes. Her doctorate was part of a collaboration between the IRISA and OSUR laboratories and reflected the desire to bring software engineering closer to the scientific field of hydrogeology. Her previous work deals with modelling for decision making and flood risk assessment (with regards to climate change). She applied approximate computing techniques to scientific models in order to make the exploration of simulation and prediction results accessible to decision makers.

Join us for the most exciting pub quiz of the season – the AI-mazing Quiz – the ultimate battle of wits and knowledge! Our quizmaster extraordinaire, Ujwal Gadiraju, has prepared a two-part extravaganza packed with mind-blowing facts, legendary myths, and endless fun. Don’t miss your chance to compete for the honour of being the first team to win the Spring Event Quiz. Are you ready to battle it out for the title of the ultimate quiz champion at this year’s Spring Event? Then gather your friends, your sworn allies, or make new ones as you take on the competition. Either way, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable late afternoon of entertainment and excitement.

Dr. Ujwal Gadiraju