Edition 2024

The first edition of the Engineering Research Day was held on Wednesday 7th February 2024 from 1pm in SG1.

Engineering in the AI Age

The inaugural Engineering Research Day was a concise yet impactful half-day event featuring TED-like talks. Our aim is to enhance the accessibility of information by presenting to a broad audience. The event was organized into three thematic sessions, each specifically focused on a crucial contemporary topic: “Engineering in the AI Age.”

On the afternoon of February 7th, 2024, the Engineering Research Day proved to be an impactful half-day event featuring talks by professors from all of our institutes. This dynamic program, divided into three sessions, also showcased engaging student presentations, posters, and demos. We explored the forefront of engineering research and fostered collaboration in this immersive experience.

Distinguished speakers from EPFL’s School of Engineering will share their insights and research on the impact of AI on various engineering disciplines, including materials science, electrical engineering, and microengineering. This session showcases  the cutting-edge research underway by engineering faculty members and its social implications in an accessible manner.

  • 13:00 Introduction by Josie Hughes and Volkan Cevher with remarks from Dean Ali H. Sayed
  • 13:10 – 14:00 Talks by the School of Engineering’s professors
    • 13:10 – 13:20 Tiffany Abitbol (Institute of Materials)
      “Transforming Bio-sourced Materials: Nanocellulose and Fermented Products”
    • 13:20 – 13:30 Francesco Stellacci (Institute of Materials)
      “Broad-spectrum antiviral”
    • 13:30 – 13:40 Demetri Psaltis (Institute of Electrical and Micro Engineering)
      “Optical computing for Machine Learning”
    • 13:40 – 13:50 Adrian Ionescu (Institute of Electrical and Micro Engineering
      ”Cognitive computing beyond CMOS: towards neuromorphic and quantum hardware for AI”
    • 13:50 – 14:00 Maryam Kamgarpour (Institute of Mechanical Engineering)
      “Learning for decision-making in complex interactive dynamical systems”

Enjoy a networking break with snacks in the poster area, where you can explore the latest research posters and connect with fellow attendees.

Dive deeper into cutting-edge topics as our esteemed professors discuss AI applications in robotics, bioengineering, and neuroX.

  • 14:30-15:30 Talks by the School of Engineering’s professors
    • 14:30 – 14:40 Jamie Paik (Institute of Mechanical Engineering
      “Reconfigurable robots for soft human robot interactions”
    • 14:40 – 14:50 Silvestro Micera (Institute of NeuroX)
      “Implantable and wearable system to restore and augment human function”
    • 14:50 – 15:00 Nako Nakatsuka (Institute of NeuroX)
      “DNA Aptamer Biosensors to Probe Brain Chemistry”
    • 15:00 – 15:10 Aleksandra Radenovic (Institute of BioEngineering)
      “Neuromorphic computing with ions”
    • 15:10 – 15:20 Auke Ijspeert (Institute of BioEngineering) 
      “Using robots and numerical simulations to study animal locomotion”
  • 15:20 – 15:30 Industry Day and more 

Another opportunity to mingle, enjoy refreshments, and engage with our vibrant research community.

The second session delves into a discussion addressing the future of engineering from across various fields, in response to technological advances and societal needs.  This will include a panel discussion featuring the main speakers.

  • 16:30 Panel discussion & Q&A on Engineering in the AI Age
    • Moderators: Josie Hughes & Volkan Cevher
    • Confirmed panelists : Tiffany Abitbol, Auke Ijspeert, Adrian Ionescu, Silvestro Micera, Nako Kakatsuka, Demetri Psaltis, Aleksandra Radenovic 

The final session of posters and demonstrations provides networking opportunities, encouraging deeper engagement between specific projects and fostering potential collaborations among PhD students and PIs.

Participants:
AI Center, Ecocloud, Computational Robot Design & Fabrication Lab, Imaging Center, Integrative Food and Nutrition Center, Laboratory of Astrophysics, Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, Reconfigurable Robotics Lab, Research group Rehabilitation and Assistive Robotics, and more…