Task 6. Summer School on Applied and Interdisciplinary Artificial Intelligence (S2AI2)

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are priority areas of education at PUT. PUT has been among first Polish universities to offer a major dedicated to AI and ML, taught exclusively in English. PUT is the member of the consortium of six Polish universities which implement the AI Tech government project aimed at creating high quality graduate courses in the field of AI. A significant number of PUT employees conduct their research in areas related to AI and ML, providing a solid base for high quality teaching. PUT is also one of only two Polish universities invited to become the Founding Member of the AI Doctoral Academy, a European network of universities providing PhD training in the area of AI.

The idea of “Artificial Intelligence for Dummies” Summer School is to create a unique teaching proposal: a course of AI & ML for PhD students from scientific disciplines other than ICT. Artificial intelligence is commonly referred to as the technological fuel of the XXI century. However, specialized expertise is required to benefit from AI and to apply machine learning methods in various domains. Our goal is to bridge the gap and democratize AI & ML, and, at the same time, create new international relationships and gain recognition as a leading hub of applied machine learning. We plan to introduce PhD students from all domains to the world of AI & ML. The topics presented during the Summer School will include the overview of the state-of-the-art models for processing text, images, and audio data. Courses will include both lectures and laboratories where the participants will gain hands-on experience with running and visualizing ML models. The aim is to de-mystify AI & ML, to explain its limitations, and to inspire new applications of AI & ML.

The Summer School is addressed to PhD students, both domestic and international, from all disciplines, who seek to include AI methods in their research but lack sufficient ICT competences. Most of the courses will be addressed to the general audience, but dedicated courses are planned for the students of selected fields of study (e.g. chemistry, material engineering, biology, architecture). We plan to organize two hybrid editions of the Summer School, with some participants staying in Poznan and some joining remotely. Students attending the Summer School in person will be provided with accommodation on campus of PUT.

Task 7. Virtual AI & ML Summer Laboratory (VAMSL)

An essential goal of PhD training is to provide students with opportunities to start international scientific collaboration at the early stages of their scientific careers. The Virtual AI&ML Summer Laboratory (VAMSL) aims at meeting this goal. The initiative consists of organizing a virtual summer school where PhD students and faculty members of four universities will be invited. The summer school will last four days. Each day will be dedicated to one participating institution and will provide it with the opportunity to present current research activities and projects, showcase ideas, and identify common points of interest. The day's schedule will include two lectures and a seminar for brainstorming ideas, projects, and publications. The last day of VAMSL will comprise of research facilitation exercise modelled after the sandpit model developed by UK Research and Innovation (a design-thinking workshop tailored to scientific facilitation).

The follow-up of the VAMSL will be a set of small-scale mandatory scientific projects executed in mixed teams consisting of representatives of each institution. These projects may lead to joint publications, joint submissions of grant proposals, or cooperation in computational competitions.