IIMV
Two-Day Virtual Symposium

The Inter-disciplinary Decision Sciences & Analytics Lab (IDeAL) hosted a Two-Day Virtual Symposium on Applications of Machine Learning and Data Science in Inter-disciplinary areas on 29-30 May 2022. Delivering the inaugural address, Dr. Nachiket Mor, former Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India, spoke about the application of AI-ML in public health settings – and elaborated on the use of data for disease surveillance, public health education, and public health research.

Address the audience during the inaugural, Prof. Chandrasekhar M, Director IIMV, emphasized the pervasive application of machine learning and data science in business management and public policy and the need for skill-building and innovation in this area. Prof. Shivshanker Singh Patel, Symposium Chair and Head, IDeAL, also addressed the audience and spoke about the mission and achievements of the IDeAL since its inception. The event also saw the launch of the Symposium Proceedings by Prof. Chandrasekhar M, accompanied by Prof. Patel and Prof Kalyan Kolukuluri. 

On Day 1 of the Symposium, by Dr. Avik Sarkar, Ph.D., former Head of Data Analytics Cell at NITI Aayog and Faculty, Indian School of Business., delivered the keynote address. He spoke about the role of analytics and modeling in assessing the progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. He elaborated on applying various modeling concepts such as integrated energy modeling, MESSAGE, and IIASA integrated assessment framework and spoke about using analytics in pan-India policy interventions such as the POSHAN Abhiyaan. 

On Day 2, the Keynote Address was delivered by Dr. Uttam Kumar, former Visiting Scientist at NASA and Faculty at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore. Dr. Kumar spoke about machine learning and data science in natural resource management and shared interesting case studies on the application of deep learning and model prediction in contexts such as crop classification, detection of vegetation cover, or identification of potholes on urban roads.

19 research papers pertaining to healthcare, computational public policy, and natural resource management were also presented by faculty, and PhD scholars from various institutions during this two-day event.

During the Valedictory address, Prof. Chandrasekhar M, encouraged the participants to connect with IDeAL and participate in its many interdisciplinary projects. The names of the presenters whose papers were deemed outstanding by the Symposium judges were then declared. This virtual event witnessed active participation from the faculty and PhD student community of IIMV.