CSE Hosts Academic AIST 2023 Conference

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On September 29-30, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Zaven P. & Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering (CSE) organized the 11th International Conference on Analysis of Images, Social Networks and Texts (AIST 2023). The conference was the first academic event of this magnitude and scope in Armenia that duly engaged multiple local and foreign researchers and practitioners. AIST was held in a hybrid format with live streaming to multiple connections, broadly sharing research findings and techniques in cutting-edge data analysis and machine learning relevant to various data science industries.

The two-day conference featured 50 talks by authors whose research contributions were accepted by the conference review committee for subsequent publication in Springer’s Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) journal and a companion volume in its satellite series on Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS). The conference agenda was categorized into five subject areas: Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Data Analysis and Machine Learning, Network Analysis, Theoretical Machine Learning, and Optimization. Additionally, a separate session was allocated to poster presentations of research studies with prospective publication potential. 

Within the scope of the conference, five notable scholars from Armenia and abroad were invited to deliver keynote speeches. AUA William Frazer Endowed Professor at CSE, Dr. Narine Sarvazyan, was the inaugural keynote speaker of the conference. Her talk centered on her research in “Decoding Hyperspectral Imaging: From Basic Principles to Medical Applications.” In her presentation, she emphasized the significance of boosting research endeavors and fostering broader collaboration with both local and international academic researchers and institutions: “By enhancing research and fostering global partnerships, the AUA community can contribute to AI-driven hyperspectral imaging, a powerful modality that holds the potential to revolutionize many medical applications,” Dr. Sarvazyan asserted.

Among the works considered for publication were two research studies co-authored by CSE Assistant Professor Dr. Varduhi Yeghiazaryan. The first dealt with the intricacies of “Interactive Image Segmentation with Superpixel Propagation,” while the second focused on “Visualization-Driven Graph Sampling Strategy for Exploring Large-Scale Networks.” Contributors to the latter work also include CSE Adjunct Lecturers Gagik Khalafyan and Irina Tirosyan. Similarly, several CSE faculty and students participated in the poster session, duly contributing to the rich intellectual exchange. 

The local organizer of the conference was Bachelor of Science in Data Science Program Chair Dr. Habet Madoyan, who also opened the conference. In his remarks, he underscored the importance of initiating new research collaborations across disciplines and the significance of expanding and strengthening the AUA research profile through similar initiatives: “We are honored to co-organize and host a scientific conference of this caliber. It’s pivotal for both AUA and Armenia to welcome internationally renowned scholars, thereby forging connections between our distinguished local scientists, those just starting out, and their international counterparts. The keen interest shown by industry representatives in our conference topics and presenters is promising and signals a bright future for industry-academia collaboration.”

Associate Professor for Natural Language Processing at Skoltech and conference organizing committee member Dr. Alexander Panchenko commented on the level of participation in this round: “This time, the conference conducted for the 11th time, has grown from a small student workshop into a larger event marked by a selective peer-review procedure and proceedings to be published in the prestigious Springer Lecture Notes in the Computer Science series. Nonetheless, the conference has kept its original welcoming and inclusive nature, embracing enthusiasts from all branches of data science, including natural language processing, computer vision, network analysis, and other machine learning applications. I was delighted to see the highest level of preparation by AUA, which generously supported all stages of the conference organization, and especially Habet, Amalya, and Aram, who made it happen.”

The 11th AIST conference concluded on a highly positive note of encouragement to promote and advance research and academic connections worldwide. In closing, the organizing committee announced the Best Paper Award recipients, recognizing the acclaimed research studies in each track. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.