Faculty of Engineering and Computing header
Faculty of Engineering and Computing
Executive Dean Dr. Jennifer Bruton and Associate Dean for Research, Professor Conor Brennan with the prize winners for the posters, Danish Inam, Jawaria Bint Faheem and Naile Hacioglu.
Executive Dean Dr. Jennifer Bruton and Associate Dean for Research, Professor Conor Brennan with the prize winners for the posters Jawaria Bint Faheem, Naile Hacioglu and Danish Inam. Image credit: Kyran O’Brien.

Faculty of Engineering and Computing Hosts AI-Focused Research Day

The Faculty of Engineering and Computing recently held its Annual Research Day, offering a vital platform for postgraduate students from the Schools of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Electronic Engineering, and Computing to present their research to industry leaders.

The event, held in the Polaris Building on the Glasnevin campus, commenced with opening remarks from Executive Dean Dr. Jennifer Bruton and Associate Dean for Research, Professor Conor Brennan. The day's agenda included research poster presentations by students and academics, expert industry talks, a panel discussion, and an awards ceremony.

This year's theme, Artificial Intelligence, was particularly pertinent given the Faculty's numerous internationally recognised research centers in the field. Beyond technical aspects, the event explored the broader implications of AI across academia, industry, the arts, and society.

Keynote speakers and panelists provided diverse insights into AI's influence. Dr. Dónal Mulligan (School of Communications, DCU), Dr. Martin Clancy (AI:OK), and P.J. Hough (formerly of Microsoft and Citrix) discussed AI's impact on academic assessment, creative industries, and corporate innovation, sparking discussions on both the potential and risks of rapid AI development.

Poster presentations by postgraduate and post-doctoral researchers showcased the Faculty's depth of talent, allowing for direct engagement with the research community. A panel of judges evaluated the presentations, adding a layer of recognition for participants.

An interactive experiment as part of an Art Exhibition challenged attendees to distinguish between human-created and AI-generated artworks, fostering engaging discussion.

The day concluded with an awards presentation for the top three posters:

  • First Prize: Danish Inam for "Artificial Intelligence Based Renovation Passport to Uplift Building Whole Carbon Performance."
  • Second Prize: Jawaria Bint Faheem for "Techno-economic Analysis of Large Scale Hydrogen Storage for Grid Balancing."
  • Third Prize: Naile Hacioglu for "AI That Makes You Think: Designing Systems for Guided Reasoning and Reflection."

 

Commenting on the success of the event, Professor Conor Brennan said:

"The calibre and diversity of research on display was outstanding and highlighted the vibrant atmosphere of scholarship, innovation and collaboration that exists within the Faculty.  We congratulate the award recipients on their excellent work and would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all our speakers for generously giving us their time and the benefit of their experience and insight."