VUB AI Experience Centre launches webinars on  fake news, respirators and face masks, lung scans, AI algorithms and coronavirus apps

On Monday 11 May at 11.00, the VUB AI Experience Centre launches a series of webinars, in which VUB researchers share insights and solutions from their field relating to the Covid-19 crisis. Five webinars will take place from 11-20 May.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, VUB research groups from various domains have dedicated themselves to finding solutions together with key players from healthcare, the economy and politics. The VUB AI Experience Centre now bundles this knowledge and experience in the form of webinars to present specific insights about AI, data and robotics technology in a concise and comprehensive manner to companies, experts and policymakers.

During each session, VUB experts will share their recent experiences, results and challenges from different backgrounds, thus contributing to an AI that serves the common good. Each session lasts approximately one hour. At the end of each webinar, there will be about 20 minutes for questions from the audience. International experts, including from the European CLAIRE network, will also be taking part in this debate.

Invitation to the press

The press can request interviews with the scientists after each session. Please submit your request to Hans de Canck, the manager of the VUB AI Experience Centre, via hans.de.canck@vub.be or +32 478 418 516.

Programme

  • Session 1: Monday 11 May, 11.00-12.00

Theme: Social media and fake news during the Covid-19 crisis. Analysis, technological challenges and conclusions for media players and policymakers.

Researchers: Prof. dr. Ike Picone of the research group Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT) and dr. Tom Willaert of the VUB Artificial Intelligence Lab.

You can register for this session here.

  • Session 2: Tuesday 12 May, 17.00-18.00

Theme: Open source actions in the field of mechanics and robotics: the production of respirators and 3D printing adapters for transforming snorkel masks into face masks. Structure of the actions, state of affairs, challenges for the future.

Researchers: Prof. dr. Bram Vanderborght, Albert De Beir, Lieven Standaert and Prof. dr. Mark Runacres of the VUB research groups BruBotics, Mechatronics and the Brussels FabLab.

You can sign up for this session here.

  • Session 3: Friday 15 May, 11.00-12.00

Theme: CT lung scan analyses of Covid-19 patients: technological and functional challenges in applying these techniques at the UZ Brussel during the crisis.

Researchers: Prof. dr. Jef Vandemeulebroucke of the VUB research group ETRO, radiologist Prof. dr. Johan De Mey of the UZ Brussel, and Dirk Smeets from ICOMETRIX

Register here.

  • Session 4: Wednesday 20 May, 14.00-15.00

Theme: The continuing challenges of track & trace apps and data and privacy protection in the context of the Covid-19  crisis.

Researchers: Prof. dr. Mireille Hildebrandt and Prof. dr. Gloria González Fuster of the VUB research group Law, Science, Technology & Society (LSTS).

You can sign up for this session here.

  • Session 5: to be confirmed

Theme: AI technology in prevention and exit strategies for infectious diseases and pandemics. How does artificial intelligence and AI algorithms, take into account humans and their behaviour in a model context?

Researcher: Prof. dr. Ann Nowé, head of the VUB Artificial Intelligence Lab, Prof. dr. Kurt Barbé, member of the Artificial Intelligence Lab, and Prof. dr. Tom Lenaerts, member of the VUB Artificial Intelligence Lab and the ULB Machine Learning Group