On Tuesday, 11th March 2025, the IEEE Communications Society BRAC University Student Branch Chapter organized an insightful seminar titled “ML Playbook: Foundations and Applications” on campus. The event explored how machine learning is transforming communication networks, offering in-depth knowledge on its applications and future impact in the tech industry. The seminar witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 200 participants in attendance. Among them, 30 were IEEE members, while the rest were general students of BRAC University, reflecting a strong enthusiasm for the topic beyond the IEEE community.
The event started on time and unfolded seamlessly. The host began by introducing the IEEE BRAC University Student Branch Chapter, followed by an overview of the IEEE Communication Society BRAC University Student Branch Chapter, highlighting some of its remarkable past events. A special segment was dedicated to Project Sporsho, the IEEE BRAC University Student Branch’s flagship Ramadan donation campaign. Attendees were briefed on the initiative’s impact over the years and were warmly encouraged to contribute in any way they could.
Following this, the honorable Registrar Sir, Advisor Sir, and esteemed guests were invited to the stage. A group photoshoot was held with the executive members before the session officially began. The host also provided a brief overview of the seminar and touched on topics such as ML, AI, and data science, setting the stage for an engaging and informative session.
The esteemed speakers of this seminar were MD. Saiful Islam, Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, BRAC University, and Sheikh Araf Noshin, adjunct lecturer, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, BRAC University.
Session by MD. Saiful Islam
After the introductory part of the seminar, the sessions began with an insightful presentation by MD. Saiful Islam, Senior Lecturer at BRAC University. The audience was fully engaged from the outset as Mr. Islam addressed the fundamentals and significance of machine learning (ML) and data science, their interrelation with artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the definition, examples, and subfields of AI. He also explained the basics of ML, provided examples of data processing, and discussed supervised learning. Furthermore, he presented a comprehensive roadmap to master AI, ML, and DS, including essential steps for initiating research in these domains.
Throughout the session, the attendees maintained a high level of attention, listening keenly in an atmosphere of complete silence. Mr. Islam’s ability to explain complex topics with clarity ensured that the session was both informative and engaging, with no signs of boredom or distraction among the participants. He also provided a highly informative guideline for pursuing research, outlining a detailed roadmap for thesis work. His thorough insights equipped the attendees with valuable knowledge and left them eager to explore these subjects further.
Session by Sheikh Araf Noshin
Following the exceptional session by MD. Saiful Islam, the enthusiasm for learning remained strong. To further expand the knowledge base, Sheikh Araf Noshin, Adjunct Lecturer at BRAC University, began his session with a smooth transition initiated by the handover of the microphone from Saiful Sir. Araf Sir, who is highly respected among the students, ensured that their attention and eagerness to learn did not waver.
In his session, he discussed the implementations and implications of the rise of AI. He covered the various use cases of AI across different fields, including healthcare, transportation, logistics, retail, education, manufacturing, and finance. He emphasized the importance of being a problem solver, drawing on historical contexts to illustrate how solving real-life challenges has always been a key to achieving greatness.
Additionally, Sheikh Araf Noshin provided recommendations for useful channels to learn ML and AI, offering valuable resources for students to enhance their understanding of these critical technologies. The session was highly informative and maintained a formal tone, ensuring that the audience remained engaged and attentive throughout.
Following the session, both speakers returned to the stage for an engaging and interactive Q&A session, addressing the audience’s queries in detail.
Subsequently, our advisor joined the stage to present crests to the esteemed guests, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their valuable contributions. The seminar concluded with a group photo session, capturing the memorable moments and marking the end of an exceptional event.