23rd Foundation Day of CBCS, Allahabad University: Experts Discuss Future of Brain Science and AI

23rd Foundation Day of CBCS, Allahabad University: Experts Discuss Future of Brain Science and AI

Experts highlight convergence of Brain Science and Artificial Intelligence in future healthcare

Allahabad University’s Centre for Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (CBCS) celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day on Friday, with founding members Dr. Janak Pandey and Dr. R.C. Tripathi in attendance. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Tapan Kumar Gandhi, Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and School of Artificial Intelligence, IIT Delhi, who presented insights on "Opportunities and Challenges in Brain Science to Advance Human Understanding and Autonomous Engineering."

Convergence of Brain Science and AI

"Brain Science Converging with AI for Humanitarian Impact and Innovation: Keynote at CBCS’s 23rd Foundation Day

Dr. Gandhi emphasized the transformative potential of brain science and artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping both healthcare and AI development over the coming years. He discussed the importance of achieving a deep understanding of brain functions, which he noted is essential not only to address severe neurodevelopmental disorders but also to advance adaptable AI systems. This convergence, he explained, could lead to revolutionary breakthroughs in the fields of healthcare and autonomous technologies.

Personal Experiences and Reflections

CBCS alumni, including Muhasin Rashid, shared their professional experiences with current students, inspiring them toward future advancements in cognitive and behavioral sciences. Additionally, Dr. Bhumika R. Kar presented a brief report on the center’s recent achievements and progress.

The event underscored the ongoing contributions of CBCS in cognitive science research and highlighted future directions where brain science and AI could collaborate to address complex human challenges.

 PRESS RELEASE 

Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences Foundation Day Talk, October 25th, 2024

 “Opportunities and Challenges in Brain Science to serve mankind and Inspire Autonomous Engineering” by Dr. Tapan Kumar Gandhi, FNAE, FNASc. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and School of AI, Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi New Delhi

Brain Science and AI to Revolutionize Healthcare, Says Dr. Tapan Kumar Gandhi at CBCS Foundation Day

 “From Academia to Industry: Navigating Expectations and Realities” by Muhasin Rashid Founder, Gauge Labs Bangalore The Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences (CBCS), University of Allahabad, celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day on 25th October, 2024. Prof. Bhoomika R. Kar, Head CBCS, welcomed the dignitaries, which included Prof. Janak Pandey, the founder head of CBCS and the invited speakers. She then presented a brief report on the accomplishments and advances in the Centre during the past year. Following this, there was a special lecture by Dr. Tapan Kumar Gandhi, Professor, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and School of AI, IIT Delhi. With his PhD jointly from IIT Delhi and MIT USA he has pursued his postdoctoral research at MIT, USA. He is a Fellow of National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Science, India. He is an eminent professor-researcher with rich experience in academia and applied research, especially in Healthcare Technology, Computational Neuroscience, ML/AI, AVR, and Responsible Gaming. He has worked on the development of novel gadgets to assist individuals who had been paralyzed due to spinal injuries or other debilitating conditions. In addition, he has also been involved with Project Prakash- an initiative that restores sight to the blind, as well as on projects cantering autism spectrum disorders in India. His talk focused on the convergence of Brain Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its revolutionary potential to transform both healthcare, and AI in the coming years. He highlighted ongoing research centred around the same and stressed on how garnering an in-depth understanding of the brain functions is critical - not only for addressing severe neurodevelopmental conditions but also for advancing adaptable AI systems. He also shed light on the humanitarian-focused research undertaken by him and how it contributed towards driving advances in fundamental science, delivering significant societal benefits, and inspiring the next generation of intelligent machines for future applications. Post his talk, he interacted with all the enthusiastic Masters and PhD students at CBCS. 

The second speaker was Mr. Muhasin Rashid - an alumnus of CBCS, who is presently invested in establishing his startup venture Gauge Labs, Bangalore. Having previously worked as a User Researcher and Behavioural Scientist in tech giants like Siemens Technology, Pristine Infotech, and CensaNext, he shared his rich industry experience with the students of CBCS. His talk, titled “From Academia to Industry: Navigating Expectations and Realities” focussed on bridging the gap between academic and industry-oriented research. Post his talk, he extensively interacted with the CBCS students, guiding them on various aspects of their job journey ahead. Muhasin was joined by Mr. Shivanshu Srivastava, an alumnus of CBCS who boasts a rich experience in Data Science, Behavioural Design, and Cognitive Computing. Shivanshu also interacted with his fellow juniors and shared with them a holistic perspective about the road to being a data scientist, and the associated skills required for the same. The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Amrendra Pratap Singh, faculty, CBCS.