Invited Speakers

Some new trends in maritime and underwater communications

Speaker: Dr. Mohamed Slim Alouini
Institution: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Date: May 28th, 09:30h – 10:20h

CV: Mohamed-Slim Alouini, was born in Tunis, Tunisia. He earned his Ph.D. from the California Institute ofTechnology(Caltech) in 1998 before serving as a faculty member at the University of Minnesota and later at Texas A&M University at Qatar. In 2009, he became a founding faculty member at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where he currently is the Al-Khawarizmi Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the holder of the UNESCO Chair on Education to Connect the Unconnected. Dr. Alouini is a Fellow of the IEEE and OPTICA and his research interests encompass a wide array of research topics in wireless and satellite communications. He is currently particularly focusing on addressing the technical challenges associated with information and communication technologies (ICT) in underserved regions and is committed to bridging the digital divide by tackling issues related to the uneven distribution, access to, and utilization of ICT in rural, low-income, disaster-prone, and hard-to-reach areas.

Challenges and possibilities for the future of sustainable fisheries: AI, robotics & intelligent planning

Speaker: Dr. Emlyn Davies
Institution: SINTEF Ocean, Norway
Date: May 28th, 14:30h – 15:20h

CV: Dr Emlyn Davies is research manager for the Robotics & Intelligent Autonomation research group within the Department for Fisheries & New Biomarine Industry at SINTEF Ocean, Norway. He joined SINTEF Ocean in 2013, having completed a PhD from Plymouth University and National Oceanography Centre (UK). Within the area of sustainable fisheries, SINTEF Ocean focuses on the technological innovation needed for the food and feed of the future – from the capture, harvesting and cultivation of marine species to the finished product. Here, a multidisciplinary effort across several projects combines the latest in AI, robotics and intelligent planning, with state-of-the-art ocean observation and data handling methods. In-all, providing a framework for informed decision support for both sustainable fisheries operations and fisheries management by regulatory authorities.

More information about Dr. Emlyn Davies here

The case for a new ocean observing system

Speaker: Anahita Laverack
Institution: OSHEN , United Kingdom
Date: May 29th, 09:00h – 09:50h

CV: Holding a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London, Anahita completed her Master's in the design and navigation of transatlantic autonomous micro-vessels. In early 2022, she founded Oshen, a startup focused on the mass deployment of autonomous, micro-vessels for ocean data collection. Oshen's microASVs offer the potential for persistent, low-cost monitoring in various applications, from meteorological data to marine conservation. Anahita currently oversees Oshen's strategic development and hardware design, applying her specialised knowledge to advance autonomous marine sensing technologies.

More information about Anahita Laverack here