Pre-conference workshops

Computer Programming with AI: Applications in Biological Sciences

The pre-RESCON 2024 workshop, held on July 31 st , marked an exciting initiative to the RESCON international conference. This year’s first workshop, titled "Computer Programming with AI: Applications in Biological Sciences," was successfully conducted by Dr. Dayanjan Shanaka Wijesinghe, Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. The workshop provided a comprehensive, hands-on experience in using artificial intelligence to develop predictive machine learning models, equipping participants with essential skills for modern scientific research.

Professor Wijesinghe guided attendees through the details of coding using AI tools, starting with foundational steps like setting up Google Collab notebooks and utilizing Gemini for generating code from plain English commands. Participants learned to import datasets, perform summary statistics, create predictive algorithms, and validate these models with known data. Key resources such as Scikit Learn and Kaggle were highlighted for their roles in data analysis and machine learning.

The workshop emphasized practical applications, including deploying models globally using platforms like Streamlit and Gradio, and maintaining proof of work through saved Jupyter and Collab notebooks. Participants were encouraged to use multiple AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Hugging Face, for refining and validating their models. By the end of the session, attendees were well-equipped to integrate AI into their research.

The audience expressed great satisfaction with the workshop, particularly those from scientific backgrounds engaged in computational work and machine learning. All found the workshop to be highly resourceful and beneficial for their studies. The attendees conveyed their gratitude to Prof. Shanaka Wijesinghe for his insightful guidance and to the RESCON conference chair, Prof. Priyanga Wijesinghe, for securing such an esteemed expert to lead the session.

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Mastering the Art of Scientific Review: Techniques and Best Practices

TThe RESCON 2024 organizing Committee of the Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS) along with the Board of Study (BoS) in Chemical Sciences, University of Peradeniya collaboratively organized the workshop on Scientific Review writing on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Conference Hall of the PGIS targeting both the students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and the academic staff. This interactive session was free for the participants and around 60 onsite and 140 online individuals actively participated in the event.

The Resource person of the session was Prof. Matthew J. Allen, the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Wayne State University (WSU), in Michigan, USA. The students had an interactive session with the speaker after the formal event, and Prof. Allen gifted WSU T-shirts to those who asked questions.

The comments received from the students and the staff affirmed that the workshop was overwhelmingly successful and extremely effective for the participants. Many students thanked Prof. M. Y. U. Ganehenege, the Chairperson of the BoS in Chemical Sciences; Prof. Priyanga Wijesinghe, the Chairperson of RESCON-2024, and the members of the organizing committee for organizing such a fruitful event, and requested to have similar series of workshops in future for their effective learning.

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