Biography:

Chris is a full Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Head of School of Computing at Ulster University. 

His research interests include the development and evaluation of technologies to support pervasive healthcare within smart environments. Specifically, this has involved research in the topics of mobile based reminding solutions, activity recognition and behaviour modelling and more recently technology adoption modelling.  He is the director of the Pervasive Computing Research Centre,  the co-Principal Investigator of the Connected Health Innovation Centre,  the Principal Investigator at Ulster for the PWC Advanced Research and Engineering Centre and co-Investigator for the BT Ireland Innovation Centre.

To date he has successfully supervised 47 PhD students to completion and has an h-index of 60.  In 2024 he was recognised on Stanford's top 2% most highly cited scientists and is currently ranked No. 1 internationally on Google Scholar for citations in the area of Ambient Assisted Living.  He has been instrumental in initiating,  preparing,  supporting and managing a number of externally funded Research Projects.  The total funding allocated to Ulster as a result of these projects is in excess of £52M.  In 2016 he was awarded a Senior Distinguished Research Fellowship by Ulster University.

Through his network of collaborators he has endeavoured to share the findings of his research and strategies in Digital Health.  He has held visiting Professorships at Halmstad University (Sweden) and the University of Florence (Italy) and is currently a visiting Professor in Pervasive and Mobile Computing at Lulea Technical University (Sweden),  a visiting Professor in Computing at Shandong Jianzhu University (China) and a Visiting Professor in Computing at Dalian University of Technology (China). 

Since 2008 has served as an Associate Editor for the Editorial Board of the IEEE Engineering Medicine and Biology Conference,  Healthcare Information Systems Theme and he is currently serving as a member of Ireland’s Commission on Care for Older People. 

Title of the talk: Delivering Health and Wellbeing solutions within smart environments through AI enabled IoT

Abstract

Advances in computational power,  high speed communications,  artificial intelligence (AI) and low-cost sensing devices are providing us with the tools and platforms that we require to assist in making a step change across a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) based application domains.  Smart environments have already established themselves as appropriate tools for the tracking of inhabitants and the profiling of behavioural trends.  At the core of this process is the fundamental task of identifying the individual activities that each inhabitant is undertaking and subsequently building a deeper understanding of likely future activities in addition to analysis of any potential deviations from the normal. 

Whilst many approaches have yielded high levels of activity recognition performance the data available to support the creation of data driven models is now being considered by many as hindering significant improvements in performance.  This is coupled with challenges of deploying AI models on resource constrained devices.

This presentation will provide an update on our current work where we have continued to improve the performance of activity recognition within smart environments.  Details of strategies deployed using synthetic data will be discussed as approaches to augment training datasets.  In addition, our recent work of reducing model size for deployment on resource constrained devices will also be discussed.

Cross cutting strategies of personalisation,  sustainability and trustworthiness,  all of which are integral to this work of AI enabled IoT within smart environments will also be presented.

Biography:

Andrew is a Professor of Computing at the University of South Wales. His research interests centre on deploying intelligent computer systems (Artificial Intelligence and Data Science oriented solutions) to help solve real-world problems. Andrew works on AI-related projects with several industrial and commercial partners. Andrew is Editor in Chief of the international journal Annals of Emerging Technologies in Computing (AETiC)

Andrew teaches various computer-related courses, including artificial intelligence, data mining and computer programming. Moreover, Andrew has successfully supervised over forty PhD students and has participated in and led international research projects. Andrew is the Regional Director of Techno Camps, an innovative and ambitious initiative funded by the Welsh Government that seeks to engage young people with computing and its cognate subjects. Andrew is a director of 360 Ability Sport, a charitable organisation that aims to increase participation in sports among people with disabilities.

Title of the talk: Upskilling medical professionals in developing economies through Virtual Reality (VR)

Abstract

Upskilling medical professionals in developing economies through Virtual Reality (VR) training presents an opportunity to address long-standing disparities in healthcare education and access to quality training. In regions where healthcare systems often struggle with shortages of resources, limited infrastructure, and inadequate access to advanced medical tools, VR technology can offer an innovative solution by creating immersive, hands-on learning environments. Medical practitioners can engage in realistic simulations of complex procedures, practice emergency interventions, and refine diagnostic skills in a controlled and risk-free space. This allows healthcare workers to repeatedly hone their techniques without the need for costly equipment, live patients, or even the proximity of expert mentors—elements that are often lacking in underserved regions.

Moreover, VR training can be customised to meet the specific needs of local health challenges, enabling professionals to practice and prepare for scenarios they are most likely to encounter. Whether it is mastering life-saving techniques in trauma care, improving neonatal care in regions with high infant mortality rates, or staying updated on new surgical innovations, VR offers flexible and scalable learning opportunities that can be tailored to different specialities.

In addition, VR training democratises medical education by removing the barriers imposed by geography or economic limitations. Medical professionals in rural or remote areas, who might otherwise be excluded from continuous learning opportunities, can now access the same high-calibre training as their counterparts in urban centres. This can enhance the overall competency of healthcare workers across developing economies, bringing them up to par with global standards. Ultimately, the integration of VR in medical training not only helps to bridge the skills gap but also empowers healthcare systems in developing economies to better serve their populations.

Biography:

Qammer H. Abbasi (SMIEEE, FRET, FRSA, FEAI, FIET), Professor of Applied Electromagnetics & Sensing with the James Watt School (JWS) of Engineering, Theme lead for Connecting People priority at JWS, co-director for Communication Sensing and Imaging (CSI) Hub and deputy theme lead for Quantum technologies in the University’s flagship Advance Research Centre at University of Glasgow, UK. He has grant portfolio of £12M+ and contributed to more than 500+ leading international technical journal (including nature portfolio) and peer reviewed conference papers, 11 books and received several recognitions for his research including UK exceptional talent endorsement by Royal Academy of Engineering, Sensor 2021 Young Scientist Award, University level Teaching excellence award in addition to coverage by various media houses including Analog IC tips, Microwaves & RF newsletters, Vertical news, Pakistan Dawn news, BBC news, Scotland TV, Fiercewireless and many other media houses. Prof. Abbasi is an IEEE senior member and is chair of IEEE AP/MTT UK, Ireland and Scotland joint chapter. He is an Associate editor for IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF, and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology, IEEE Sensors, IEEE Internet of Things, IEEE open access Antenna and Propagation, IEEE JBHI and scientific reports. He was/is a committee member for IEEE APS Young professional, Sub-committee chair for IEEE YP Ambassador program, IEEE 1906.1.1 standard on nano communication, IEEE APS/SC WG P145, IET Antenna & Propagation and healthcare network. He is/was Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, industrial Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering, Fellow of IET and Fellow of European Alliance of innovation

Title of the talk: How 6G will be Enabled?

Abstract

Future wireless networks are expected be more than allowing people, mobile devices, and objects to communicate with each other. The sixth generation (6G) of mobile networks are envisioned to include high data rate applications and ultra-massive, connected things. This also includes bio and nano[1]internet of things (IoT) tele-operated driving, unmanned mobility, haptic communications, unmanned aerial vehicles, and many more. Given the size of nano-sensors, THz frequency is proposed to do various sensing activities at this scale. However, it will be ideal to use the same radio frequency for communications as well. Furthermore, THz is also proposed as an enabler of extremely high data rate applications in 6G communications. The talk will be focused on Terahertz antenna design, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) and its role for joint communication and sensing feature of 6G.

Biography:

Dr. Mohammad Ilyas is a Professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. He has been with the College since 1983. From 1994 to 2000, he was Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He served as Associate Dean for Research for the College from 2002 through 2011, and as Dean of the College from 2011 to 2017. From July 2004 to September 2005, he also served the University as Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies.

Dr. Ilyas has earned four academic degrees from four different countries. He received his B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan, in 1976. In 1978, he was awarded a scholarship for his graduate studies and he completed his MS degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in June 1980 at Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. In September 1980, he joined the doctoral program at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He completed his Ph.D. degree Electrical Engineering in 1983. His doctoral research was about switching and flow control techniques in computer communication networks. In 2015, he earned his second Ph.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education, from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. His doctoral research for his second doctoral degree was about globalization and higher education.

Dr. Ilyas has conducted successful research in the field of computer communication networks. His current research interests include wireless sensor networks, Internet of Things, smart systems, artificial intelligence, healthcare technologies. performance modeling, simulation, and impact of globalization on higher education. He has over 265 publication including one book, and 26 handbooks. He has supervised 18 Ph.D. dissertations and 38 M.S. theses to completion. He is currently supervising a group of 6 doctoral students. He has been a consultant to several national and international organizations. Dr. Ilyas is an active participant in several IEEE Technical committees and activities.

Dr. Ilyas is a Life Senior Member of IEEE, Fellow of IIIS, and was listed as a Fulbright Specialist from June 2017 to June 2022.

Title of the talk: Artificial Intelligence and Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The concept of smart cities has received a significant interest recently among researchers. United Nations reports that more than half of the world population currently lives in urban environment, and is estimated to increase to about 70% by 2050. This trend needs serious attention by governments to create solutions that will make sure that their citizens will continue to have sustainable and improved quality of life style. Smart cities use all the available technologies to achieve that goal, and improve the efficiency of operations.

This massive undertaking of making existing cities smart and building new smart cities, comes with many opportunities as well as some challenges. Digitization of services, smart operations, and connectivity are essential parts of a smart city. Smart cities will certainly promote cohesive, connected, healthier, and happier communities. This presentation will elaborate the opportunities and challenges in moving the smart cities concept forward.

Biography:

Professor Ali Yavari is the Director of the 6G Research and Innovation Lab at Swinburne University of Technology. He received his Ph.D. from the School of Computer Science and Information Technology at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in and a Master of Science degree in Communication Systems from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. Ali has played a significant role in establishing and advancing various European and Australian research and development projects. These initiatives have received support from external research funding provided by industry collaborators and government sources. Dr. Yavari is actively engaged in the academic community, serving as a program committee member and designated reviewer for various international journals, conferences, and workshops. He has been honoured with the prestigious Victoria Fellowship in Physical Sciences from the Victoria State Government and has received several other awards, including the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award (Early Career) from Swinburne University of Technology.

Title of the talk: Eye on 5G and beyond.

Abstract

As 5G networks expand into the millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum and emerging 6G technologies begin to utilize terahertz (THz) frequencies, it is becoming increasingly important to establish scientifically grounded exposure limits for these higher-frequency bands. Achieving this goal requires both experimental and computational (in silico) studies to generate reliable data on the potential biological effects of mmWave and THz radiation. This presentation examines how electromagnetic radiation in the mmWave and THz ranges interacts with the human body and reviews the current state of research in this field. The design, development, and implementation of a 26 GHz mmWave exposure system are described, along with insights from experimental work conducted at the Australian Synchrotron and Swinburne University. In addition, 3D computational models developed using advanced simulation software are presented to investigate energy absorption and tissue interactions.

Biography:

Dr. Khurram Bhatti is an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of Research & Impact at the Department of Computer Science, University of Exeter, UK, where he is affiliated with the Security & Trust of Advanced Systems research group, Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI), and Global Systems Institute (GSI). He is a Marie-Curie Research Fellow with interdisciplinary research interests spanning across the information security and privacy as well as technological interventions for climate monitoring, adaption & mitigation. Dr. Khurram has done his post-doctoral research at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. He holds a PhD in Computer Engineering and MS in Embedded Systems from the University Cote d'Azur, Nice, France. Before joining the University of Exeter, UK, during his academic career, he has taught at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France, University of South Brittany, France, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan, and Information Technology University (ITU), Pakistan.

Title of the talk: Security Evaluation of Modern Computing Infrastructure for Sustained Digital Transformation

Abstract

As organizations accelerate digital transformation, the resilience and trustworthiness of their computing infrastructure become critical. This talk explores how architectural-level security evaluation underpins sustainable digital evolution. We examine vulnerabilities that emerge across modern heterogeneous architectures—ranging from CPUs and GPUs to edge and cloud systems—and discuss systematic methods for assessing their security posture. By integrating architectural threat modelling, hardware-software co-design analysis, and runtime assurance mechanisms, we can identify systemic weaknesses early in the design cycle and enforce verifiable trust anchors throughout deployment. The talk will focus on highlighting current challenges in securing next-generation architectures—such as side-channel mitigations, trusted execution environments, and secure accelerators—and outlines a roadmap for continuous, architecture-aware security evaluation to support long-term digital resilience.

Biography:

Dr. Muhammad Zubair (SFHEA, SMIEEE, SMOptica) received his PhD in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy, followed by postdoctoral research at the SUTD-MIT International Design Centre, Singapore. Before joining Leicester, he held academic and research appointments at the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST); Information Technology University (ITU), Lahore; and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Dr. Zubair’s research interests span applied electromagnetics and metasurfaces, with a focus on developing next-generation models, materials, and devices for future communication, sensing, imaging, and energy applications. He has contributed as PI/ Co-PI or researcher co-lead in projects funded by several international agencies, including the EPSRC (UK), Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), HEC (Pak), PHEC (Pak), Singapore Temasek Labs, and the US Department of Defense (DoD). He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, co-authored two book chapters/monographs, and has been listed among the top 2% most-cited researchers worldwide by Stanford-Elsevier since 2021. His contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the URSI Young Scientist Award, Punjab Innovation Research Challenge Award, IEEE Education (ETOP 2025) Change Champion, and the RSC Emerging Investigator 2024/2025 distinction. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Senior Member IEEE, Senior Member Optica, IEEE AP-S Young Professionals Ambassador 2025, Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) Ambassador 2025, and an active member of IET, ACES, and SPIE. He currently serves or has served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Access, PLOS ONE, Wiley International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, and IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation.

Title of the talk: Metasurfaces for Next-Gen Applications: A Platform for Communication, Sensing, Imaging, and Sustainable Energy Innovations

Abstract

This talk explores the transformative role of metasurfaces as versatile platforms for next-generation electromagnetic (EM) wave manipulation across a wide range of applications. Metasurfaces have the potential to revolutionize communication, sensing, imaging, and sustainable energy by enabling unprecedented control over EM waves in ultra-thin and highly customizable structures. The presentation will cover advanced metasurface applications, such as reconfigurable intelligent surfaces for 5G/6G communication, high-sensitivity sensors for medical and environmental monitoring, high-resolution imaging systems, and energy-efficient absorbers for solar and thermophotovoltaic devices. By examining recent breakthroughs and future directions, this talk aims to inspire innovative solutions and collaborations within the young professionals community.

Biography:

Kazuaki TANAKA

Ph.D. in Information Engineering

Associate Professor, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan

Embedded Systems and IoT Researcher

Research topics: mruby (a lightweight scripting language), LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) wireless communication for IoT devices, and AI applications

Director of Ruby Association, Director of mruby Research Center, Director of Fukuoka Prefecture Future IT Initiative

Title of the talk: An mruby-Based Framework for Efficient IoT Application Development to Accelerate Digital Transformation

Abstract

This research aims to improve the efficiency of software development for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, particularly those running on resource-constrained devices. In IoT devices and industrial systems, embedded software plays a key role in directly controlling hardware to achieve precise operations and energy efficiency. However, development in low-level languages such as C is often time-consuming and inflexible, making rapid prototyping and system maintenance difficult.

To address these challenges, we are developing an IoT application framework based on mruby, a lightweight and embeddable implementation of the Ruby programming language. mruby enables high-level, concise programming while maintaining with C for detailed hardware control. This approach allows developers to accelerate application development and optimize hardware resource usage.

Through demonstrations using microcontroller boards, this research showcases how mruby can enhance embedded software development and contribute to energy-efficient IoT systems by bridging the gap between development efficiency and hardware performance.