Archive for June, 2023

Interview with CS PhD Alumni Series: Dr. Sagnik Dakshit PhD’23

Computer science experts are in high demand as technologies advance at breakneck speed. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of computer and information technology occupations to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Experts also believe demand for educators in the field will also increase, calling for more PhD holders in computer science and software engineering. With the following interview series, we hope to engage students who want to learn more about the PhD program by learning about those who have gone through it.

HackAI Encourages Students to Explore AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly become one of the most impactful innovations in recent times, with its uses ranging from self-driving vehicles and virtual helpers to predictive analytics and medical diagnoses. Over the years, HackAI, hosted by the UT Dallas AI Society (AIS), has capitalized on the popularity of artificial intelligence with HackAI, a 24-hour hackathon featuring AI-related material. The hackathon aims to provide learning and competition opportunities and connect attendees to professionals who can further guide them in their AI journey. HackAI strives to demystify this specialized niche in computer science and bring it forward to students through an AI-related hackathon.

Dr. Gopal Gupta Talks With Dallas Morning News About Aurora’s Self-Driving Trucks

Via Dallas Morning News — Darcy Desjarlais, senior truck operations specialist at Aurora, hovers both hands under the steering wheel of Aurora’s self-driving truck as it cruises at 65 miles per hour down Interstate 45, heading in its typical route towards Houston.

Above his palms could be the future of short and long hauls for transported goods.

Innovative Startups, Ideas Win Big Prizes at Pitch Competition

University of Texas at Dallas students, alumni and researchers shared their innovative business initiatives while competing for $170,000 in cash and scholarship prizes during the 2023 Big Idea Competition finals on May 19 at the Blackstone LaunchPad facility on campus.

Hosted by the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), UT Dallas’ premier pitch contest featured projects in industries ranging from transportation and health to pet care and education.

Drs. Kantarcioglu and Thuraisingham Talk with NBCDFW about Dallas Releasing Technology Accountability Report Following Ransomware Attack

Via NBC DFW – The City of Dallas on Friday released a report that was expected to offer insight into the ransomware attack that crippled city services in early May.

The attack affected city websites and systems from police and fire to city courts and the library.

Friday brought the scheduled release of the city’s monthly Technology Accountability Report, or TAR, for May. The report was expected to cover the time period of the attack and potentially shed more light on the extent of it. Click here to read the report in full or scroll down to see it.

Dr. Murat Kantarcioglu talks benefits of privacy and technology with Plano police buying 50 license plate readers

Via Dallas Morning News – Plano police will utilize new controversial license plate camera readers that its law enforcement officials say assist in recovering stolen vehicles and locating abducted children.

The Plano City Council approved at a May 22 meeting the Plano Police Department’s purchase of 40 L5Q and 10 L6Q Motorola deployable license plate reader cameras with a five-year service subscription. The purchase will cost $100,000 annually and total $500,000 through an existing contract.

Students Shine at Spring’23 Graduation Ceremonies

Graduation represents the conclusion of a journey and the accomplishment of a goal. Fifty years after its inaugural commencement ceremony, The University of Texas at Dallas capped off a day full of history with a stellar celebration for its most recent graduates. UT Dallas celebrated graduation this spring with each of the University’s eight schools hosting their own ceremonies — 12 in total, plus a doctoral hooding ceremony presided over by their respective deans. More than 5,000 students participated in the ceremonies. A total of 3,638 bachelor’s, 2,479 master’s, and 116 doctoral degrees were awarded by UT Dallas. Of a total of 1644 degrees awarded in the Jonsson School in Spring 2023, 606 bachelor’s degrees, 486 master’s degrees, and six doctoral degrees were awarded to Computers Science (CS) and Software Engineering (SE) majors. Sukanya Baichwal, Masters (MS) in computer science, and Cady Baltz, Bachelor (BS) in computer science, were the keynote speakers for the Jonsson School Graduation ceremonies.

TexSAW 2023 Virtually Hosts its 12th Annual Texas Security Awareness Week

Earlier this month, the UT Dallas Cyber Security Research and Education Institute (CSI), in conjunction with the UT Dallas Computer Science Department, virtually conducted its 12th Annual Texas Security Awareness Week (TexSAW 2023). Each year, TexSAW has brought together cybersecurity, computer science, and software engineering students from across Texas who are interested in pursuing careers in computer security and expanding their knowledge in cybersecurity. The event provides students with the opportunity to socialize and network with students from other universities in Texas who share a common interest in cybersecurity. Because the contest was virtual this year, participation was registered and advertised on ctftime.org and gained not only nationwide but also worldwide attention.