Florida Atlantic University I-DeepLearn Summer Workshop

The Center for SMART Health in the College of Engineering and Computer Science recently conducted a workshop for pre-collegiate women, under the direction of Dr. Behnaz Ghoraani and supported by the National Science Foundation. 
This one-week workshop, attended by 17 young women in grades 10-12, provided participants with an immersive experience into a dynamic learning environment that included hands-on programming projects and interactive discussions on essential concepts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning (AI processing) and their applications, specifically their application in the healthcare domain. 

Topics included an introduction to machine learning and its technologies, insight into neural networks, perceptron learning, gradient descent learning, and Python theory and applications.  The workshop also provided young participants with the ability to connect with both their peers and professionals and researchers in the field for mentoring and guidance.

For Dr. Ghoraani, one of the strengths of the program is its ability to expose students to the vast possibilities available to them in the field. According to Dr. Ghoraani, “Most of our students come to the program thinking computer science it is all just about coding.” She said, “Computer science is very broad, and there are many applications—through this camp they get that exposure, and very much get the opportunity to explore their own personal interests in prosthetics or disease detection through the skills they learn during the workshop”.

The students themselves saw the value of the program saying, “this workshop is a great opportunity to gain appreciation for computer science and its applications—I’ve gained a better understanding of how computer science benefits hundreds of fields”. Another spoke of the camaraderie she experienced through the program, articulating that “the experience is so motivating as you realize just how many other girls are also interested and able in the field of computer science—you feel not alone”.
The program also offers opportunities for community members to get to know FAU and the top-notch research being conducted through the College of Engineering and Computer Science. For Dr. Ghoraani, it is important to raise awareness that “we are conducting real-life research with lasting impact on the community.”