Butuan City, PH—A surge of inspiration swept information technology (IT) students and educators across Mindanao at the 2nd International Conference on Computing & Information Sciences (CISCon 2023) held from 8-9 June 2023 at Caraga State University (CSU) as DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) technical experts showcased innovative ICT initiatives and cutting-edge R&D projects. 

DOST-ASTI experts with the attendees of the parallel sessions on emerging ICTs held at the HERO Learning Commons Activity Center Auditorium, Caraga State University-Main Campus. 

Organized by the CSU College of Computing and Information Sciences, the conference aims to nurture innovation among students while fostering connections with professionals and industry experts in Artificial Intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and other related fields. 

In his opening remarks, CSU President Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil highlighted the transformative role of technology in education. He urged attendees to harness the power of emerging technologies as a driving force for innovation. 

The event featured keynote presentations from eminent speakers, including Dr. Chulsoo Ye, Chair of the AI Computer Engineering Department at Far East University in South Korea; as well as experts from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Mulia University, Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, and the University of the Philippines.

DOST-ASTI resource speakers with Dr. Luisito I. Tabada, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Caraga State University, and officials of Caraga State University College of Computing and Information Sciences. 

DOST S&T Fellow Engr. Eduardo D. Piedad Jr. detailed the ICT initiatives of DOST-ASTI in his keynote presentation and featured DOST-ASTI’s ongoing R&D projects ASTI-Automated Labeling Machine, Gul.ai IoT-based phenotyping platform, iTANONG natural language processing system, Kooha social network sensing application, Quantum Circuit Simulator (QCS) project, and DataProtect blockchain technology. 

The second day of the conference offered attendees a unique opportunity to directly engage with DOST-ASTI experts in parallel sessions on emerging ICT trends and allowed participants to delve into the concepts and applications of the agency's R&D projects. 

DOST-ASTI's participation in this event reaffirms the agency’s dedication to advancing science and technology for societal progress, in turn demonstrating its commitment to research and innovation while contributing to the broader discourse on emerging technologies.