A scholar in the School of Computing, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Racheal AKINBO joined 200 selected Young Researchers of the next generation from around the globe to engage directly with esteemed laureates in mathematics and computer science at the 11th Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF) in Germany.
This year’s HLF took place from September 21 to 28, 2024 and brought together 25 Laureates of the most prestigious prizes in mathematics and computer science as well as provided a platform for Young Researchers to interact and gain experiential knowledge from the laureates in mathematics and computer science that have won significant awards in the fields. The forum also provided opportunity to network and learn from one another.
The program consists of panels, workshops, lightning discussions, poster sessions, networking opportunities, and more in the beautiful old town of Heidelberg. The HLF provided the space and time for leading researchers in their fields to interact, share ideas, network and form lasting connections that promise to develop into fruitful collaborations.
At the Conference Akinbo stood before the world to present her current research work which focuses on creating solutions to our community challenges most especially in the medical field. The research was on the classification of viral pneumonia disease with ensemble learning techniques to predict disease promptly, using Machine Learning a branch of Artificial Intelligence.
Akimbo was among the young researchers selected in three categories. She explains, "First, I was one of the 200 selected for all-expense paid trips for the conference; secondly, my research was selected among the best thirty for presentation at the conference; and in the last category, my intercultural digital artwork was also selected for exhibition. The artwork was designed with depictions of applied computer science and mathematics."
On Raising the Nigerian Flag at the event, Akimbo says," I was proud to raise the flag of Nigeria in Germany and to have represented the Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA) a top-ranking University of Technology in Nigeria and indeed the nation’s pride.” The 11th Heidelberg Laureate Forum was not just a gathering of academics, it was a gathering of the eagles where young researchers were challenged to reach for the stars and by unleashing their full potentials in their various areas of research interests and join the train of people who make the world a better place.
It was a high-level network connection of young researchers from over 70 countries. Akinbo says, " All the gains and benefits harvested from the just concluded Forum will be an opportunity to give back to my university community by being an added value in contributing to the nation building and the young generations. I also express my gratitude to my research supervisors Professor O. Olabode, Professor O.A. Daramola, Dr. E.O. Ibam, my husband Pastor Godwin Akinbo, ACA, my family Oyeniyi and Akinbo and the world young researchers playing critical roles in my academic journey. "