Messages from International Enrollees

2022: Messages from International Enrollees

Joshua Ravishankar (Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Lab)

During my undergraduate studies, I found that the subjects that most excited me were ones that brought together theory and application to solve interesting real-world problems. I chose to specialize in machine learning in particular because it is a playground that brings together a wonderful assortment of mathematical theory and real-world, computational problems. Before coming to the HRI lab at Kyoto University, I had some research experience with reinforcement learning and computer vision, but not much experience working directly with robots.

HRI research is stimulating because of its interdisciplinary nature, gathering researchers from a variety of backgrounds (e.g., math, engineering, psychology, ethics etc.,) to solve problems that few have even sought to discover. My research is focused on error management strategies for data-driven human-robot interactions. I find myself exploring different facets of data analysis, machine learning, and information theory almost every week. I believe that the Social Informatics department has a number of amazing labs, presenting a great opportunity for anyone who wishes to grow as a researcher.

2020: Messages from International Enrollees

Nur Izzati Abdullah (Biosphere Informatics Lab)

Before enrolling in October 2020, my initial application was just for an internship in the department. During my undergraduate study, I focused on fish ecology, and during my postgraduate study, I shifted my focus to bats, particularly their acoustics and dietary habits. Initially, I was interested in the acoustics of flying foxes; however, during my master’s, I am focusing more on the acoustics of insectivorous bats. With the intention of discovering more about bats, I am currently studying bats’ dietary habits along with their acoustics in the agricultural areas, especially in rice fields.

The field of informatics is so broad, and there is a lot to learn and discover. With a background in biology and science, I have much to learn from this field. I highly recommend it to those who are interested in learning more about this specific field of study. I look forward to welcoming those who will be joining this program in the future!

▲Page TOP
▲Page TOP