NAAMII: You’ve attended several other schools: brain imaging in France, computational psychiatry in Switzerland, statistics programs in Hungary and Vietnam. What made ANAIS stand out?

Participant: Honestly, it was how ANAIS brought together the best people – the true experts of the field. When I say you brought in top researchers, I genuinely mean it. This isn’t just a simple winter school on artificial intelligence; it’s the winter school that provides access to the leading minds in the field. The combination of Professor Bronstein’s team and all the other prestigious speakers created something really special.
Additionally, this being my first time in Nepal, I met many Nepali students, and I found them incredibly ambitious, hardworking, bright, and talented. It was transformative, both personally and professionally. Being surrounded by such talented and inspiring individuals – students, speakers, and organizers alike – created this incredible energy. I felt inspired daily. The entire experience had a lasting impact that goes far beyond just the academic content.
NAAMII: The program structure moved from theory to applications across different sectors. How did that work for you?
Participant: For an 11-day program, it’s the perfect balance. You need that theoretical foundation, but to really understand AI’s scope, you need to see applications in healthcare, finance, business. This approach works for most participants – a narrow focus would only serve people with extremely specific interests.

What fascinated me was how diversely AI can be applied. Those application talks opened my eyes to possibilities I hadn’t considered before.

NAAMII: Any particular sessions that stood out?

Participant: Professor Bronstein and his team’s course was exceptional. It was challenging enough that I felt pushed, but delivered so well that I could follow along and learn tremendously without being overwhelmed. That’s a difficult balance to strike, and they nailed it.

All the lectures were incredibly well-delivered and insightful, honestly. The quality across the board was impressive.

NAAMII: As a PhD student in neuroscience rather than computer science, how did you handle the technical content?
Participant: I won’t lie, some technical lectures were challenging. My biggest advice to future participants: absolutely prioritize the pre-read materials. Even if you’re pressed for time, allocate one or two weeks before the school to review them.

The program is intense and technical from day one. If I could go back, I’d definitely spend more time with the pre-reads. This is especially crucial for students from backgrounds other than CS or math, even if they’re familiar with many concepts.

ANAIS 2024 Reflections: A Candid Conversation with Our European Participant