3rd edition of the Forward Research and Innovation Summit 2021

The premier showcase in the Caribbean of science, technology, and innovative projects.

With the mission of promoting innovation in science and technology, the Trust held the third edition of the Forward Research and Innovation Summit (“The Summit”). The Summit was celebrated virtually through an IA platform on December 10, 2021 and focused on artificial intelligence in order to accelerate scientific and technological activity on the Island. Thanks to the efforts of our team, colleagues and partners, the event was free of charge enabling the exchange of knowledge between the local and international scientific and technological community.

The event proved to be a huge success!

Through a digital platform that worked through artificial intelligence and in order to accelerate scientific and technological activity on the Island, the Forward Research and Innovation Summit returned free of cost and in virtual edition. The event counted with the participation of more than 20 internationally renowned speakers so that the local scientific and technological community could exchange knowledge.

Despite being totally virtual, participants had the opportunity to connect with other attendees, speakers and presenters. The platform even suggested to the participants profiles of other attendees who, according to the information provided in their accounts, were possible “matches” due to their interests and collaboration possibilities.

What to expect?

  • FREE Virtual Event with more than 15 speakers

  • Establish new collaborations (Networking Opportunity)

  • Scientific Poster Session

Who is this event for?

  • Student community

  • Researchers

  • Entrepreneurs

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field that combines computer science and robust data sets to enable problem solving. It involves using computers or machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision- making capabilities of the human mind. You can see examples of Artificial Intelligence everywhere (Watch video).

Reference.

Data Science is an interdisciplinary field of study that analyzes and extracts value from data collected e.g., from the web, research, smartphones and other sources. Data scientists combine techniques from computer science and statistics, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, probability models, among others to manage, analyze and interpret data. That is, they can process and analyze data collected by any organization, with the purpose of detecting patterns and trends that optimize strategic decision making. Examples and applications of data science abound today in every industry (Watch video)


“Con esta tercera edición del Forward Summit, seguimos alimentando el ecosistema empresarial y científico local para que siga innovando, siendo el Fideicomiso ese centro de impulso colaborativo para que los mejores de la comunidad científica y tecnológica se conecten con el norte de identificar alianzas de impacto empresarial” – Lucy Crespo, CEO of PRSTRT

“Tuvimos una sesión de afiches mejor conocido como “poster sessions” en la que el público tuvo la oportunidad de interactuar con más de 40 investigadores y conocer sus proyectos de investigación. Estos afiches fueron evaluados por un comité de jueces y estaremos premiando los mejores “posters” en las áreas de:  mérito científico y técnico, impacto local e impacto global.” – Andreica Maldonado, Research Grant Program Director


Keynote Speaker
Cynthia Rudin, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Statistical Science
Director, Prediction Analysis Lab
Duke University

This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Cynthia Rudin, Professor and Director of the Predictive Analytics Lab at Duke University. Dr. Rudin received the 2021 Squirrel AI 2021 award, given by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, for her work in the field of interpretable and transparent AI systems in real-world deployments, and her advocacy for these features in areas such as social justice and medical diagnostics. This award is the most prestigious award in the field of Artificial Intelligence. It is similar to world- renowned awards such as the Nobel Prize and the Turing Award, and carries a monetary reward of one million dollars. 


Along with Dr. Rudin, a selection of local and international speakers was presented, including, among others, Juan C. Santa-Rosario, MD, Medical Director of CorePlus Clinical and Pathological Services; Joseph López, director of technology marketing for DDB Latina; Patricia Ordóñez, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus; Manuel Rodríguez Martínez, PhD, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus; Carlos Toxtli, Northeastern University Ph.D. candidate in Science; Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado, professor of chemical engineering in the Engineering Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez campus; Alejandro Mieses Castellanos, CEO of terraFirma Software LLC; Fabiola Guzmán Rivera, Marketing Director of terraFirma Software LLC; Alejandro Excia Rodríguez, creative director of terraFirma Software LLC; Rémi Mégret, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus; Mayana Pereira, Data Scientist, Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab .; Daniel Lopresti, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Lehigh University; Leila Character, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Roy A. Armstrong, associate director and professor of the Departments of Marine Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus; Dr. Saiph Savage, Assistant Professor at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Science, and Dr. Hannah Kerner, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geographic Sciences at the University of Maryland.

Juan C. Santa-Rosario, MD
Medical Director
CorePlus Servicios Clínicos y Patológicos

Joseph Lopez
Marketing Technology Director
DDB Latina

Patricia Ordoñez, PhD
Associate Professor
Computer Science Department
UPR, Río Piedras

Manuel Rodriguez Martinez, PhD
Professor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
UPR, Mayaguez

Carlos Toxtli
Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate
Northeastern University

Prof. Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
UPR Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Alejandro Mieses Castellanos
Chief Executive Officer
terraFirma Software LLC

Fabiola Guzmán Rivera
Chief Marketing Officer
terraFirma Software LLC

Alejandro Excia Rodríguez
Chief Creative Officer
terraFirma Software LLC

Rémi Mégret
Associate Professor
Computer Science Department
UPR, Río Piedras Campus

Mayana Pereira
Data Scientist
Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab

Daniel Lopresti, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Lehigh University Bethlehem

Leila Character, PhD Candidate
Department of Geography and the Environment
University of Texas at Austin

Roy A. Armstrong, Ph.D.
Associate Director and Professor, Department of Marine Sciences
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

Saiph Savage, PhD
Assistant Professor
Northeastern University in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences

Hannah Kerner, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor
Department of Geographical Sciences
University of Maryland

Eng. Lucy A Crespo
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust

Sebastián Vidal
Chief Innovation Officer
Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust

Andreica Maldonado
Program Director
Research Grants Program
Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust

David L. Gulley, PhD, RTTP, CL
Program Director
Technology Transfer Office (TTO)
Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust

Juan Carlos Hernández
Executive Director
Parallel18
Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust

Jesús R. Bernardy Rodríguez
Co-founder & Principal Consultant
CelerOps

Dr. Kamil Agi
President & CEO
SensorComm Technologies, Inc. - Albuquerque, NM

Rafael Esparra Rivera
Software Engineer
BrainHi

Rafael A Irizarry, PhD
Professor and Chair of the Department of Data Science at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Professor of Biostatistics at Harvard School of Public Health

Raúl Negrón Otero
Software Engineer
BrainHi


In addition, the Bajarí Prize was presented, an institutional recognition by nomination granted by the FCTIPR to recognize exceptional scientists on the Island. Bajarí, a word from the Taíno dialect means high distinction and represents the path that researchers follow to innovate and achieve high distinctions in their fields. As part of the evaluation, a scientist was sought who would show his leadership and an exemplary academic and research trajectory, in addition to having a social impact. The committee determined that Dr. Vanessa Rivera Amill possessed the qualities to achieve this distinction.

Dr. Vanessa Rivera-Amill was born in Ponce and completed a bachelor’s degree in Biology at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico and a Ph.D. in Microbiology at Washington State University, Pullman. Upon completion of her PhD, she returned to PR to offer the Microbiology course at the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Caguas, PR and then joined the HIV research team at the Ponce School of Medicine now Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), PR . She is currently a Professor, Associate Dean of the Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences at PHSU, Scientific Director of Inno Diagnostics and Principal Investigator on several scientific grants. Dr. Rivera-Amill mentors students at all academic levels, from middle school through PhD and MD students. She leads the SARS-CoV-2 virus diagnostic and sequencing efforts at PHSU and her lab was central to the response against this virus.

We held a Poster Session which showcased 48 projects from undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members and entrepreneurs. To recognize the research conducted on the Island, a panel of 19 judges reviewed each of the presented posters to determine the best ones in the following categories: Scientific and Technical Merit, Local Impact and Global Impact.

Awarded Posters

Scientific and Technical Merit

Best Faculty/PostDoc Poster

Dr. Idhaliz Flores
Ponce Health Sciences University


Poster titled “Discovery of potential immune-preventative targets for ovarian cancer”

Best Student Poster

Victoria M. Casimir-Montán
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences


Poster titled “Bioassay-guided-fractionation and MS/MS molecular networking of a marine cyanobacterial and brown algae extract from Puerto Rico with SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity”

Local Impact

Best Faculty/PostDoc Poster

Dr. Shannalee R. Martínez
Ponce Health Sciences University


Poster titled “Aberrant lipid metabolism and alternative macrophage activation in therapy-resistant prostate cancer”

Best Student Poster

Mikaela Rodríguez González
University of Puerto Rico, Cayey


Poster titled “Discovery and Development of Anxiolytic Agents from Tropical Marine Macroalgae”

Global Impact

Best Faculty/PostDoc Poster

 Dr. Pablo E. Vivas-Mejía
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences


Poster titled “Delivery of RNAi into the brain with a gold-liposomal formulation”

Best Student Poster

 Edgar Vázquez Papaleo
Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo


Poster titled “Developing Flexible Silver Inkjet Electrodes for the Detection of Neuropeptide Y in Sweat”

The agenda featured an impressive variety of topics such as: the future of artificial intelligence for social well-being, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis in prostate cancer, advances in global food security, visualization of physiological data, remote detection of the sargassum and its impacts on tropical marine ecosystems, use of AI for environmental risk forecasting, shipwreck detection, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, climate change, AI initiatives on the island, and monitoring of health systems with data on hurricanes, COVID-19 and vaccines, among others.

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