Chapter Member Newsletter

ACM Chapter Member News | December 2023

Welcome to the December 2023 edition of the ACM Chapter Member News.

Chapters are the "local neighborhoods" of ACM. Our Professional and Student chapters worldwide serve as nodes of activity for ACM members and the computing community at large, offering seminars, lectures, and the opportunity to meet peers and experts in many fields of interest. With over 900 active chapters worldwide, we would like to take the time now to connect with all of you and bring you a few ACM Highlights. 

HEADLINES AT A GLANCE:

• ACM Chapter News

• Chapter Spotlight

• Welcome to Our Newest Chapters

• Why join ACM?

 

---

ACM Chapter News

ACM UPE Scholarship Winners 

In the search for excellence and professional commitment to the computing and information technology fields, The Executive Council of Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) are proud to announce the 2023 ACM UPE Student Chapter Scholarship Award Winners.

Thank you to everyone who applied. Congratulations to the following winners:

John Billos - Wake Forest University

Joseph Furmanowski - Monmouth University

Kushagra Gupta - IIT Delhi

Didem Cicek Simsek - University of Ottawa

Raven Wei - UNC Charlotte

Evan Zelt - Wake Forest University

---

ACM Chapter Spotlight

ACM would like to congratulate chapters for organizing the following successful events. If your chapter would like to be featured in the chapter spotlight, please email [email protected] with a description of your recent event.

Italian ACM SIGCHI Chapter
(Milano, Italy)

The 2023 edition of CHItaly, the Biannual Conference of the Italian ACM SIGCHI Chapter, was the 15th of the series and hosted by the University of Torino, on September 20-22, 2023. The conference attracted 150 participants and was structured in three days, with the first dedicated to satellite events (workshops, doctoral consortium, etc.), while the other two were for the main conference.

The theme of CHItaly 2023 was "Crossing HCI and AI". Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) has gained popularity for bringing humans into the center of AI design. HCAI has the potential to create systems that provide intelligent computations beneficial to humans, thus supporting them in achieving their objectives. In addition, HCAI systems focus on enhancing human performance, increasing their reliability, safety, and trustworthiness. This may also involve designing an interface that effectively leverages human skills and capabilities to improve human performance with an application. Together with vital aspects like transparency, explainability, and fairness, the conference aims to consolidate the efforts made by the local and global community to spur further reflections and activities.

MPSTME ACM Student Chapter
(Mumbai, India)

We proudly organized the highly successful Programming For Everyone (PFE) event at MPSTME, conducting a comprehensive three-day programming workshop specifically tailored for the students of MPSTME. The event spanned from October 16-18, 2023, focusing on instructing participants in two prominent languages, C++ and Python. Notably, a track was dedicated to exploring DSA, enhancing participants' understanding of these foundational concepts. The overarching goal of the workshop was to empower students for the challenges they will encounter in the professional realm and during internships. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, the workshop fostered a dynamic learning environment. The carefully curated content and hands-on sessions aimed to provide a holistic learning experience, equipping participants with practical skills and a deeper understanding of the intricacies of programming. Participants not only honed their coding skills but also developed a problem-solving mindset crucial for success in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

NUCES KHI ACM Student Chapter
(Karachi, Pakistan)

The Coder's Cup 2023, hosted by NUCES KHI ACM Student Chapter, was held on October 16-25. This event epitomizes coding excellence, seamlessly blending innovation, and technical prowess. This annual competition unites coding enthusiasts and experts, showcasing strategic thinking and swift problem-solving skills in a thrilling battle of algorithms. Beyond mere competition, the Coder's Cup serves as a dynamic platform fostering collaboration and learning within the NUCES KHI ACM Student Chapter's vibrant coding community. This event transcends traditional coding competitions, offering an immersive experience that stands as a testament to the limitless possibilities within the coding world, nurturing continuous improvement and camaraderie.

Mahatma Gandhi University ACM Student Chapter
(Athirampuzha, India)

In a collaborative initiative, the School of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, in conjunction with the MGU ACM Student Chapter and the School of Computer Sciences at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, successfully concluded a two-day workshop on GPU programming and distributed deep learning with PyTorch on November 7-8, 2023.

Led by the esteemed Mr. Mahesh C, Assistant Professor at FISAT and a specialist in GPGPU clustering and DL systems, the workshop attracted a diverse cohort of participants eager to delve into the latest technological advancements. Generously supported by the MGU ACM Student Chapter, the hands-on sessions allowed attendees to deepen their expertise in GPU programming and distributed deep learning, both crucial aspects of the dynamic fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The workshop's triumph was not only evident in Mr. Mahesh C's expert guidance but also in the active collaboration among students and professionals, fostering a dynamic and enriching learning environment. As organizers express gratitude for the fruitful collaboration, anticipation builds for future endeavors aimed at pushing the boundaries of knowledge in the ever-evolving landscape of AI and robotics.

PMU ACM Student Chapter
(Khobar, Saudi Arabia)

On November 9, 2023, the PMU ACM Student Chapter conducted the PMU Coding Champions Competition in collaboration with the CyberSecurity Centre at the university. The event was organized by both the ACM and IEEE-W student members under the College of Computer Engineering & Sciences. The target audience was all-level students, from freshman to senior year. The questions included short answer questions and challenging coding questions on basic coding topics like arrays and cybersecurity topics like password security. All questions were timed and students who answered faster got higher points. The event was attended by 100 participants. 3 winners were selected, with cash prize awards, and all participants were handed certificates. The event was a success, and the competition was fun!

PCCOE ACM Student Chapter
(Pradhikaran, India)

Day one of the PCCOE ACM x Hacktoberfest event, (October 26, 2023) featured an informative initiation into open source and version control, beginning with a session led by expert speaker Mr. Rahul Kulkarni on the significance of initiatives like Hacktoberfest and GSOC. Additionally, he presented a roadmap to guide students in their engagement with these initiatives. The latter part of the day featured a comprehensive, in-house, hands-on session on version control, during which participants actively engaged in learning the ins and outs of Git and GitHub.

Day two of the event focused on open-source contribution mechanics, demystifying processes like branch creation and pull requests. A special list of projects specially created and curated by the PCCOE ACM Student Chapter's WebMaster team and endorsed by Hacktoberfest, spurred participant enthusiasm. The top 10 contributors were promised recognition and enticing goodies, adding a competitive edge to the collaborative learning environment.

Overall, the PCCOE ACM x Hacktoberfest event successfully educated 130 students on open-source initiatives, providing practical skills for meaningful contributions.

Shenzhen ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter
(Shenzhen, China)

On November 16th-17, 2023, Shenzhen ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter had a 2-day SIGGRAPH Asia CAF Traveling screening event with more than 200 attendees. We cooperated with the local industrial entities such as Pixeland Digital, ACG Academy, Zen Digital and invited two speakers to present talks about the animation industry and introduction of SIGGRAPH and SIGGRAPH Asia. This was a great opportunity to show SIGGRAPH content to our local community and share ideas of the animation industry development and trends.

CBIT Hyderabad ACM Student Chapter
(Hyderabad, India)

Charles Sasi Paul, CEO of Voltuswave Technologies, delivered an insightful lecture on AI and ML's impact on industries and job markets on Nov 22, 2023, at CBIT Hyderabad ACM Student Chapter. The session explored AI, ML, Deep Learning, and Data Science, showcasing their collective influence on shaping the future. Practical applications like using vector databases for image search were highlighted, revealing the tangible utility of these technologies. A historical perspective on AI's evolution, pivotal milestones, and the LLM App Stack introduction were significant discussion points. Career guidance emphasized essential principles and skills for success in AI and ML professions. A comparative analysis outlined growing job opportunities versus declining roles due to tech advancements. Global exposure importance for students to track international trends in AI and ML was underscored.

Overall, the seminar provided holistic insights into AI and ML's profound impact on industries, tech, and job markets, offering valuable guidance in navigating this dynamic field.

Iowa State University SIGCHI Student Chapter
(Ames, Iowa)

The ISU ACM SIGCHI Student Chapter organized an Online Portfolio Workshop on November 10th, which drew an attendance of 31 HCI Students. The workshop featured speakers Dr. Stephen Gilbert, the HCI Program Director, and Mridu Kashyap, an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department. Dr. Gilbert and Prof. Kashyap shared invaluable insights on how to craft effective portfolios and offered a comprehensive perspective on the key elements that demand attention during the portfolio-building process. They exhibited several portfolios and explained what is important when building one, helping students grasp the essentials of portfolio development and answering all the student's queries. This event was followed by Session 2: Portfolio Review, on December 1st, in which students submitted their portfolios, which industry experts reviewed and gave one-on-one feedback. We received positive feedback from the participants, saying they found the workshop helpful and look forward to other similar future events.

PCCOER ACM-W Student Chapter
(Pune, India)

A donation event was organized to support Renuka Shishu Gruha Orphanage in Pune, taking into consideration a brighter future for the children residing there. The visit took place on November 8, 2023, and we spent approximately 2 hours interacting with the children and staff. Together, we made sure the event was specific to the particular requirements of the orphanage's members. We contributed essential items such as diapers, formula, toys, and other products, ensuring that the orphanage was well-equipped to provide for their daily needs. The orphanage donation event was a touching and compassionate initiative aimed at providing necessary support for infants and toddlers in need and also celebrating Diwali in the true sense by spreading joy and lighting up the world for others. Experiencing the children's smiles validated the positive impact of our visit.

---

Welcome to Our Newest Chapters

• Abuja ACM Chapter - Abuja FCT, Nigeria (Professional)
• Anuradha Engineering College Chikhli ACM Student Chapter - Chikhli, India (Student)
• Austria ACM SIGCHI Chapter - Hagenberg, Austria (Professional)
• Ave Maria University ACM Student Chapter - Ave Maria, USA (Student)
• BVDUDET ACM Student Chapter - Kharghar, India (Student)
• Capital University ACM Student Chapter - Columbus, USA (Student)
• Capital University ACM-W Student Chapter - Columbus, USA (Student)
• CBIT Hyderabad ACM Student Chapter - Hyderabad, India (Student)
• CDGI ACM Student Chapter - Indore, India (Student)
• Central Ohio ACM-W Chapter - Westerville, USA (Professional)
• Central State University ACM Student Chapter - Wilberforce, USA (Student)
• CGC Jhanjeri ACM Student Chapter - Mohali, India (Student)
• College of the Canyons ACM Student Chapter - Santa Clarita, USA (Student)
• Columbia University ACM Student Chapter - Kew Gardens, USA (Student)
• Columbus State ACM-W Student Chapter - Columbus, USA (Student)
• CSCC ACM Student Chapter - Columbus, USA (Student)
• CU Denver ACM Student Chapter - Denver, USA (Student)
• DCE ACM Student Chapter - Gurugram, India (Student)
• Dr. B.C.Roy Engineering College ACM Student Chapter - Durgapur, India (Student)
• Dunedin ACM-W Chapter - Dunedin, New Zealand (Professional)
• GIST ACM Student Chapter - Nellore, India (Student)
• Hangzhou Dianzi University ACM Student Chapter - Hangzhou, China (Student)
• IACS ACM Student Chapter - Kolkata, India (Student)
• IIITD ACM SIGCHI Student Chapter - Delhi, India (Student)
• IIITD ACM-W Student Chapter - New Delhi, India (Student)
• ISL Pine Avenue ACM Student Chapter - Lahore, Pakistan (Student)
• Jammu and Kashmir ACM Chapter - Jammu, India (Professional)
• JUST ACM Student Chapter - Irbid, Jordan (Student)
• Kiel ACM-W Chapter - Kiel, Germany (Professional)
• KLH Bachupally ACM Student Chapter - Hyderabad, India (Student)
• Marmara ACM Student Chapter - İstanbul, Turkiye (Student)
• MITB ACM SIGSOFT Student Chapter - Bengaluru, India (Student)
• MITB ACM-W Student Chapter - Bengaluru, India (Student)
• Narasaraopeta Engg College ACM Student Chapter - Narasaraopeta, India (Student)
• New York University Shanghai ACM Student Chapter - Shanghai, China (Student)
• Northeastern University Silicon Valley ACM-W Student Chapter - San Jose, USA (Student)
• PCCOER ACM-W Student Chapter - Pune, India (Student)
• Philadelphia ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter - Philadelphia, USA (Professional)
• PIET Jaipur ACM Student Chapter - Jaipur, India (Student)
• PMU ACM Student Chapter - Khobar, Saudi Arabia (Student)
• Providence College of Engineer ACM Student Chapter - Chengannur, India (Student)
• Purdue University Northwest ACM Student Chapter - Hammond ,USA (Student)
• RHU ACM Student Chapter - Mechref-Damour, Lebanon (Student)
• SAITM ACM Student Chapter - Gurugram, India (Student)
• SBJITMR Nagpur ACM Student Chapter - Nagpur, India (Student)
• SCETW ACM-W Student Chapter - Hyderabad, India (Student)
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University ACM-W Student Chapter - Shanghai, China (Student)
• Shoolini University ACM Student Chapter - Solan, India (Student)
• Sitare University ACM Student Chapter - Gurugram, India (Student)
• Techno Main Salt Lake ACM Student Chapter - Kolkata, India (Student)
• Texas Christian University ACM Student Chapter - Fort Worth, USA (Student)
• UAFS ACM Student Chapter - Fort Smith, USA (Student)
• UC Berkeley ACM Student Chapter - Berkeley, USA (Student)
• UIndy ACM Student Chapter - Indianapolis, USA (Student)
• University of North Carolina Wilmington ACM Student Chapter - wilmington, USA (Student)
• University of Pittsburgh ACM Student Chapter - Pittsburgh, USA (Student)
• University of Portland ACM Student Chapter - Portland, USA (Student)
• University of Queensland ACM-W Student Chapter - St Lucia, Australia (Student)
• University of Wyoming ACM Student Chapter - Laramie, USA (Student)
• UPRM ACM Student Chapter - Mayaguez, USA (Student)
• UTAS-Al Mussanah ACM Student Chapter - Muscat, Oman (Student)

---

ACM Conference Discounts

You can find discounts for Special Interest Group (SIG) Conference registration fees plus access to more than 170 international conferences, symposia, and workshops at: https://dl.acm.org/conferences.

---

Why join ACM?

Not an ACM Member yet? Whether you are a student or a professional, ACM has great benefits to offer you. Read all about ACM's many benefits and membership options.

---

Chapter and Chapter Member Benefits

Be sure to take advantage of the benefits ACM Chapters and ACM Chapter Members receive.

Read up on Professional Chapter Benefits and Resources, Professional Chapter Member Benefits,  Student Chapter Benefits and Resources, and Student Chapter Member Benefits.