Keynotes

Abstract: AI workloads, pervasive sensors, and 5G/6G are transforming how we distribute computation. This keynote introduces a decision framework that balances latency, privacy, cost, carbon impact, and resilience in choosing between cloud, edge, or hybrid deployments. A reference architecture for elastic offloading and near-real-time orchestration is illustrated through three cases: MRCoach sports training, MRHealth clinical assistance, and an edge–cloud XR authentication prototype. The talk concludes with practical patterns, pitfalls, and a readiness checklist to guide when—and how—to compute in the cloud, at the edge, or both.

Bio: Nirwan Ansari, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University, an MSEE from the University of Michigan, and a BSEE (summa cum laude with a perfect GPA) from NJIT. He is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

He authored Green Mobile Networks: A Networking Perspective (Wiley-IEEE, 2017) with T. Han, and co-authored two other books. He has also (co-)authored over 750 technical publications, over half published in widely cited journals and magazines. He has served as a guest editor for numerous special issues on various emerging topics in communications and networking. Currently, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Wireless Communications and has been on the editorial/advisory board of over ten journals. His current research focuses on green communications and networking, edge computing, drone-assisted networking, and various aspects of broadband networks.

He was elected to serve as a member-at-large on the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) Board of Governors. He has served as the Director of the ComSoc Educational Services Board, chaired various technical and steering committees within ComSoc, and served on many committees, such as the IEEE Fellow Committee. He has actively participated in organizing numerous IEEE International Conferences/Symposia/Workshops. Among his recognitions are several excellence in teaching awards, multiple best paper awards, the NCE Excellence in Research Award, several ComSoc TC technical recognition awards, the NJ Inventors Hall of Fame Inventor of the Year Award, the Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award, the Purdue University Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Award, the NCE 100 Medal, the NJIT Excellence in Research Prize and Medal, and designation as a COMSOC Distinguished Lecturer. He has also been granted more than 40 U.S. patents.

Abstract: The booming growth and rapid development in embedded systems, wireless communications, sensing techniques and emerging support for cloud computing and social networks have enabled researchers and practitioners to create a wide variety of Cyber-Physical-Social Systems (CPSS) that reason intelligently, act autonomously, and respond to the users’ needs in a context and situation-aware manner, namely Cyber-Physical-Social Intelligence. It is the integration of computation, communication and control with the physical world, human knowledge and sociocultural elements. It is a novel emerging computing paradigm and has attracted wide concerns from both industry and academia in recent years.

This talk will present our latest research on Cyber-Physical-Social Intelligence. Corresponding case studies in some typical applications will be shown to demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility.

Bio: Laurence T. Yang got his BE in Computer Science and Technology and BSc in Applied Physics both from Tsinghua University, China and Ph.D in Computer Science from University of Victoria, Canada. He is the Academic Vice-President and Dean of School of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Zhengzhou University, China. His research includes Cyber-Physical-Social Intelligence. He has published 600+ papers in the above area on top IEEE/ACM Transactions with total citations of 46000+ and H-index of 108 including 8 and 44 papers as top 0.1% and top 1% highly cited ESI papers, respectively.

His recent honors and awards include the member of US National Academy of Artificial Intelligence (2025), a foreign member of Russian Academy of Engineering (2024) and a member of Academia Europaea, the Academy of Europe (2021), the John B. Stirling Medal (2021) from Engineering Institute of Canada, IEEE Sensor Council Technical Achievement Award (2020), IEEE Canada C. C. Gotlieb Computer Medal (2020), Clarivate Analytics (Web of Science Group) Highly Cited Researcher (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Fellow of Institution of Engineering and Technology (2020), Fellow of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2020), Fellow of Engineering Institute of Canada (2019), Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (2017), etc.