People of ACM European Chapters - Juan Manuel Corchado Rodríguez

February 6, 2018

Can you briefly describe your own line of research?

I work in artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), bioinformatics, education technology, Big Data and distributed systems. One of my focus areas at BISITE has been research on gene expression of diverse pathologies, including cancer. In the area of artificial intelligence, our group has conducted significant studies, including knowledge management in hospital environments to monitor and support decisions made in geriatric care homes, and discovering information in heterogeneous databases about cancer patients. Our group is also experienced in modeling and managing knowledge in financial systems for risk detection and prevention, as well as in decision support in the training and integration of disabled persons into the workforce. Our research on distributed systems has been applied in security projects, Industry 4.0 (the automation and data exchange in manufacturing that has been referred to as “smart factories”), energy distribution systems, electric vehicles, and smart cities.

In your area of research, what recent advance/emerging subfield will yield important advances in the years ahead?

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the Internet of Things will provide people all over the world with new possibilities in fields such as energy, mobility, health, commerce, etc. AI and blockchain are also increasingly used in the creation of adaptive and secure systems. Distributed artificial intelligence is a reality and Industry 4.0 is demanding new software tools and more intelligence.

Can you tell us a little about the ACM Student Chapter at the University of Salamanca?

It has around 20 very active and motivated members who are interested in developing and regularly organizing different scientific activities. Some of these students are involved in research projects: IoT, Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, etc.

Why do you think participation in an ACM chapter is helpful to students?

ACM is a very active association that helps the University of Salamanca create a sense of community among its computer science students. Our participation allows students to get involved in new activities such as teaching and the dissemination of science. Participation in the USAL ACM Student Chapter leads many students to collaborate in industrial projects. Because these activities are greatly appreciated by our industry and university research groups, students make networking connections, which leads to further opportunities.