Computing Research Excellence at AI UK 2025

We are thrilled to share that two PhD Computing students, Madara Premawardhana and Rashmi Perera, recently took part in the Alan Turing Institute – AI UK 2025.

I would like to give a special shout-out to Madara, who presented a poster showcasing her innovative research on the use of digital twins for net zero.

Madara Premawardhana

Reflecting on the two-day event, Madara said:

“Participating in AI UK 2025 was an invaluable experience for me as a PhD student researching Digital Twins for the Net Zero transition. It provided a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders and fellow researchers whose work aligns closely with my own. Presenting my PhD research during the poster session allowed me to showcase my findings and receive valuable feedback.

The workshops, talks, and insightful discussions with like-minded individuals greatly enriched my perspective on the intersection of AI, sustainability, and digital technologies. Especially, a workshop titled “AI for Decarbonisation: from challenge to impact”, where the participants were guided by industry experts on solving a real-world problem.

These problems were provided with background, current progress, and hurdles, where the team of participants used their expertise in providing possible solutions. This was an educational moment as the group consisted of participants from academia, industry, and government policy makers. The event was a fantastic platform for professional growth and networking.”

Rashmi Perera

Rashmi said:

“I participated in AI UK 2025 and it was a valuable opportunity for me given that I am a PhD student in the field of AI for Education. There were various seminars, presentations and talks on the most cutting-edge research done in the field of AI right now and it was interesting to learn all about it, as well as network with the individuals involved in this research.

One other amazing opportunity that I was able to benefit from was the workshops that were held in various areas of interest, where industry experts were present to help and guide the participants in solving a given problem. I found these workshops especially useful since it allowed me to work with a variety of people with different levels of expertise and knowledge. Overall, it was a great experience, and I am grateful that I was able to take part in it.”

Participating in national and international conferences are fantastic opportunities for our postgraduate research students to contribute to cutting-edge discussions on their field of research, network with experts, and showcase their own research. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication to advancing Computing.

– Harin Sellahewa