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MAK Hotel, Tirana

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The meeting is split into three sections. Day 1 (7th) consists of workshops held by each of the four working groups, day 2 (8th) will consist of talks, a meeting for members of the management committee and a hardware show & tell session. Day 3 (9th) is a half-day interactive session which aims to facilitate interchanges across working groups. 

During the meeting we will use a dedicated slack channel for communication: https://insect-aicostaction.slack.com/archives/C08ME35FPMW If you are not already a member please let us know and we will add you. 

If you have any questions or concerns during the meeting you can contact our local organiser, Anila Paparisto on +355 672004022

If you need to take a taxi, you can use the local taxi company: Taxi Lux +355 45620333. The hotel where the conference is will also be happy to arrange taxis for you.

MEETING AGENDA

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7th May – Day 1

During Day 1, we will be running workshops which you will be pre-allocated to based on your pre-conference registration. Please attend the session you are allocated to, to avoid overcrowding the rooms. If you are not sure which session you are allocated to, please ask a member of the organizing team.

The working groups will be leading the following activities:

Working Group 1: A discussion on how image-based AI technologies can support ecological research and address societal challenges such as pollinator decline and the management of vector and invasive insects. The group will brainstorm real-world applications, relevant policies, priorities in entomological research and potential contributions of AI to insect monitoring and conservation. 

Working Group 2: A focus-group discussion exploring how to create a public database of insect monitoring hardware to help researchers and practitioners navigate available tools. In this session, the group will collaboratively design the database and discuss topics about its structure, mechanisms for data capture, interoperability, hosting and long-term sustainability. 

Working Group 3: A workshop focusing on how to set up a database that can be shared on the InsectAI website to provide an overview of existing AI models and training datasets for insect monitoring. We want to discuss which information is required to include in the database as well as possible solutions to hosting and long-term sustainability (beyond the project timeline of InsectAI).

Working Group 4: A hackathon to develop a “pre-analysis toolbox” to support researchers working with insect monitoring data, both traditional and computer vision-based. The group will identify and compile existing resources and begin creating new modules based on community needs, such as tools for data exploration, visualisation, and bias assessment. The workshop will involve hands-on work in small groups to document available tools and start coding new ones.

09:00-9:15 – Registration

09:15-9:30 – Introductions

  • Welcome from our host – Anila Paparisto
  • Welcome to InsectAI, overview of the day – Tom August, Chair of InsectAI
  • Introduction to each WG’s activities for the day (2min each) 

9:30-10:45 – Workshops: Session 1

  • WG1 activity continued
  • WG2 & WG3 activity: In this session, working groups 2 and 3 will explore the general design needs of a database for hardware and software, and how these databases can be linked. 
  • WG4 activity continued

10:45-11:15 – Coffee break

11:15-12:30 – Workshops: Session 2

  • WG1 activity continued
  • WG2 & WG3 activity: In this session, working groups 2 and 3 will explore the general design needs of a database for hardware and software, and how these databases can be linked. 
  • WG4 activity continued

12:30-13:30 – Lunch

13:30-14:45 – Workshops: Session 3

  • WG1 activity continued
  • WG2 activity: Hardware-specific database design
  • WG3 activity: Software-specific database design
  • WG4 activity continued

14:45-15:15 – Coffee break

15:15-16:30 – Workshops: Wind up

  • Wind up workshops including establishing next steps 

16:30-17:00 – Workshops feedback

  • Working groups come be back together to report on activities and next steps (5 min each)

Individuals are to make their own arrangements for dinner. Please use the slack channel if you would like to arrange to eat out with others, or share restaurant recommendations. 


8th May – Day 2

09:00-9:15 – Briefing of the day’s activities

09:15-10:45 – Science Presentations

10:45-11:15 – Coffee break

11:15-12:30 – Science Presentations

12:30-13:30 – Lunch

13:30-14:45 –  Management committee meeting

  • The official meeting of the management committee of Insect AI including:
    • Report on activities so far
    • Review of budgets
    • Suggested amendments to current work plan

14:45-15:15 – Hardware Demo and coffee

15:15 – Excursion & dinner

  • A bus will pick us up and take us to Kruja, a town 20km North of Tirana, where we can explore the medieval castle and bazaar. 
  • Dinner: Please bring 20 Euros in cash to pay for dinner which will include food and wine


9th May – Day 3 

09:00-9:15 – Briefing of the day’s activities

09:15-10:45 – Interactive and cross-working group workshops: Session 1

  • Bionic blitz: Discussion around bionic blitz concept for next year
  • Standards paper: Progress review and feedback. 
  • Freshwater interest group: 
    • Meet others interested in development and application of InsectAI technologies to monitor freshwater insects.
    • Brainstorm potential objectives of a freshwater group within InsectAI.
  • Design Hack: Present our initial thoughts on an educational camera trap and brainstorm ideas on technical specifications, educational materials, etc.

10:45-11:15 – Coffee break

11:15-12:45 – Interactive and cross-working group workshops: Session 2

  • Bionic blitz: Repeat
  • Grants: 
    • Introduction to STSMs and conference grants by Heliana. 
    • Feedback on the process from people who have made use of an STSM or conference grant. 
    • Discussion of new ideas for STSMs and how to make funding more accessible
  • VectorAI special interest group: Bringing together members already collaborating on a paper and STSM, while also warmly welcoming first-time participants.
  • Design Hack: Repeat

12:45-13:00  –  Meeting debrief and close