The QTS Experience

Sergey Plis; Episode 141

It's impossible to have a conversation about A.I. or machine learning without also talking about neural networks. The thing is, most of us think we know what it is, and some of us have an opinion on what machine learning is. But very few people actually know what a neural network is; why it matters? Do these networks evolve like the human brain? What are the ethical implications of building an infrastructure like that? Are they secure? My conversation today is with Sergey Plis, a professor of computer science at Georgia State University and the director of Machine Learning at the Center for Translational Research in Neuro Imaging and Data Science (TReNDS). He and his collaborators received funding recently from the NSF and the New Age to study casual connections in the brain. Obviously, Sergey likes to keep things busy. Please enjoy this incredible and fascinating conversation on this week's episode of The QTS Experience Podcast.

About Our Guest

As an Associate Professor of Computer Science and a Director of Machine Learning at the Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging & Data Science, I like to keep things busy. Probably for that reason, I have three kids, two cats and a dog. I travel often, moved a few times recently, and have painted rooms and houses everywhere I go.

My research focuses on developing computational instruments that enable knowledge extraction from observational multimodal data collected at different temporal and spatial scales. I believe we can provide the neuroimaging community with a more robust, reliable understanding of directed connectivity in the brain.

We can’t just poke around in living human brain to see how it works. I and my collaborators are honored to have received $1.3 million from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to study causal connections in the brain. Here are only a few of my other accomplishments:

• Published one of the first demonstrations of the versatile potential of deep learning methods for the field in 2013 and since then my group developed a number of deep learning approaches to neuroimaging.
• Developed the theories in complex time series including a number of algorithms creating a new subarea in causal research.
• Developed efficient algorithms for matrix factorization.
• Enabled research on federated datasets with a focus on preserving privacy, inspiring a project for creating a framework to enable research on decentralized data.

Elizabeth Hoemeke, Episode 140

Imagine you’ve been devastated by a catastrophic weather event. If you’ve experienced or survived something like this in your life time you know how hard it is to be made whole and the impact on the entire community. Obviously restoring humans to physical and emotional health is goal one – but part of that is restoring our homes, our lives. My guest this week is Elizabeth Hoemeke. Her mission is leveraging IoT, Machine Learning, AI, and other Tech to come alongside and help us restore ourselves and our communities quicker. She is currently the CIO of a FinTech Startup and has executive leadership roles in banking, big data, privacy, and others. You’re really going to enjoy this conversation and Elizabeth in particular – one of my favorite people. Please join me for the conversation on the Next QTS Experience.

Steven Beckwith; Episode 139

In my normal life, I talk about the edge, edge compute, edge networking, smart devices; you know, the edge. When Professor Steve Beckwith talks about the edge, he's considering the universe. Professor Beckwith joins me this week for an incredible conversation on how AI and machine learning through tools like the Web and Hubble telescopes are informing us about the universe and all the gory, catastrophic, beautiful and fascinating stories it has to tell us.

It informs the world we live in today, the potential impact of technology as it's evolving. Professor Beckwith should know. He is currently the director of the Space Sciences Laboratory at Berkeley and has previously served as the director of many other similar institutions here in the States and internationally, including as the Vice President for research and graduate studies for the ten campus University of California system.

About Our Guest

Steven Beckwith is a Professor of Astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley. His 40-year research career spans a many interests including the formation and early evolution of extra-solar planetary systems, the evolution of young stars, and the birth of galaxies in the early universe. In 2004, he led the team that created the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, the deepest visual image of the universe, resulting in the discovery of the most distant galaxies ever seen. He has published approximately 200 articles and won several international awards for his work. He lectures worldwide and advises organizations in the United States and Europe on research policy.

He received his BS in Engineering Physics from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Physics from the California Institute of Technology. He returned to Cornell in 1978 as an Assistant Professor of Astronomy and stayed on the faculty for 13 years. In 1991, he moved to Germany as Director of the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie in Heidelberg, directing the institute's scientific program and the German National Observatory in Spain. He returned to the United States in 1998 as the Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was responsible for the science operations of the Hubble Space Telescope. He became the telescope's leading public spokesman after NASA announced in 2004 that it would no longer service the telescope, successfully advocating for its continued operation (NASA reversed its decision in 2006). After stepping down as Director, he became a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University and a Distinguished Research Scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute. In 2008, he was appointed Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of California systemwide office and a Professor of Astronomy at Berkeley. In July 2014, he left the Office of the President to resume his research at UC Berkeley.

Vinay Nagpal; Episode 138

The Internet is a network of networks. It's built across fiber, satellite, and subsea cables that span the globe. It seems really resilient; there isn't a single off switch. But you already knew that. What we don't talk much about is the infrastructure that supports it and to some degree, it's vulnerability. This week, I invited Vinay Nagpal to help us understand why internet infrastructure matters so much to us. Vinay is the President of InterGlobix, a data center and fiber consultancy group. He is also the Executive Director and Founding Member of the Internet Ecosystem Infrastructure Committee (IEIC). He's heavily involved in a wide range of industry boards and advisory roles. In other words, he really knows what he's talking about. So join us for a really cool conversation on this week's episode of The QTS Experience.

About Our Guest

Vinay Nagpal is a Data Center and Connectivity leader and visionary with over 27 years of experience developing products and technology solutions and business growth strategies for data centers with a strong focus on connectivity, subsea and terrestrial fiber. He is currently President of InterGlobix, a global consultancy and advisory firm focused on the convergence of data centers, subsea and terrestrial fiber.

He is the Founding Member and Executive Director of the IEIC (Industry Ecosystem Innovation Committee), which is actively leading the development of diverse, resilient Interconnection Ecosystems globally. Previously, Vinay held senior-level business transformation roles at Digital Realty, DuPont Fabros Technology, Tata Communications, Verizon, MCI, Digex, UUNET and Canada.com

Boards & Affiliations:
- Internet Ecosystem Innovation Committee (IEIC): Founding Member & Executive Director
- QTS Richmond NAP: Co-Founder & Member
- NVTC Data Center & Cloud Committee: Chairman of Leadership Board
- SubOptic: Member, Diversity & Inclusion Working Group
- PTC: Marketing & Communications Committee, Membership Committee
- LINX Northern Virginia: Customer Advisory Board
- NVTC Executive Circle

Matteo Pietrobelli; Episode 137

I'm joined by Matteo Jean Pietrobelli, a structural and systems engineer at Oceanix. Today, he is helping to create a floating city in Busan, South Korea. In and of itself, an interesting topic, but to call Matteo an "engineer" is like calling Tom Hanks a "storytelling guy". Matteo is a master engineer and he has a wide range of experience in 3D printing, The Hyperloop, complex systems, and so much more. He truly is a Renaissance man, and since he's from Rome, he wears the title well. This episode, he and I are going to dive into the sciences, engineering, even the philosophies of these topics and more. I'm sure you'll find the conversation as interesting as I did. Please enjoy the conversation. And now the Matteo Pietrobelli on this week's episode of The QTS Experience.

About Our Guest

Highly driven Structural, Civil and Systems Engineer with a strong track record executing complex multi-billion dollar construction projects, spanning transportation, marine, and highrise (residential and commercial) structures. Led the design, engineering and integration of systems in high-speed train railway-line, multi-building complex and award winning bridge/infrastructure projects, Hyperloop Transportation Systems, and Floating cities and Infrastructures in Asia, Africa, Europe and USA. Experienced in integration of digital and physical infrastructures for the purpose of risk assessment and optimization of system resiliency and performance, such as Structural Health Monitoring Systems, he is able to seamlessly move between disciplines and solve problems related to structural and systems engineering.

I am passionate about exponential technologies and their potential to solve big global challenges.

3X founder of cutting-edge companies focused on concrete 3D printing and advanced structural modelling (Nomogram), and aeroponic and hydroponic fresh produce vertical farming (Agripublica). His skill-set includes R&D, taking products from research to commercialization, interfacing between clients and consultants/contractors developing and protecting IP assets. Proficient in manipulating geometries and wireframes, while utilizing commercial and advanced software.

Currently working as the Chief Engineer and CTO of Oceanix City, a cutting edge Climate/Blue Technologies development and integration company for floating infrastructures, he is leading the design and engineering of the physical and digital systems, with a specific trend towards the development of Smart Floating Cities and Infrastructures integrated through digital twins and Metaverse for multi-tiered environmental, Resilient and Sustainable development.

He has a global perspective and spent more than half of his life working and residing in different countries, including Switzerland, China, Algeria, Togo, Madagascar, Nigeria, India, France, Austria, Slovenia, Italy and USA.

He is fluent in Italian, French (native) and English and speaks a bit of Russian and Chinese.

Jeff Smith; Episode 136

If you and I were to strike up a conversation about autonomous vehicles or even robots, I presume we would primarily be talking about Tesla or something similar or maybe some of the cool new and let's face it, kind of scary modern robots. So when I met Jeff Smith, I assumed that's where our conversation was going to go. It turns out Jeff built crafts for Saab (submarines, research vessels, drone ships) and they're deployed in the oceans of the world . Jeff's vehicles can be deployed in the harshest environments on Earth, and their capability will blow your mind like it did mine. Join us for an excellent conversation on this episode of the QTS Experience.

About Our Guest
My experience includes over twenty five years of working in advanced technology industries leading multifunctional teams in concept generation, research, design, product development and new business capture. I have assembled large corporate teams to capture major programs of record for the U.S. Navy, as well as cutting edge R&D projects within DARPA and ONR.

About Saab
https://saab.com
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions from military defense in all domains to civil security. Saab’s market offering is broad and consists of complex systems involving extensive research and development as well as services with a high degree of repetition. With operations on every continent, Saab continuously develops, adapts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.

Dr. Eric Hinterman; Episode 135

I recently learned that we have a tool that converts carbon to oxygen. Think about that. It seems like every conversation around energy is also at some level about carbon. Dr. Eric Hinterman helped build and manage a tool called Moxie, which is a device that pulls carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it to oxygen.
Eric recently joined Space X and before that he was at MIT and Blue Origin and other places where smart people congregate. Moxie is intended to be used in space travel, in space colonization, where there is an abundance of carbon and little, if any, oxygen. Today, the power required to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen on earth would be counterproductive, to say the least.
But we're on the path, and I'm optimistic that tools like this will lead to human flourishing. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Eric Hinterman on the next cuts experience.

About Our Guest
https://erichinterman.wixsite.com/eric
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacec...
Eric Hinterman holds a PhD from MIT in Aeronautics and Astronautics and works with NASA on MOXIE, an instrument on the Perseverance rover that produces oxygen on Mars. He attended the University of Notre Dame for his undergraduate studies, where he received a degree in Chemical Engineering. After working in the chemical industry for several years, Eric returned to school to pursue graduate degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is passionate about human spaceflight and plans to spend his career pushing the boundaries to enable human exploration of Mars and beyond.

Dr. Lisa Walsh; Episode 134

Are you an intrinsically happy person or do you wrestle with sadness and melancholy? Subjective well-being or happiness is complicated. It seems to be easy for some people and much more difficult for others. We all know people like this, it may even be ourselves. They have advantage of resources, opportunity or physical health, and yet they still struggle to find joy or happiness on a regular basis. My guest this week is Dr. Lisa Walsh, a data driven investigator researching how our emotions, personal technology and our culture impact our lives, and in particular our well-being. I hope you enjoy this timely and very important conversation, this week on the QTS Experience.

About Our Guest
https://lisacwalsh.com

"My research focuses broadly on the who, what, where, when, why and how of happiness. I investigate the architecture of subjective well-being, including its outcomes (e.g., positive emotions, life satisfaction), mechanisms (e.g., social connection), moderators (e.g., gender, personality), and downstream consequences (e.g., career success, physical health). To test my research questions, I often employ positive activity interventions designed to enhance well-being, such as expressing gratitude, performing acts of kindness, and engaging in flow activities. I completed my Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky.

I am currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the UCLA Marriage and Close Relationships Lab, which is directed by Dr. Benjamin Karney and Dr. Thomas Bradbury. Working with Research Scientist Dr. Victor Kaufman, I am currently examining how close relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners influence subjective well-being.

Some of my recent research explores:

- How smartphones and social media impact well-being​

- The effects of positive emotions on career success - How satisfaction with different types of close relationships (with partners, friends, and family) predict well-being

- Gratitude exchanges within a social context (examining the roles of actors, targets, and witnesses)​

- Whether gratitude can motivate self-improvement

- Engaging in flow activities (e.g., playing Tetris)

- The effects of doing kind acts on physical health (e.g., gene expression, telomeres)

I currently live in Mar Vista, California with my husband Tim Yeo."

Dr. James Garvin; Episode 133

This week I'm joined by Dr. James Garvin, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Chief Scientist. Dr. Garvin thinks we might have been 50 years ahead of our time in going to the moon. He's also the Principal Investigator on The DAVINCI+ Mission to Venus. And we discuss how the climate and atmosphere on Venus is helping us to better understand our own atmosphere and how we can search the universe to find more planets like ours. This is just the tip of the iceberg, so please enjoy the conversation on this week's episode of The QTS Experience.About Our Guest
Dr. James Garvin
https://nasa.gov/goddard
Dr. James B. Garvin is the NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Chief Scientist. He provides strategic advice and analysis on the scientific priorities and directions to the Center Director and senior leadership, as well as to NASA Headquarters. As a veteran Earth and planetary scientist within NASA in a career that has spanned more than 37 years, Dr. Garvin brings his experience with interdisciplinary science and instrumentation in helping to direct the scientific trajectory of the Center. Prior to coming to Goddard, Garvin served as the NASA Chief Scientist, advising three separate Administrators on issues ranging from science strategies associated with the Vision for Space Exploration to those involved in rebalancing the NASA science portfolio. In addition, Dr. Garvin served as the chief scientist for Mars exploration from 2000 until 2004 and spearheaded the development of the scientific strategy that led NASA to select such missions as the Mars Exploration Rovers, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Phoenix polar lander, and the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover). He received two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals for his work with the science behind the Mars Exploration Program. He is also the recipient of three Presidential Rank Awards for his contributions to science at NASA spanning his career.

Dr. Garvin earned his Ph.D in the Geological Sciences from Brown University in 1984 under the mentorship of Professors J. W. Head III and T. A. Mutch. He also received an MS from Stanford University in Computer Sciences and a second MS from Brown in Planetary Geosciences. He graduated with highest honors from Brown University in 1978 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 2005, he was awarded the prestigious William Rogers award recipient (Brown University) for his contributions to society as a graduate of Brown.

Dr. Garvin has frequently appeared on television in association with space exploration and he was a guest on "Late Night with David Letterman" in January 2004, as well as on the Discovery Channel's "Alien Planet". He lives with his wife Cindy and their two children in Columbia, MD, where he enjoys walking in the woods with his family and dog. According to his family, he was "hooked on space at birth" and has been collecting rocks and space data ever since. As a career NASA scientist, he longs for the time when he can wander across the wilderness of Iceland (or Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai) with his family searching for Mars or Venus on Earth.

To read his full biography, please visit:
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/james.b.garvin

Allie Kelly; Episode 132

Cars are in at least their second major innovation; the technology involved in electric vehicles is incredible. The potential within autonomous vehicles is staggering, especially when you think about their impact on safety, reliability, efficiency, the environment, etc. We as a society are talking about those things. However, you know what we're not talking about very much? The roads. Those pieces of asphalt and cement we drive on. We have almost 4 million miles of roads in the United States, and we almost never talk about innovation within our roads and where it needs to go. But, it's happening now, and believe it or not, it is an incredibly compelling discussion. It's just not very sexy. Well, that's about to change because my guest this week is Allie Kelly. Allie is the Executive Director at The Ray, the only nonprofit organization in the world running a living laboratory on a public highway. The ideas that Allie brings to the table are invigorating, and when you are talking about Allie herself, well, you'll see; she is a force of nature. You won't want to miss this interesting, timely and compelling conversation on this week's episode of The QTS Experience.

 

About Our Guest:

https://theray.org

Allie Kelly is Executive Director at The Ray, which has developed an 18-mile stretch of interstate in Georgia, where they’re using renewable materials; building clean energy for clean transport; testing road connectivity, improved lighting and signage; and collecting traffic, weather, and collision data to make the roads of the future. Working with Georgia DOT and FHWA, Allie has guided more than a dozen projects from concept to construction on The Ray Highway. The nonprofit organization is now working with more than 24 agencies in 15 states, scaling innovations from the I-85 testbed across the country. Following in the legacy of Ray Anderson, The Ray believes that the technologies exist to make transportation Zero Deaths, Zero Carbon and Zero Waste. Previously, Allie held senior roles at the Georgia Conservancy, and as a Founder and Executive Director at Georgia Watch. Allie serves on the boards of the Fulton Technology and Energy Enhancement Authority as chairman, as chairman of the ASPIRE Center Executive Advisory Board, and as a board member for HUB404.