Keynote Speakers


Keynote 1: Personalizing the PC


Date & Time: June 17, 10:30-11:30 AM

Richard Mortier, Professor of Computing & Human-Data Interaction, Cambridge University, United Kingdom

Abstract

Computation and networking are ubiquitous. Many of us carry multiple networked computation devices almost constantly. Most of those devices spend much of their time exchanging data with external services via the Internet. But we still have to operate and manage them as independent devices, at best using cloud services to support limited integration within a closed ecosystem. So I believe it's time we thought more fundamentally about what a modern "personal computer" should be, and how the operating system can shape modern hardware to make one.
In particular, a core operating system design decision that dates back to the early days of digital computing was to focus on keeping the once expensive CPU busy by enabling it to be used by multiple concurrent users. However, in a personal computer comprising multiple devices I believe we should instead focus on helping individuals and groups to manage their data effectively. This means giving some thought to questions such as: Just what is an application? How should data be made available at the right times on the right devices? How should interactions among and between devices and the outside world be managed?
In this (very much work-in-progress!) talk I will try to articulate some of these questions, and give some thought to how they might be answered.

Bio

mort (Richard Mortier) is Professor of Computing & Human-Data interaction at Cambridge University and Fellow of Christ's College. He is a computer scientist whose work has included distributed system performance monitoring and debugging, incentives in Internet routing protocols, real-time media platform design and implementation, and platforms for privacy preserving personal data processing. Current work includes computing at the edge of the network, building energy efficiency, and kernel scheduling for serverless workloads. Alongside his academic career, roles have included platform architect, founder, and CTO while consulting and working for startups and corporates in the US and the UK.




Keynote 2: SLICES-RI: A Scientific Instrument for the Digital Age


Date & Time: June 18, 10:30-11:30 AM

Walid Dabbous, Senior Researcher, Centre Inria d'Université Côté d'Azur, France

Abstract

The reproducibility crisis in networked systems research is no longer a theoretical concern. As large industry players increasingly dominate top venues - armed with proprietary infrastructure and massive datasets - , open, shared, and credible experimentation platforms have become an existential priority for academic research communities worldwide.
SLICES-RI (Scientific Large-Scale Infrastructure for Computing/Communication Experimental Studies) was designed to meet this challenge head-on. As the first digital sciences project to enter the European ESFRI Roadmap (2021), it operates as a true scientific instrument enabling experiments that are reproducible, portable, and openly accessible across 16 European countries on a sustainability horizon extending to 2042.
This presentation introduces the general approach underpinning SLICES-RI - its intent-based Blueprint methodology - and zooms in on the Post-5G Blueprint as a flagship instantiation, with updated information on capabilities deployed at major European nodes. It also highlights SLICES-RI's commitment to training and capacity building, through its annual Summer Schools and the open educational resources of the SLICES Academy. Finally, it touches on connections with the US NSF experimental ecosystem and the DIGITAfrica initiative, reflecting SLICES-RI's growing ambition as a global, inclusive research infrastructure.

Bio

Walid Dabbous is a senior researcher at Inria and head of the DIANA project-team (Design, Implementation and Analysis of Networking Architectures). His research focuses on the design and experimental validation of networking protocols and architectures, with a long-standing engagement in the development of large-scale experimental testbeds. The DIANA team has been involved in SLICES-RI since its inception, contributing to its scientific methodology and its entry into the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021. Beyond his research activities, he serves as Scientific Director of IDEX Université Côte d'Azur and is a member of the steering committee of the Ubinet International Master's programme.