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Oregon Tech Professor Leads Sustainable AI Keynote at Hong Kong Deep-Learning Workshop
On a crisp August morning in Hong Kong, the city’s skyline framed a gathering that would shape the future of biomedical AI. Oregon Institute of Technology professor KC Santosh opened the Workshop Series on Reliable and Interpretable Deep Learning—WS‑RIDL 2026—with a keynote that fused the urgency of climate stewardship with the promise of human‑centered machine learning. The five‑day event, held between August 17 and 21, brought together more than 400 scholars, engineers, and industry leaders from 13 countries, all intent on making deep‑learning models trustworthy, explainable, and causally grounded for life‑science applications.
Hosted jointly by Hong Kong Metropolitan University and Saint Francis University, WS‑RIDL 2026 was designed as a cross‑disciplinary forum. Participants presented work on explainable AI, causal inference, and computational life‑sciences, while workshops and roundtables explored practical pathways to deploy reliable models in clinical settings. The conference schedule also featured tutorials on emerging techniques, poster sessions that showcased student research, and networking breaks that encouraged dialogue between academia and industry.
Santosh, a faculty member in Oregon Tech’s newly launched Bachelor of Science in AI program, brings a breadth of experience to the table. He chairs the Computer Systems Engineering Technology and Applied Computing/Geomatics departments and directs the Center of Excellence in Applied Computing. Oregon Tech’s news release highlights that he has secured roughly $10 million in federal and other research funding, authored 13 books, published over 280 peer‑reviewed articles, and delivered more than 100 international keynote addresses—including a TEDx talk. His editorial roles span several journals, and he serves on National Science Foundation and Mitacs review panels.
In his address, Santosh underscored the environmental toll of training state‑of‑the‑art models, noting that large‑scale AI systems can consume megawatt‑hours of electricity and generate significant carbon footprints. He argued that future AI architectures must prioritize sustainability alongside performance, framing his talk around the concept of "human‑centered AI"—systems designed to enhance well‑being, equity, and transparency. "The event enabled me to share my experience in foundational AI and practical applications, including precision medicine, with an international audience," Santosh said. He emphasized that the workshop provided a platform to showcase Oregon Tech’s achievements and to cultivate relationships that could drive research, student engagement, and global collaboration.
Beyond the keynote, Santosh spent time in informal meetings with conference chairs, academic leaders, and deans. The conversations veered toward joint research initiatives and educational partnerships, including potential 3+2 and 4+1 academic pathways between Oregon Tech’s College of Engineering, Technology and Management and Hong Kong institutions. He also explored opportunities for student exchanges, co‑research projects, and shared training modules. "Hong Kong was exceptionally welcoming, and the conference provided a valuable setting for meaningful conversations with international colleagues," he remarked.
Oregon Tech highlighted its national standing in engineering education, emphasizing a hands‑on approach to technology training. The institute showcased how its curriculum integrates externships, co‑ops, and real‑world projects to prepare students for industry and research careers. By aligning its programs with industry needs, Oregon Tech seeks to position its graduates at the forefront of AI innovation while maintaining rigorous academic standards.
At the workshop’s conclusion, several collaborative agreements were signed, and a shared commitment to advancing sustainable AI research emerged. While Oregon Tech has yet to announce specific joint projects, the dialogues conducted during WS‑RIDL 2026 have laid a groundwork for future partnerships and academic pathways between the U.S. institution and Hong Kong universities. The event reinforced the growing importance of responsible AI development and the necessity of international cooperation in biomedical informatics.
As the field of deep learning continues to evolve, the relationships forged at WS‑RIDL 2026 may shape research agendas and educational programs in the years ahead. Santosh’s keynote and the workshop’s collaborative spirit underscore a broader trend toward integrating environmental stewardship, human‑centered design, and cross‑border academic collaboration into the next generation of AI systems.
Hosted jointly by Hong Kong Metropolitan University and Saint Francis University, WS‑RIDL 2026 was designed as a cross‑disciplinary forum. Participants presented work on explainable AI, causal inference, and computational life‑sciences, while workshops and roundtables explored practical pathways to deploy reliable models in clinical settings. The conference schedule also featured tutorials on emerging techniques, poster sessions that showcased student research, and networking breaks that encouraged dialogue between academia and industry.
Santosh, a faculty member in Oregon Tech’s newly launched Bachelor of Science in AI program, brings a breadth of experience to the table. He chairs the Computer Systems Engineering Technology and Applied Computing/Geomatics departments and directs the Center of Excellence in Applied Computing. Oregon Tech’s news release highlights that he has secured roughly $10 million in federal and other research funding, authored 13 books, published over 280 peer‑reviewed articles, and delivered more than 100 international keynote addresses—including a TEDx talk. His editorial roles span several journals, and he serves on National Science Foundation and Mitacs review panels.
In his address, Santosh underscored the environmental toll of training state‑of‑the‑art models, noting that large‑scale AI systems can consume megawatt‑hours of electricity and generate significant carbon footprints. He argued that future AI architectures must prioritize sustainability alongside performance, framing his talk around the concept of "human‑centered AI"—systems designed to enhance well‑being, equity, and transparency. "The event enabled me to share my experience in foundational AI and practical applications, including precision medicine, with an international audience," Santosh said. He emphasized that the workshop provided a platform to showcase Oregon Tech’s achievements and to cultivate relationships that could drive research, student engagement, and global collaboration.
Beyond the keynote, Santosh spent time in informal meetings with conference chairs, academic leaders, and deans. The conversations veered toward joint research initiatives and educational partnerships, including potential 3+2 and 4+1 academic pathways between Oregon Tech’s College of Engineering, Technology and Management and Hong Kong institutions. He also explored opportunities for student exchanges, co‑research projects, and shared training modules. "Hong Kong was exceptionally welcoming, and the conference provided a valuable setting for meaningful conversations with international colleagues," he remarked.
Oregon Tech highlighted its national standing in engineering education, emphasizing a hands‑on approach to technology training. The institute showcased how its curriculum integrates externships, co‑ops, and real‑world projects to prepare students for industry and research careers. By aligning its programs with industry needs, Oregon Tech seeks to position its graduates at the forefront of AI innovation while maintaining rigorous academic standards.
At the workshop’s conclusion, several collaborative agreements were signed, and a shared commitment to advancing sustainable AI research emerged. While Oregon Tech has yet to announce specific joint projects, the dialogues conducted during WS‑RIDL 2026 have laid a groundwork for future partnerships and academic pathways between the U.S. institution and Hong Kong universities. The event reinforced the growing importance of responsible AI development and the necessity of international cooperation in biomedical informatics.
As the field of deep learning continues to evolve, the relationships forged at WS‑RIDL 2026 may shape research agendas and educational programs in the years ahead. Santosh’s keynote and the workshop’s collaborative spirit underscore a broader trend toward integrating environmental stewardship, human‑centered design, and cross‑border academic collaboration into the next generation of AI systems.
