Sparking the Future at J’pura Expedition 2.0
On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the IEEE Student Branch at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura transformed the Ven Sri Soratha Auditorium into a crucible of innovation for over 500 eager attendees. Under the banner “Get ready to be inspired by an incredible lineup of experts leading the way in AI, robotics, and innovation,” J’pura Expedition 2.0 delivered five powerhouse talks, igniting fresh ideas and forging new connections across the tech community.
Event Snapshot
- 🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 9:00 AM onwards
- 📍 Venue: Ven Sri Soratha Auditorium, Faculty of Technology, USJ
- 👥 Attendance: ~500 students, academics, and professionals
Spotlight on the Speakers
Dr. Ruchira Wijesena
Talk: “How AI Is Shaping Modern Lifestyles”
Dr. Wijesena opened the series by mapping real-world AI applications—from smart homes that anticipate our needs to AI-driven healthcare diagnostics. His vision of an AI-augmented everyday life left students contemplating how they might contribute to this transformative wave.
Mr. Pasindu Jayasinghe
Talk: “How to Prompt Modern AI Models”
Pasindu demystified prompt engineering, sharing hands-on tips for coaxing better results out of today’s large-language and vision models. Attendees walked away with practical templates they could use immediately in their AI experiments.
Mr. Ananda Priyadarshana
Talk: “Future of Robotics and Automation”
Ananda transported us into tomorrow’s factories and homes, where collaborative robots (cobots) work safely alongside humans. He underscored the importance of ethical design and the skills students should hone to stay ahead in robotics R&D.
Mr. Malinda Alahakoon & Mr. Dileepa Jayawardena
Joint Talk: “Human vs. AI Thinking”
In a dynamic dialogue, Malinda and Dileepa debated the strengths and limits of machine intelligence versus human creativity. Their back-and-forth highlighted how the most exciting breakthroughs happen when AI and human insight are combined rather than pitted against each other.
Audience Engagement & Takeaways
- Interactive Q&A: Each session closed with lively Q&A, during which students pressed speakers on real-world case studies and career pathways.
- Networking Moments: Coffee breaks and the post-talk mingle saw professors, industry veterans, and undergraduates exchanging ideas—and even sketching out collaborative projects on napkins!
- Major Takeaway: Across every talk, one theme rang clear: the blend of human ingenuity and intelligent systems is where tomorrow’s breakthroughs will emerge.
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who made J’pura Expedition 2.0 possible:
- IEEE Student Branch of University of Sri Jayewardenepura for organizing
- Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura for hosting
- Mechatronics Technology Students Society of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura for their Support
- The technical volunteers who ran AV, streamed the talks, and kept everything on schedule
What’s Next?
J’pura Expedition 2.0 not only deepened our understanding of AI, robotics, and prompt engineering—it reminded us why community matters. Stay tuned for announcements about Expedition 3.0, where we’ll continue to push the boundaries of tech exploration together.
#IEEE #USPJ #JpuraExpedition #AI #Robotics #Innovation