Solan: A two-day International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Computing (HCICC-2025) organised by the Yogananda School of AI, Computers and Data Sciences of Shoolini University, in collaboration IIT Mandi, and iCreate, Gujarat, was inaugurated today in the campus. Key partners for the conference included the Shoolini University ACM Student Chapter and the CSLC Science Museum, Shimla.
The conference, supported financially by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), a subsidiary of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India, and NIELIT Shimla, served as a platform for global experts, academicians, researchers, and industry professionals to discuss advancements in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Virender Rihani, who thanked knowledge partners, including TIH IIT Mandi and iCreate Gujarat, for their support.
Prof Rihani said the main objective of the conference is to provide a platform and bring together the academicians, researchers, students, industry professionals to disseminate original research, practical developments experience, showcase their startup ideas in the domain of human computer interaction and related sub-domains, with research paper/poster presentation.
HCICC – 2025 has been organised to address various issues to promote the creation of intelligent solutions in future, he added. In his address Prof. P.K. Khosla, Chancellor of Shoolini University, emphasised the evolution of technology from typewriters to modern computer science. He urged participants to lead the next phase of AI innovation with governance and ethical practices.
Chief Guest Prof. Daman Dev Sood, Chair of PR and P in IEEE Delhi Section and Professor of Practice at Chitkara University, highlighted the need for resilience, sustainability, and ethics in technology. “All research should prioritise humanity. Resilience and sustainability must go hand in hand,” he stated.
Dr. Samiya Khan, Lecturer at the University of Greenwich, UK, inspired the audience with her views on curiosity and innovation. “Ethics must remain central to technology development. The Indian ethos of integrity and respect can serve as a guiding principle for a sustainable AI future,” she said.
Dr. Lynn Robert Carter, an esteemed expert with 45 years of experience in software engineering, presented on “AI Inflection Point for Life Critical Systems,” showcasing the role of AI in food and water systems. and Dr. Arun Kumar, Assistant Professor at NIT Hamirpur, emphasised the need for more faculty development programs and seminars to promote interdisciplinary learning.
Prof. Ashish Khosla, Director Innovations and Learning at Shoolini University, encouraged the youth to harness the accelerating advancements in AI responsibly, stating, “You are the future custodians of technology. Govern it wisely.”
The conference, moderated by Dr. Piyush Sewal, Assistant Professor at Shoolini University, provided a platform for participants to present research papers, share practical development experiences, and showcase startup ideas in HCI and related sub-domains.
