Nicosia
July 2025
AI & Data Management
From July 7 to 11, 2025, the city of Nicosia, Cyprus, welcomed over 40 carefully selected Master’s and PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and early-career professionals from 15 countries for the prestigious EDBT Summer School on Artificial Intelligence and Data Management. Held at the University of Cyprus’s new campus, the event provided participants with the opportunity to enhance their expertise and engage directly with leading voices in the field.
The summer school was organized by the Department of Computer Science at the University of Cyprus and its Data Management Systems Laboratory, under the auspices of the EDBT Association. The academic organizers, Prof. Demetris Zeinalipour and Prof. Panos K. Chrysanthis, ensured the smooth operation of the week-long program, promoting both academic exchange and community-building.
Participants explored cutting-edge developments through a series of in-depth sessions. Highlights of the academic program included:
Prof. Ioana Manolescu (École Polytechnique) addressed how AI can be used to get to Data and its Meaning. Prof. Flora Salim (University of New South Wales) explored Foundational AI for Time Series and Multimodal Sensors. Prof. Sihem Amer-Yahia (University of Grenoble Alpes) discussed AI planning for Data Exploration. Dr. Charalampos Tsourakakis (Boston University) delivered two lectures on Algorithmic Techniques and Machine Learning in Graph Analytics.
Prof. Volker Markl (Technical University Berlin) introduced participants to NebulaStream for Data Stream Processing in Edge-Cloud-Continuum and a hands-on tutorial on NebulaStream. Prof. Constantine Dovrolis (Georgia Tech) spoke about Neuro-Inspired AI and the new Mathematics for deep learning. Prof. Mohamed F. Mokbel (University of Minnesota) highlighted the use of Machine Learning for Big Spatial Data and Applications, and large language models for Spatio-temporal Queries. Prof. Li Xiong (Emory University) covered critical issues of Data Privacy in the age of AI and Large Language Models. Prof. Cyrus Shahabi (University of Southern California) concluded with insights on “Privacy Models and Neural Aggregation”, and spoke about Synthetic Mobility to Geo-Scale Foundation Models.
Social Program
Beyond the lecture halls, plenty of social events allowed the summer school participants to connect and explore the island. On Day 1, attendees were welcomed with a cocktail reception at the University of Cyprus, featuring hot and cold canapés and local drinks. Day 2 included a group walk along Nicosia’s Venetian Walls, followed by a traditional dinner at a local tavern. On Day 3, participants visited the Cyprus Museum, where they admired ancient artifacts and archaeological treasures that trace the island’s long history. The day concluded with a banquet dinner at Garden Cafe. Day 4 took participants on a relaxing trip to Protaras, a coastal gem known for its golden beaches and turquoise waters. Whether lounging by the sea or playing beach football, attendees enjoyed a well-earned break before coming together for a group dinner at a local restaurant.
Stakeholders
The University of Cyprus is a leading academic and research institution in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its Department of Computer Science is internationally recognized for excellence in research and education. The Data Management Systems Laboratory (DMSL) conducts advanced research in big data, cloud systems, and data science, providing cutting-edge tools and insights for the data-driven world.
The organizers extend their heartfelt thanks to the sponsors whose support made the summer school possible. The Cyprus Ministry of Tourism and Microsoft contributed significantly to the success of the event.
EasyConferences provided essential organizational support, including the Online Registration System and Event Coordination Services.
The EDBT Summer School 2025 reaffirmed its place as a vital training ground for the next generation of researchers in AI and Data Management. The University of Cyprus and its partners are proud to have hosted a dynamic and forward-looking event that bridges innovation, research, and international collaboration.