A01 A02 A03 A04 A05 A06 A07 A09 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A18 A19 A21 F01 F02 INF Ö

Workshop „Machine Learning – or how to train a KI to analyze your data“

Tobias Glasmacher, Professor für die theoretischen Grundlagen des maschinellen Lernens an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, vermittelt in seinem kommenden Workshop kompakt und praxisnah die Ziele und Voraussetzungen des Machine Learnings. Er erklärt, welche grundlegenden Bedingungen und Ziele Machine Learning Modelle zugrunde liegen. Rund die Hälfte der Workshop-Zeit besteht aus praktischen Aufgaben – etwa die Klassifikation von handgeschriebenen Ziffern (MNIST) mit einfachen Python-Modellen, die den Teilnehmenden einen Überblick über gängige Verfahren geben und zeigen, wie sich Machine Learning in die eigene Forschung integrieren lässt.

Der Workshop findet am Donnerstag, den 24. April 2025, von 9:00 bis 12:30 Uhr im Raum IB 06 / 127 auf dem Campus der Ruhr‑Universität Bochum statt.

Zudem wird der Workshop in Englisch gehalten. Programmierkenntnisse (z. B. Python oder Matlab) sind hilfreich, aber keine Voraussetzung. Eine Softwareinstallation ist nicht erforderlich – man benötigt lediglich einen gültigen Google-Account, um in Google Colab arbeiten zu können. Das Angebot richtet sich an Studierende, Doktorand:innen sowie interessierte Kolleg:innen – auch außerhalb des SFB.  

New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to „take better care of themselves“ could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.