Travelling to China for half the month with big news.

China Trip

My main update for this month will be in the form of a video (below). I finally picked my Chinese name (袁思逸) – just in time for Alec and I to head on our trip.

Trip summarised, in the form of a video (and my also Chinese course viva) with a surprise at the end..

Detailed instructional videos for our flatmate on how to water our plants while we were in China, in the form of a video.

UN Presentation

Squeezed in some time to work this month as well outside of the trip. The INFLOW-AI project is wrapping up nicely, with me finishing a draft of our paper before the end of the month. Also got to attend a UNHCR presentation where my model was referenced (no need for me to even present, the entire process is now automated).

Pleased to see all my work having a direct impact on decision-making.

I am, however, truly starting to understand the meaning of hidden technical debt in machine learning models. I am constantly messaged to fix the model, comment on model results, and fix faulty input data sources whose methods have changed since I built the model. It seems there is no clear easy way to just deploy a live model out in the word without maintenance costs. An interesting problem to consider for the future.

Etc.

Small amounts of life outside of trip and work, in a series of photos:

Voted in the Canadian election from abroad, and hopefully convinced some other ex-pats to the do the same.

Morris dance musicians spotted at a local pub.

Our nightly cat visitor, dubbed “Fatso” by my flatmates.

Proof I also have a social life.