Description

The second workshop of OctWave 2.0 , titled “Solving Real-World Problems Using Datasets & ML” , was successfully conducted virtually via the Zoom platform on 28th September 2025 , from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm . The session was led by Ms. Meenambika Chandirakumar , Junior Consultant, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Moratuwa . The session commenced sharply at 6.00 pm , with the moderator welcoming all participants and providing a brief introduction to the objectives of the workshop. Following this, the moderator introduced the guest speaker, highlighting her academic and professional contributions in the field of Machine Learning and data-driven problem solving. This introductory segment concluded by 6.05 pm , setting the stage for an engaging and informative session. From 6.05 pm to 7.00 pm , Ms. Chandirakumar conducted an in-depth presentation on how Machine Learning techniques can be applied to address real-world challenges using datasets. She began by explaining the process of problem identification and dataset selection, followed by data preprocessing techniques such as handling missing values, feature engineering, and normalization. She then proceeded to discuss the importance of exploratory data analysis (EDA) in uncovering patterns and insights from data. Using practical examples, she demonstrated how ML algorithms—such as regression, classification, and clustering—can be effectively utilized to solve diverse real-world problems, including business forecasting, healthcare analytics, and environmental monitoring. The speaker also shared insights into model evaluation techniques, highlighting metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score to assess model performance. Participants were encouraged to think critically about data quality, ethical AI use, and the interpretability of models. A Q&A session was held from 7.00 pm to 7.20 pm , during which participants raised insightful questions about dataset selection, model optimization, and the use of open-source tools. Ms. Chandirakumar addressed these queries comprehensively, offering practical advice and sharing resources for further learning. At 7.20 pm , the token of appreciation was presented to the guest speaker by the organizing committee, acknowledging her time, effort, and valuable contribution to the success of OctWave 2.0. The vote of thanks was delivered, appreciating both the speaker and participants for their active engagement throughout the session. Finally, the workshop concluded at 7.30 pm with a group photograph session , capturing the enthusiasm and collaborative spirit of the event. Overall, the workshop was a highly interactive and enlightening experience that deepened participants’ understanding of how datasets and Machine Learning can be leveraged to design data-driven solutions for real-world challenges.