CSEE Distinguished Speaker Series

Open Issues in Open World Learning

Walter J. Scheirer
Dennis O. Doughty Collegiate Professor of Engineering
University of Notre Dame

11:30-12:30 ET, Monday, March 30, 2026, UMBC ITE 459 and online

Meaningful progress has been made in open world learning (OWL), enhancing the ability of agents to detect, characterize, and incrementally learn novelty in dynamic environments. However, novelty remains a persistent challenge for agents relying on state-of-the-art learning algorithms. This talk considers the current state of OWL, drawing on insights from a recent DARPA research program on this topic. I identify open issues that impede further advancements spanning theory, design, and evaluation. In particular, I emphasize the challenges posed by dynamic scenarios that are crucial to understand for ensuring the viability of agents designed for real-world environments. The talk provides suggestions for setting a new research agenda that effectively addresses these open issues.

Dr. Scheirer's research interests within computer science include artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, and digital humanities. His research has helped establish the areas of open set recognition & open world learning in computer vision.  He serves on the IEEE CS Board of Governors, CTO of the Computer Vision Foundation, and Chair Emeritus of IEEE PAMI-TC. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado and his M.S. and B.A. degrees from Lehigh University. Prof. Scheirer is also a recognized cultural critic and historian, commenting on the social context of emerging technologies, such as his most recent book: A History of Fake Things on the Internet.

Struggling to find time to write? You are not alone. 

To help our graduate community build stronger, more consistent writing habits, GEARS has partnered with the Women's, Gender and Equity Center to bring you weekly Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs)!

How Group Writing Helps You Progress:

• Built-in Accountability: Committing to a specific time and place makes you far more likely to actually sit down and write. 
• Shared Focus: Working quietly alongside your peers creates a highly focused environment that minimizes procrastination.
• Sustainable Habits: Writing for just 90 minutes every week helps you chip away at those daunting research papers or funding applications without burning out.

When: Every Tuesday
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Where: Commons 004
Fuel: Free coffee and snacks will be provided!

Dear UMBC Community,

We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for several awards recognizing outstanding contributions within our UMBC community. We encourage you to nominate individuals, faculty, staff, organizations, and student athletes who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and meaningful impact.

Please use the appropriate form below for the specific award you would like to nominate someone for. You only need to complete the form for the award you are submitting a nomination for.

Submit nominations by April 1st, 2026. 

Calling all graduate students!

Presenting Your Research Poster to an Interdisciplinary Audience