[Nomination] <Iflal Ismalebbe> #86
Description
Select one:
- I am nominating myself for the PyTorch Ambassador Program.
- I am nominating someone else to become a PyTorch Ambassador.
Please confirm that the nominee meets the following requirements:
- The nominee is 18 years of age or older.
- The nominee agrees to abide by the PyTorch Code of Conduct.
- The nominee agrees to comply with the Linux Foundation Antitrust Policy.
- The nominee meets at least one of the qualifications listed in the PyTorch Ambassador Program Requirements.
Nominee Name
Iflal Ismalebbe
Nominee Email
Nominee's GitHub or GitLab Handle
iflal
(Optional) Organization / Affiliation
University of Colombo School of Computing
City, State/Province, Country
Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Your Name
No response
Your Email (Optional)
No response
How has the nominee contributed to PyTorch?
- An active contributor to PyTorch repositories (e.g., commits, PRs, discussions).
- A speaker at PyTorch events or workshops.
- A PyTorch user group organizer or meetup host.
- A researcher or educator using PyTorch in academic work or training.
- An active leader in the PyTorch community with at least one year of experience in:
- Organizing events (virtual/in-person).
- Speaking at AI/ML conferences.
- Mentoring others in PyTorch.
- Creating technical content (e.g., blogs, videos, tutorials).
🏆 How Would the Nominee Contribute as an Ambassador?
Should I assume the position of a PyTorch Ambassador, my main objective would be to cultivate a lively and welcoming community. I see myself as a connector between the PyTorch community and the enthusiastic students in Sri Lanka. I would engage actively in online forums, discussions on GitHub, and social media groups, offering support and sharing knowledge. These platforms are where the enchantment occurs—where newcomers pose their initial queries and experienced users offer their knowledge. By participating in these discussions, I can contribute to fostering a more cooperative and encouraging atmosphere.
Organizing events is another domain where I think I can create a meaningful difference. Workshops and seminars at my university and in the Sri Lankan AI community hub would happen regularly. These activities would accommodate a diverse array of skill levels, from beginners starting in machine learning to individuals aiming to excel in advanced methods using PyTorch. However, my attention wouldn’t end there. I’m especially eager about the opportunity to connect with high school students. Their enthusiasm and inquisitiveness are unmatched, and I think that by exposing them to machine learning at an early stage, we can motivate the upcoming generation of researchers and innovators. Consider the opportunities if we could direct that youthful eagerness towards impactful projects and studies!
Guiding others is another area I’m profoundly enthusiastic about. As a teacher, I have observed how guidance can influence a student's educational and career path. I would keep mentoring underclassmen at my university, providing support on their projects and assisting them in dealing with the intricacies of machine learning. However, I wouldn’t restrict myself to the university environment. I would offer my mentorship to the wider Sri Lankan AI community, engaging with those who are keen to learn and develop. Frequent check-ins, code assessments, and guidance on optimal practices can create a significant impact.
Sharing what I know is honestly at the heart of how I work. I love creating blog posts and tutorials about PyTorch that people can actually understand, no matter where they are in their journey. I try to make sure there's something for everyone - whether you're just starting out and need the basics explained clearly, or you're already deep into it and looking for some advanced techniques.
One of my favorite things is running webinars and live coding sessions. There's nothing quite like that real-time interaction! When people can ask questions right away and we can work through problems together, that's when the real learning happens.
I'm also big on teamwork. Working alongside the PyTorch team has been incredible - giving feedback, bouncing ideas around, and seeing how the platform grows based on what users actually need. I've become a bit of an unofficial PyTorch evangelist, talking it up in both schools and companies because I've seen firsthand how powerful it can be.
You'll probably find me presenting at conferences, joining panel discussions, or chatting with industry folks about why PyTorch matters. It's not just about the tool itself - it's about the amazing community that's grown around it.Any additional details you'd like to share?
As a university student in my final year and an intern in machine learning at Synapse AI Labs, my experience with PyTorch has been truly transformative. It’s the device I depend on every day, and it has turned into a crucial aspect of my educational and career life. My enthusiasm for machine learning goes beyond my individual projects; I experience great delight in imparting this knowledge to others, particularly in my position as an instructor at my university. As I assist junior students with their machine learning modules, I've witnessed how even minimal support can ignite a lasting passion for the subject.
here is my latest Blog in MEDIUM: https://medium.com/towards-artificial-intelligence/qwq-32b-alibabas-tiny-titan-challenges-ai-giants-in-reasoning-0d617d1560f2
here is my LINKEDIN: http://linkedin.com/in/iflalismalebbe/