Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (Neural ODEs) and Continuous-Time Deep Learning (2nd Offering)
Presenter: Amangel Bhullar
Date: Friday, July 25th, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Workshop Space, 4th Floor - 300 Ouellette Ave., School of Computer Science, Advanced Computing Hub
Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (Neural ODEs) represent an emerging paradigm in continuous-time deep learning, offering a principled way to model dynamic systems where discrete layers are replaced by continuous transformations. By defining the evolution of hidden states through neural networks embedded within differential equations, Neural ODEs provide elegant solutions for handling irregular time series, latent dynamics, and generative models. This workshop introduces the theoretical foundations of Neural ODEs and explores applications ranging from time-series forecasting to scientific computing.
1️. Introduction and Motivation
• Why continuous-time models?
• Applications in time series, physics, and generative modelling
2️. Mathematical Foundations
• ODEs and initial value problems
• Formulation of Neural ODEs
3️. Training Neural ODEs
• Backpropagation using adjoint sensitivity
• Memory efficiency and solver choices
4. Advanced Topics and Extensions
• Latent Neural ODEs
• Continuous normalizing flows
5. Q&A and Discussion
- Basic knowledge of Python
- Familiarity with neural networks and PyTorch
- Interest in time-series modelling or scientific computing
Amangel Bhullar is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at the University of Windsor, specializing in artificial intelligence with a focus on knowledge representation, machine learning, Social networks, and knowledge graphs. She currently serves as the President of the Graduate Student Society (GSS), where she leads initiatives to enhance the academic and social experience of graduate students.
In addition to her role at GSS, Amangel is the Director of the Lancer Sport and Recreation Center (LSRC) Corporation and serves as a Member of the Board of Governors at the University of Windsor. Her leadership contributions extend further as an Ex-Officio Member of the University Senate, where she brings a student-centred perspective to university policy and governance matters.