Artificial intelligence Bootcamp in CENTRAL GREECE
The concept
Join us for an intensive yet relaxing week at an altitude of about 1000 meters in the beautiful mountain of Tymfristos (Velouchi) in Central Greece. The center of our activities is the old village of Merkada that sits on the eastern side of the mountain and has an exquisite view of the valley of Sperchios river all the way to the Maliakos bay and the island of Eubea. Nature is at its best in this region of Fthiotis-the ancient Fthia-the land of Achilles. Thick vegetation, walnut, chestnut, pines, oaks, tall fir trees fill the land, numerous paths in the woods, natural springs and small waterfalls make a unique natural environment for enjoyment, relaxation and wellness. In this small Paradise we organize a week-long Bootcamp that provides knowledge and practical experience on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Our team has long experience in the area and has taught courses both in Greece and elsewhere. Machine learning is an important new way of dealing with data and it is now applied everywhere. The Bootcamp focuses on both an introduction to ML aiming on general understanding of the concepts and its applications but, additionally, to an in-depth study for those that need to work with ML. The instruction is tailored to individual needs.
Join us for an intensive yet relaxing week at an altitude of about 1000 meters in the beautiful mountain of Tymfristos (Velouchi) in Central Greece. The center of our activities is the old village of Merkada that sits on the eastern side of the mountain and has an exquisite view of the valley of Sperchios river all the way to the Maliakos bay and the island of Eubea. Nature is at its best in this region of Fthiotis-the ancient Fthia-the land of Achilles. Thick vegetation, walnut, chestnut, pines, oaks, tall fir trees fill the land, numerous paths in the woods, natural springs and small waterfalls make a unique natural environment for enjoyment, relaxation and wellness. In this small Paradise we organize a week-long Bootcamp that provides knowledge and practical experience on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Our team has long experience in the area and has taught courses both in Greece and elsewhere. Machine learning is an important new way of dealing with data and it is now applied everywhere. The Bootcamp focuses on both an introduction to ML aiming on general understanding of the concepts and its applications but, additionally, to an in-depth study for those that need to work with ML. The instruction is tailored to individual needs.
The location
Accommodation will be provided in Livadaki village in two-bedroom wooden houses in a magnificent location in the middle of the mountains next to the villages M. Kapsi and Merkada. The instruction will take place in the old school of Merkada village located next to the main square and the local traditional coffee shop “To Velouchi”. Every morning, after breakfast, the participants will hike 3 kilometers to the school where instruction will take place. Transportation will be provided for those that would not want to do the morning walk. Instruction will last all morning and includes coffee breaks, sandwiches and other goodies. The afternoons and evenings are free for study, excursions and play. The area is less than half-an-hour drive from the center of Karpenisi, the main mountain resort city of the area with numerous possibilities for entertainment and food.
Accommodation will be provided in Livadaki village in two-bedroom wooden houses in a magnificent location in the middle of the mountains next to the villages M. Kapsi and Merkada. The instruction will take place in the old school of Merkada village located next to the main square and the local traditional coffee shop “To Velouchi”. Every morning, after breakfast, the participants will hike 3 kilometers to the school where instruction will take place. Transportation will be provided for those that would not want to do the morning walk. Instruction will last all morning and includes coffee breaks, sandwiches and other goodies. The afternoons and evenings are free for study, excursions and play. The area is less than half-an-hour drive from the center of Karpenisi, the main mountain resort city of the area with numerous possibilities for entertainment and food.
The program
In the AI Bootcamp we will cover a basic introduction to ML, using codes written in Python and applying ML concepts in a variety of circumstances. The basic book we use is by A. Geron, Hands-on machine learning with scikit-learn, keras and tensorflow (2d edition) together with codes prepared for this material. Depending on the interests of the participants we can give a more broad introduction to ML as well as focus in individual needs. This is discussed and agreed upon before registration in the Bootcamp.
In the AI Bootcamp we will cover a basic introduction to ML, using codes written in Python and applying ML concepts in a variety of circumstances. The basic book we use is by A. Geron, Hands-on machine learning with scikit-learn, keras and tensorflow (2d edition) together with codes prepared for this material. Depending on the interests of the participants we can give a more broad introduction to ML as well as focus in individual needs. This is discussed and agreed upon before registration in the Bootcamp.
The team
Three very experienced Ph. D. researchers are handling the AI Bootcamp. Giorgos Tsironis who is local of the village of Merkada is a professor of physics at the University of Crete and also visiting professor at Harvard University. He has passion for AI, physics as well as mountaineering. Georgios Barmparis works currently remotely for an AI company in the US while teaching ML in the Greek Open University. Georgios Neofotistos is teaching AI and basic computing at Harvard University and University of Crete.
G. Tsironis has spent long time in the area of Karpenisi and Merkada from little kid and thus knows quite well the villages and towns around. He will be the local host in charge mountain activities.
Three very experienced Ph. D. researchers are handling the AI Bootcamp. Giorgos Tsironis who is local of the village of Merkada is a professor of physics at the University of Crete and also visiting professor at Harvard University. He has passion for AI, physics as well as mountaineering. Georgios Barmparis works currently remotely for an AI company in the US while teaching ML in the Greek Open University. Georgios Neofotistos is teaching AI and basic computing at Harvard University and University of Crete.
G. Tsironis has spent long time in the area of Karpenisi and Merkada from little kid and thus knows quite well the villages and towns around. He will be the local host in charge mountain activities.
The schedule
We expect all Bootcamp participants to be in Livadaki on Sunday in the evening. The drive from Athens is approximately 3 to 3-and-a-half hours. If you choose to come by bus or train to Lamia we can arrange for a pick up. The instruction will start Monday morning with typical schedule 9am-13pm every day. Light lunch will be provided after the end of the morning sessions. The afternoons are free but special sessions can be arranged upon demand with more specific focus. Participants are expected to depart on Saturday morning.
We plan to organize three fall Bootcamps in 2023 in Merkada:
1. Sun 22 Oct - Sat 28 Oct (6 nights).
2. Sun 29 Oct - Sat 4 Nov (6 nights). Note that on Sunday 5 November there will be the annual 10K walk ‘In the footsteps of Achilles’. You may arrange to stay longer to participate.
3. Sun 19 Nov - Sat 25 Nov (6 nights).
Alternative dates or shorter camps (e.g. three intensive days) are also possible. Please contact us.
We expect all Bootcamp participants to be in Livadaki on Sunday in the evening. The drive from Athens is approximately 3 to 3-and-a-half hours. If you choose to come by bus or train to Lamia we can arrange for a pick up. The instruction will start Monday morning with typical schedule 9am-13pm every day. Light lunch will be provided after the end of the morning sessions. The afternoons are free but special sessions can be arranged upon demand with more specific focus. Participants are expected to depart on Saturday morning.
We plan to organize three fall Bootcamps in 2023 in Merkada:
1. Sun 22 Oct - Sat 28 Oct (6 nights).
2. Sun 29 Oct - Sat 4 Nov (6 nights). Note that on Sunday 5 November there will be the annual 10K walk ‘In the footsteps of Achilles’. You may arrange to stay longer to participate.
3. Sun 19 Nov - Sat 25 Nov (6 nights).
Alternative dates or shorter camps (e.g. three intensive days) are also possible. Please contact us.
The Expenses
The Bootcamp costs 1320 Euros per participant for a single cottage accommodation with accompanying person. This is a half board price including breakfast, coffee breaks and light lunch. The instruction covers necessary material, access to internet etc, but the participants should bring their own laptops. Other options such as sharing with other participants or alternative accommodation in the village of Merkada or the town of Karpenisi are available after prior arrangement. Individual and/or group hiking, electrical/conventional biking as well as nature/gastronomic tour excursions with/without tour leader can be organized upon request.
The Bootcamp costs 1320 Euros per participant for a single cottage accommodation with accompanying person. This is a half board price including breakfast, coffee breaks and light lunch. The instruction covers necessary material, access to internet etc, but the participants should bring their own laptops. Other options such as sharing with other participants or alternative accommodation in the village of Merkada or the town of Karpenisi are available after prior arrangement. Individual and/or group hiking, electrical/conventional biking as well as nature/gastronomic tour excursions with/without tour leader can be organized upon request.
Contact us
If you are interested in more details please contact us directly. In order to reserve a slot you need to prepay half of the price and pay the other half upon arrival. Please note that we would like to have a small instructor-to-participant ratio and thus if you are interested you need to register soon. Additionally, Livadaki has limited capacity and thus we need to reserve early.
If you are interested in more details please contact us directly. In order to reserve a slot you need to prepay half of the price and pay the other half upon arrival. Please note that we would like to have a small instructor-to-participant ratio and thus if you are interested you need to register soon. Additionally, Livadaki has limited capacity and thus we need to reserve early.