It is a pleasure to give an overview of my recent distinguished lecture tours in two different regions, Central Europe and West Asia, in Oct. and Nov. 2024.

The tours involved lectures at multiple leading institutions spanning four cities, which raised important questions and inspired interesting discussions. The meetings also raised interest in exploring collaboration opportunities and visiting and learning about historical and cultural sites, which I very much enjoyed.

In these two tours, I delivered five talks, scheduled as follows:

DLT in Austria (Oct. 2024):

• Talk one at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), hosted by Prof. Christoph Mecklenbräuker, Oct. 8th, 2024.

• Talk two at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), hosted by Prof. Kay Römer, Oct. 9th, 2024.

• DLT in Oman (Nov. 2024):

• Talk three at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Muscat, hosted by Dr. Naser Tarhuni, Nov. 25th, 2024.

• Talk four at the Military Technological College (MTC), Muscat, hosted by Dr. Inam Bari, Nov. 26th, 2024.

• Talk five at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Suhar, hosted by Dr. Mohamed Sadiq, Nov. 27th, 2024.

The focus of my talks revolved around active research directions along 6G/NextG, namely, machine learning over networks and edge intelligence for IoT, edge computing and communications, and, finally, energy harvesting wireless networks. In each talk, I introduced the topic, reviewed the state-of-the-art, presented samples of recent research, and gave an outlook on future research.

Seeing the talks well-attended by faculty members, peer researchers, and undergraduate and graduate students was rewarding. The talks were typically followed by interesting discussions about research challenges and technology trends. For instance, the growing role of machine learning over networks, especially in healthcare, among other sectors, and the associated privacy preservation benefits and tradeoffs were discussed with audiences at multiple institutions. Also, the future of edge computing and communications and their key role in complementing cloud computing was discussed at the Military Technological College, Oman. Some of these questions led to follow-up discussions related to potential collaboration.

In addition to the research talks, I got a glimpse of the rich history and culture of the two regions visited. The first tour was my very first visit to Austria, where I came to learn about the “Empire of Austria,” which was a multinational European power in the 19th century. I got to visit the two largest cities in Austria, Vienna and Graz. Vienna is commonly known for its palaces and museums and is famed as the “City of Music” due to its musical legacy. I visited the historic Belvedere Palace in Vienna and attended a musical performance.

Graz is known as a college and university city, with four colleges and four universities. The historic center of Graz was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999 due to the harmonious coexistence of typical buildings from different epochs and architectural styles. The two-and-a-half-hour train ride between Vienna and Graz was a unique, relaxing experience. I also got the chance to try different types of typical Austrian Chocolates, including the famous Mozart Chocolate, locally known as “Mozartkugel.”

My DLP tour and visit to The Sultanate of Oman, on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, was also the first. Overlooking the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, Oman is famous for its mountainous terrain, scenic landscapes, and diverse, rich culture, connecting south and east Asia to the Middle East. Despite the short visit, I had the chance to get a glimpse of Suhar, close to the border with the United Arab Emirates, and visit the old city in Muscat, namely Mutrah, and “Souq Mutrah,” showcasing souvenirs, handmade crafts, spices, and fragrances. I also had a unique chance to taste Omani coffee and typical sweet “Omani Halwa” and dates.

My DLT experience in Fall 2024 was a remarkable success, and I had memorable experiences. It was not only about sharing my research with a broader audience and having a fruitful academic exchange but also an unmatched chance to directly connect with researchers in different parts of the world, learning about the technical challenges in those areas, and, equally important, learning about the people, rich culture and history. I strongly recommend the DL program for researchers interested in growing their research network. I encourage peer researchers to apply to the IEEE ComSoc DL program, and, indeed, it will positively impact your career. With the collective efforts of the DL and ComSoc communities, we can network better and share our research thoughts to drive innovation for the good of humanity.

In summary, the two tours spurred interesting discussions on research, higher education, and, most importantly, culture and history. In fact, the networking activities during the visits gave rise to follow-on communications, leading to potential collaboration initiatives on multiple fronts that will hopefully yield tangible outcomes in the future.