Professor Erol Gelenbe, Fellow of CORE Academy, delivered the opening lecture at the International Graduate Summer School on Intelligent Optimization for Low-Carbon Computing Service Systems, held at Peking University from 1 to 3 August 2026.
In his lecture, “Performance, Security and Energy Considerations at the Edge,” Professor Gelenbe examined the closely interconnected challenges of system performance, cybersecurity, and energy use, arguing that they should be understood and addressed together rather than in isolation.
A central theme of the lecture was his “multi-network” perspective on the contemporary technological world. Professor Gelenbe described it as an assemblage of distinct yet increasingly interdependent networks. These include communication and space networks; smart electricity grids integrating continuous and intermittent energy sources; oil and gas pipelines; supply chains and transportation systems; road networks and connected vehicles; healthcare networks encompassing diagnostic and treatment facilities; the Internet of Things and the sensors used to monitor and control these systems; and data-centre networks supporting computation and advanced analytical services.
From this perspective, the performance, security, and energy demands of individual systems can no longer be considered independently. Professor Gelenbe emphasised the need for integrated approaches to modelling, optimising, and protecting interconnected technological infrastructures, particularly at the network edge, where sensing, communication, computation, and physical operations converge.
The three-day summer school brought together scholars and experts from universities, research institutions, and industry. Its programme addressed topics including low-carbon data centres, the coordination of computing resources, smart grids, integrated energy systems, energy storage, system resilience, and grid flexibility.
About Professor Erol Gelenbe
Professor Gelenbe is a Fellow in the Division of Mathematics and Information Sciences of CORE Academy and a Professor at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Informatics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. An internationally recognised computer scientist and applied mathematician, he is known for his pioneering contributions to the modelling and performance evaluation of computer systems and networks, as well as for the development of G-networks and the Random Neural Network model. His research also spans cybersecurity, machine learning, and the energy-efficient and sustainable operation of computing and communication systems.
View Professor Gelenbe’s CORE Academy Profile →