This proceedings volume presents 41 high-quality research contributions at the forefront of soft computing theory and applications and real-world impact. The third volume from this conference, its chapters reflect the current trajectory of soft computing research, covering advances in machine learning, neural networks, fuzzy systems, nature-inspired algorithms, and big data analytics. Applications discussed range across critical domains such as healthcare, education, legal systems, cybersecurity, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. Noteworthy contributions include studies on smart assistive devices for Alzheimer’s patients, intelligent classification of recycled materials, and AI-based criminal face detection systems. On the theoretical side, the volume includes novel algorithmic developments such as the Shuffled Flamingo Search Algorithm and structural insights into swarm-based optimisation.
The volume illustrates how soft computing continues to address complex real-world problems through adaptive, scalable, and human-centric approaches. It also captures the spirit of interdisciplinary engagement, with contributions from early-career researchers alongside seasoned academics, enriching the community’s collaborative potential. This book will be of interest to researchers, engineers, practitioners, and postgraduate students working in artificial intelligence, optimisation, and computational intelligence, particularly those interested in the translational impact of soft computing across diverse sectors.
Kusum Deep is Emeritus Professor with the Department of Mathematics, as well as Joint Faculty at the MF School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India. She is Visiting Professor, Liverpool Hope University, UK. She is a post-doctoral Fellow at Loughborough University, UK, assisted by International Bursary funded by Commission of European Communities, Brussels. She has won numerous awards like Khosla Research Award; UGC Career Award; Starred Performer of IITR Faculty; special facilitation in memory of late Prof. M. C. Puri; AIAP Excellence Award. She is features in the ebook “Women in STEM-2021” celebrating contributions made by 50 Indian women in STEM published by Confederation of Indian Industries. She falls within top 2% of scientists in the world since 2019 till date (Stanford University). In 2021 she bagged the prestigious POWER grant awarded by SERB-DST, Govt. of India. Since 2022 she is leading a collaborative consultancy project on AI and Machine Learning funded by Deloitte. She has authored two books, supervised 24 PhDs, and published 135 research papers. She is one of the Editors of Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence and many reputed journals. Her research interests are nature inspired optimization techniques, particularly evolutionary algorithms and swarm intelligence techniques and their applications to solve real life problems as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Millie Pant is Professor at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computing (DAMSC), Saharanpur Campus of Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, joint faculty at the Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee and adjunct faculty at AIT Thailand, Bangkok. Her expertise is in optimization algorithms, soft computing techniques, image processing, and decision-making processes. She has published more than 200 research articles in various journals and conferences of national and international repute. She has supervised 14 Ph.D. students and currently 10 students are doing Ph.D. under her supervision. She has completed 4 bilateral sponsored projects with Germany and Russia, UK and Czech Republic and two national projects sponsored by DST and DRDO. She has conducted several short-term courses sponsored by Deloitte, TSW, DST, and QIP in the areas of optimization, evolutionary algorithms, and artificial intelligence. She is one of the founder chairs for SocProS conferences and has been the chair of several other conferences as well.
Atulya K. Nagar is Foundation Chair and Professor of Mathematical Sciences, currently serving as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Liverpool Hope University, UK. He previously held leadership roles as Founding Dean of the Faculty of Science and inaugural Head of the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering at the institution. Before joining Liverpool Hope in 2001, he held academic posts at the University of York, Brunel University London, and others. He holds visiting professorships at several leading Indian institutions, including IIT Roorkee, South Asian University, and the University of Madras, where he was appointed as the Sir CV Raman Chair, supported by the Nobel laureate Sir CV Raman Endowment funds. Internationally recognised, his research focuses on nonlinear mathematics and computational methods with real-world applications in science and industry. He has authored over 550 publications, edited volumes on applied mathematics and AI, and co-edits two Springer book series. He serves on editorial boards and has been Editor-in-Chief of prestigious AI and Mathematics journals. He sits on strategic bodies including the JISC Research Strategy Group, UKRI Talent Panel College, REF-2029 People, Culture and Environment (PCE) Pilot Panel, and EPSRC’s Impact Accelerator Panel. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (FIMA) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
