Aylin Yener

Title: Connecting with Purpose for 6G and Beyond 

Abstract: 6G and beyond systems will continue to rely heavily on ubiquitous wireless connectivity. Different than the generations that came before, next generation systems will need to cater to applications that demand more than just faster rates. The increasingly capable wireless edge consisting of multifunctional devices will aid in the paradigm shift where networked communication occurs to realize, support or improve a functionality in addition to reliably communicating digital messages. Catalyzed by the AI revolution, the next wireless revolution thus promises to bring to life integrated designs fueled by the edge.

This talk will delve into the new paradigm of connecting with purpose, where the wireless edge devices communicate (collectively) to support a goal such as designing a learning system or accomplishing a learning task.  The talk will provide a summary of our recent contributions in this paradigm. In particular, we will demonstrate, with relevant theory and applications to use cases, the design of semantic networks and task-oriented communications, and wireless edge networks that improve distributed AI. We will conclude with future directions in connecting with purpose that promises to deliver the next wireless revolution.

Bio:  Aylin Yener holds the Roy and Lois Chope Chair in Engineering at The Ohio State University with Professorship appointments at the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and Integrated Systems Engineering. Prior to joining the faculty at Ohio State in 2020, she was a Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Dean’s Fellow at Penn State where she started as an assistant professor in 2002. Her expertise is in wireless communications, information theory and learning, with recent focus on various pillars of 6G including new advances in physical layer designs, edge learning/computing, system design for confluence of sensing, communications, computing and learning, energy conscious networked systems, and security and privacy. She received several technical recognitions including the 2025 IEEE Information Theory Society Joy Thomas Paper Award, 2020 IEEE Communication Theory Technical Achievement Award, 2019 IEEE Communication Society Best Tutorial Paper award and 2014 IEEE Communication Society Marconi Prize Paper Award. She was a distinguished lecturer for the IEEE Communications, Information Theory and Vehicular Technology societies. She is a fellow of AAAS, the IEEE, AAIA, and is an elected member of The Science Academy of Turkey.

Yener has volunteered for IEEE Technical Activities since the beginning of her career in various positions including conferences and editorial service for IEEE Communications, Information Theory, Signal Processing and Vehicular Technology Societies.  She has extensively volunteered for the IEEE Information Theory Society in leadership posts and served as its president in 2020.

She is the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Green Communications and Networking which is a joint publication of the Communications, Signal Processing and Vehicular Technology societies. Yener is presently serving on the IEEE Board of Directors as the director of Division IX which includes the Vehicular Technology Society (and 6 other societies).