Binghamton University to host IBM blockchain workshop
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Watson Continuing Education at Binghamton University and IBM will host a blockchain workshop at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the Center of Excellence Symposium Hall at the Innovative Technologies Complex, 85 Murray Hill Road, Vestal.
The workshop will be a hands-on opportunity for local professionals from a variety of industries, students, faculty and staff to solve common business problems with the help of a team of IBM specialists using blockchain technology and real-world examples and case studies to explain how the solutions would work.
Binghamton University’s Mohammad Khasawneh, chair and professor in the Systems Science and Industrial Engineering Department, said that blockchain technology is not just about cryptocurrency but can be used to track anything valuable like medical records, transportation transactions, land titles, financial records, votes or even taxes.
“While there are other systems in place for storing this information now, blockchain’s approach is what makes it unique,” said Khasawneh. “If there are changes to the records, instead of replacing the old version with the new version, a brand-new block is formed for that new information. It allows for a record of all previous changes on a decentralized system.”
“Binghamton and IBM have enjoyed a very collaborative relationship since the inception of the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science,” said Mike Testani, director of Watson Continuing Education at Binghamton University. “This workshop is one of many more to come in enabling companies to use digital technologies to deliver more value to their business.”
Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate and two professional development hours for professional engineers.
The cost is $500 for industry professionals, $150 for Binghamton University faculty and staff, and $100 for students. For companies sending two or more employees to the workshop, the industry professional fee will be discounted to $300 per person.
The workshop will conclude with a reception at 4:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, visit the Watson Continuing Education website.