The importance of being part of a research community, its diversity, and openness are important to a yet to be matured researcher as myself. Thus, I was extremely lucky to participate in the Machine Learning Summer School (MLSS) that was held in Tübigen in the summer of 2007. MLSS 2007 gathered approximately 100 researchers and research students from North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and Far East Asia. I was overwhelmed by the diversity of interests, we had a (research) psychologist who applies Machine Learning methodologies in his lab, vision and text classification practitioners, Neuroscience researchers, a guy who applies machine learning to Geodesic problems, Machine Learning foundations theorists, industry peers, and more.

The corresponding teaching classes did not disappoint. The summer school covered theory and empirical issues, research paths rooted in subjective probability view of point (Bayesian) and corresponding paths rooted in objective probability (Frequencies); very fundamental material as well as state of the art ideas. Each lecture revealed a new connection between the different paradigms, and gave us a peek of the big picture. I came to MLSS with some confidence that my research theme is itself the definition of Machine Learning, and the paradigms I use (my research toolbox) are the natural ones. However, I left with an understanding that there is not such a single Machine Learning definition, I enriched my (research) toolbox, and gained many new multidisciplinary ideas.

Aside from lectures, the summer school gave me several precious moments to cherish: discussing a mixture of politics, philosophy, and research ideas over a Doner kebab with a Turkish peer (and now a friend); exchanging ideas over a bottle of cold beer with famous machine learning researchers; and sharing my research confusions with a new friend on a sunny Tübigenian afternoon.

All these little moments, lectures, and deep research materials are gestalted together. I know it has made me a better research student, enhanced my research palette, connected me with the (ML) community, and made me more confident in the path I walk. I deeply thank PASCAL, MPI Tubingen, and others who organised and supported the summer school, giving me this unique opportunity.

Ron Begleiter