On June 3rd, an underwater camera meets machine learning at TalTech. BBC cameraman Jack Perks shares his experience photographing some of Britain’s most elusive freshwater fish and what it takes to capture the underwater world in the wild. First-year student Helena Carmen Udu shows how it’s possible for High School students to join real science projects at TalTech, even before starting university! It’s a moment where field biology and AI technology work side by side. Come explore the latest AI technologies TalTech scientists use around the world to make the invisible underwater world visible.
Why attend the Fish & Chips session?
If you're into camera work and nature, especially the underwater kind, Jack Perks is someone worth meeting. He’s a BBC wildlife cameraman whose footage has been featured in Attenborough’s Wild Isles. It took him nearly a decade to track down and capture images of all 54 freshwater fish species in Britain. Jack's craft blends sensitive observation with technical grit — the kind needed when light, movement, and water constantly challenge your lens. At TalTech, he’ll share the stories behind his most memorable shots. You’ll see how something as specific as filming fish can turn into a life’s work.
TalTech isn’t a film school. But it’s definitely a place for those drawn to technology, data, and science. Helena Carmen Udu is a first-year Informatics student working on an international research project called MultiFlow. Her scientific journey started in high school and continues in a lab where machine learning is used to track underwater life. Her work includes testing complex systems, running experiments, and gathering data both in aquariums and in the field. You’ll find out how many field trips she’s already been on and how many hours go into making that data useful.
Beyond Jack and Helena, you'll also get a close look at the tools used by the Environmental Sensing and Intelligence Group at TalTech. If something clicks with you, it’s even possible to arrange a supervisor and start your own research path right there.
This isn’t just a talk. It’s a hands-on look into how photography, film, tech and science come together. And how you could be part of it.
Schedule – June 3, 2025
TalTech IT Building, Student Area (Akadeemia tee 15A)
14:00–15:15
Jack Perks
Stories from behind the lens: underwater wildlife photography and videography in challenging environments.
15:15–15:35
Helena Carmen Udu
How a high school project led to working in an international research group.
15:35–16:00
Tech demo + research opportunities
Meet the tools, sensors and methods used by TalTech’s Environmental Sensing and Intelligence Group.
Led informally by Jeffrey Andrew Tuhtan.
