Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing’s Post

IEEE ICDM 2025, one of the world’s premier conferences in data mining, has successfully concluded in Washington, D.C. This year’s edition was our largest and most energetic since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 861 registrants from around the world. Serving as General Co-Chair has been a tremendous honor. I attended ICDM 2022 (Orlando) and ICDM 2023 (Shanghai) to learn the conference operations. In 2024, I co-organized IEEE Big Data with Fusheng, Wei, and Liping, and this year I had the privilege of partnering with Dimitrios, Wei, Jilles, and Fusheng to lead ICDM 2025. We encountered several unexpected challenges, including a U.S. federal government shutdown, temporary Smithsonian closures, flight cancellations, and visa issues. Thanks to the dedication of our Organizing Committee and volunteer team, the conference still ran smoothly from start to finish. Highlights of ICDM 2025 • 39 workshops across four days • 170+ main-conference papers (22% acceptance rate), reflecting a selective and rigorously reviewed program • Keynotes from Harvard, UVA, and Stanford, offering insights on biological networks, foundation models, and relational AI • Three panels spanning probabilistic modeling, AI-driven data mining, and a cross-sector plenary discussion • 12 tutorials, 30+ system demonstrations, and multiple innovation showcases • High School & Undergraduate Symposium with 80+ teams, one of our most successful student programs • REU Symposium, PhD Forum, Blue Sky Forum, and Women in Science Forum • A memorable Spy Museum banquet featuring a curated culinary journey, immersive exhibits, cultural performances, and the ICDM award presentation • Daily breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks, and a professional IEEE photo backdrop supporting networking and community Each day, more than 500 participants filled the rooms with energy, ideas, and meaningful conversations—making ICDM 2025 one of the most vibrant and engaging editions in recent years. My deepest thanks to Fusheng and Wei, long-time collaborators whose support was essential throughout months of preparation and the final intense days. I am also grateful to every member of our Organizing Committee—your leadership across logistics, finance, workshops, publications, sponsorships, demos, student programs, registration, web operations, outreach, and volunteer coordination made this conference possible. A special thank-you to Professor Shashi Shekhar, our Honorary Chair and my Ph.D. advisor at the University of Minnesota, for his guidance and support throughout the event. To all attendees, volunteers, speakers, and students: thank you for your enthusiasm and contributions. ICDM 2025 was a true celebration of collaboration, community, and innovation in data mining and AI. I look forward to seeing everyone at future conferences as we continue advancing the field and its global impact.