Author: Jingjing Chen
Affiliation: Fudan University
URL: https://acmmm2025.org
Date: Oct 27 – Oct 31, 2025
Place: Dublin, Ireland
General Chairs: Cathal Gurrin, Klaus Schoeffmann, Min Zhang, Adapt Centre & DCU, Klagenfurt University, Tsinghua University
Introduction
The ACM Multimedia Conference 2025, held in Dublin, Ireland from October 27 to October 31, 2025, continued its tradition as a premier international forum for researchers, practitioners, and industry experts in the field of multimedia. This year’s conference marked an exciting return to Europe, bringing the community together in a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage, innovation-driven ecosystem, and welcoming atmosphere. ACM MM 2025 provided a dynamic platform for presenting state-of-the-art research, discussing emerging trends, and fostering collaboration across diverse areas of multimedia computing.
Hosted in Dublin—a vibrant hub for both technology and academia—the conference delivered a seamless and engaging experience for all attendees. As part of its ongoing mission to support and encourage the next generation of multimedia researchers, SIGMM awarded Student Travel Grants to assist students facing financial constraints. Each recipient received up to 1,000 USD to help offset travel and accommodation expenses. Applicants completed an online form, and the selection committee evaluated candidates based on academic excellence, research potential, and demonstrated financial need.
To shed light on the experiences of these outstanding young scholars, we interviewed several travel grant recipients about their participation in ACM MM 2025 and the conference’s influence on their academic and professional development. Their reflections are shared below.
Wang Zihao – Zhejiang University
This was not my first time attending ACM Multimedia—I also participated in ACMMM 2022—but coming back in 2025 has been just as fantastic. There were many memorable moments, but two of them stood out the most for me. The first was the beautiful violin performance during the Volunteer Dinner, which created such a warm and elegant atmosphere. The second was the Irish drumming performance at the conference banquet on October 30th. It was incredibly energetic and truly unforgettable. These moments reminded me how special it is to be part of this community, where academic exchange and cultural experiences blend together so naturally.
I am truly grateful for the SIGMM Student Travel Grant. The financial support made it possible for me to attend the conference in person, and I really appreciate the effort that SIGMM puts into supporting students. One of the most valuable aspects of this trip was meeting researchers from all over the world who work in areas similar to mine—especially those focusing on music, audio, and multimodality. Having deep, face-to-face conversations with them was inspiring and has given me many new ideas to explore in my future research.
As for suggestions, I honestly think the SIGMM Student Travel Grant program is already doing an amazing job in supporting young scholars like us. My only small hope is for a smooth reimbursement process.
Overall, I feel incredibly fortunate to be here again, reconnecting with the ACM MM community and learning so much from everyone. I’m thankful for this opportunity and excited to continue growing in this field.
Huang Feng-Kai – National Taiwan University
Attending ACM Multimedia 2025 in Dublin was my first time joining the conference, and it has been an unforgettable experience. Everything was so well-organized, and I truly enjoyed every moment. The welcome reception was especially memorable—the food was delicious, the atmosphere was lively, and it was inspiring to see so many renowned researchers and professors chatting enthusiastically. It really felt like the perfect start to my ACM MM journey.
I am deeply grateful to SIGMM for the Student Travel Grant. As a student traveling all the way from Taiwan, attending a conference in Europe is a major financial challenge. The grant covered my accommodation, meals, and flights, which made it possible for me to participate without worrying too much about the cost. Being here has really broadened my horizons. I was able to learn about so many fascinating research topics and meet many kind, talented researchers who generously shared their thoughts with me. These conversations gave me a lot of inspiration for my own work.
I also had the chance to serve as a volunteer, which became my first experience working with an international team. Collaborating with people from different cultural and academic backgrounds helped me improve my communication skills and made the conference even more meaningful.
I truly believe the SIGMM Student Travel Grant is an amazing program that enables students from all over the world to join this vibrant community, exchange ideas, and form new collaborations. My only wish is that SIGMM will continue offering this opportunity in the future. This grant brings so much energy to young researchers like me and plays an important role in supporting the next generation of the multimedia community. I am sincerely thankful for everything this experience has given me, and I look forward to returning to ACM Multimedia in the coming years.
Wang Hao (Peking University)
Attending ACM Multimedia 2025 was my very first time participating in the conference, and the experience was truly amazing. The moment that impressed me the most was having the chance to present my own paper. As a non-native English speaker, giving an academic talk on an international stage was both challenging and rewarding. I felt nervous at first, but I’m really proud of how I managed to deliver my presentation. It was a big milestone for me.
I’m incredibly grateful to SIGMM for the Student Travel Grant, which made it possible for me to attend an international conference for the first time. Without this support, I wouldn’t have been able to experience such a meaningful academic event. Throughout the conference, I met so many new friends, attended inspiring talks, and gained fresh perspectives on multimedia research. These experiences have broadened my view of the field and will definitely influence the direction of my future work.
I’m thankful for this opportunity and truly appreciate how welcoming and encouraging the ACM MM community is. This conference has given me motivation and confidence to continue growing as a researcher.
Yu Liu (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)
This is my first time attending ACM Multimedia. I am a PhD student at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), currently spending a year at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, as part of a joint PhD program. It took 25 hours to travel from Auckland to Dublin, but the journey was completely worth it. The conference has been vibrant and intellectually engaging. I had the honor of being the first speaker in my session, and it was incredibly fulfilling to see the audience show genuine interest and appreciation for our work. Outside the sessions, I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Irish culture—tasting the smooth, rich Guinness, watching lively tap dancing, and listening to traditional Irish music. Overall, it has been an inspiring and truly memorable experience.
The SIGMM Student Travel Grant played a vital role in making my attendance possible. In recent years, UESTC has discontinued funding for PhD students’ conference travel, transferring the financial responsibility entirely to individual research groups. Receiving this grant was crucial, allowing me to attend ACM MM 2025 without placing additional strain on my research team’s limited budget. Attending the conference in person provided an invaluable opportunity to present my research, exchange ideas face-to-face with international scholars, and receive constructive feedback from leading experts. These experiences fostered meaningful academic connections and opened doors for potential long-term collaborations that online participation simply cannot replace.
My biggest takeaway from ACM MM 2025 is the inspiration I gained from being part of such a diverse and passionate research community, which has motivated me to continue advancing in the field of responsible AI. I also really enjoyed the volunteer “Thank You” dinner—it was a wonderful experience. At the same time, I noticed that it is not always easy for students to approach professors they do not know personally. In the future, including short icebreaker or networking activities could help start conversations more naturally, making the conference experience even more valuable for students like me.
Li Deng (LUT University)
This is my first time attending ACM Multimedia, and my experience has been exceptionally positive. I was particularly impressed by the workshops relevant to my research area, as the discussions provided valuable insights that are already influencing my ongoing work. I was also struck by the abundance and quality of the social events and networking opportunities, which made it easy to connect with senior researchers and fellow students from diverse backgrounds.
Receiving the SIGMM Student Travel Grant significantly reduced the financial burden of travel and accommodation, allowing me to attend the conference in person without major financial stress. The opportunity to present my work and engage in discussions with leading researchers has greatly supported my academic development. I received direct feedback and established connections that may lead to future collaborations. My biggest takeaway from ACM MM 2025 is a deeper understanding of the rapid development and impact of multimodal large language models.
Looking ahead, I suggest that the SIGMM Student Travel Grant program collaborate with the main conference to organize sessions such as a “Career Forum” for grant recipients and other student volunteers, providing additional guidance and support for early-career researchers.