Agenda

Prof. Vukosi Marivate is Director of AfriDSAI and ABSA UP Chair of Data Science at the University of Pretoria. He leads Data Science for Social Impact and co-founded Lelapa AI, Masakhane, and Deep Learning Indaba, advancing AI for Africans by Africans.

Marion Mercier is Programme Manager for the GESDA Science Breakthrough Radar High-Level Review, where she oversees and facilitates the evaluation and strategic development of GESDA’s science anticipation work. Prior to this, she was a Research Manager at the Wellcome Trust, where she managed a broad and diverse research portfolio and led scoping work for emerging funding opportunities in discovery science.

Dr. David Castle is a professor of science, technology and innovation policy in the School of Public Administration, University of Victoria. His research focuses socio-economic aspects of biodiversity, especially natural capital accounting and access and benefits sharing of genetic resources.

He is a researcher in residence at the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Canada where he advises on science policy, open science, research security, major research infrastructure and biodiversity. He chairs the Scientific Committee of the International Science Council's World Data System (WDS).

I am studying effects of high pressure on matter, ranging from elements to proteins. My research aims to better understand chemistry at extreme conditions, which often goes beyond textbook knowledge and requires to revise the working models.
 

Dr. Moses M. Thiga is a dynamic leader and researcher in ICT, currently serving as the Director of ICT at Egerton University and the Founder and Executive Director of the Savannah Digital Research Institute. With a Ph.D. in Information Systems, he possesses extensive experience in developing and implementing ICT strategies, overseeing projects, and formulating policies. Dr. Thiga is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the European Business Institute, teaching courses in deep learning, data science, and AI.

Alistair Nolan is a Senior Policy Analyst in the OECD’s Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation. Prior to the OECD, Mr. Nolan led a range of industry-related analytic and technical assistance projects with the United Nations. Over a number of years at the OECD Alistair has been involved in work on skills and education assessment, entrepreneurship, private sector development and policy evaluation. Alistair is currently coordinating various streams of OECD work on artificial intelligence, and is overseeing the work on AI diffusion under the AI-WIPS project. Mr. Nolan oversaw preparation of the 2017 publication The Next Production Revolution: Implications for Governments and Business, which examines a variety of emerging technologies, their impacts and policy implications, and which was referenced at the start of the 2017 G7 Taormina Action Plan. Mr. Nolan led work on 2020 publication The Digitalisation of Science, Technology and Innovation : Key Developments and Policies, which among other topics addresses the role of AI in advanced production.

Vanessa has a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Southampton. She has over fifteen years of experience, including various leadership roles, across university, research infrastructure and science-for-development settings in an international arena. She joins the ISC from the International Astronomical Union’s Office for Astronomy for Development, where she bridged the gap between the academic astronomy and development communities. Vanessa brings a passion for science and society, a perspective from the global south, and a connection with the member organizations of ISC.