Responsible AI Lab’s Post

📍 RAIL KNUST hosts Ghana Data Science Summit (IndabaX Ghana) 2024 to promote the Responsible use of AI 📍 The Responsible AI Lab at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (RAIL KNUST) hosted the Ghana Data Science Summit (IndabaX Ghana) 2024, commemorating the 5th anniversary of IndabaXGhana. Held from 17th to 19th July 2024 at the Great Hall, KNUST, this summit gathered about 600 participants under the theme, “Unleashing the Potential of AI through Grassroots Engagement,” Which focused on empowering individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of AI. Over three days, attendees engaged in inspiring conversations on Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence (#AI). Recalling the history of IndabaXGhana, Mr. Delali Agbenyegah, CAP, Senior Data Science Lead at Shopify and Co-Founder of Ghana Data Science Summit, shared the event's origin. Born from discussions between himself and Dr. Augustine Denteh, the first GDSS IndabaXGhana was held in 2019. Since then, the team has been dedicated to democratising data science literacy and building supportive communities. Over the past five years, they have reached over 1,500 Ghanaians, with over 60% being students, through numerous workshops, keynotes, and hands-on training. Mr. Agbenyegah highlighted the partnership with RAIL, emphasising the need to build capacity for AI's ethical and #responsible use. He announced the flagship IndabaXGhana mentorship program, designed to engage and train people in hands-on projects, fostering connections with institutions for research and commercialisation. Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of RAIL, spoke on the critical role of AI in driving the fourth industrial revolution, with the potential to create jobs and transform key sectors of the economy. Prof. Kponyo stressed the importance of strategic planning and envisioning Ghana's AI future. He also mentioned collaborating with GIZ Ghana and the @Ministry of Communication to draft a national AI strategy awaiting review and implementation. Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, emphasised the need to train an AI-ready workforce focusing on ethical AI. She highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement and announced plans for a summer school on AI to build staff capacity. The "RAIL Biomass Challenge" was launched, showcasing innovative solutions and data-driven strategies within AI. This challenge is in partnership with the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) and FAIR FORWARD, GIZ. It seeks to use the plant disease dataset gathered by RAIL through engagement with key stakeholders like the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the local farmers. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ejqAt6fs #ResponsibleAI #datascience #summit

📍The Responsible AI Lab (RAIL KNUST) empowers the Next Generation of Scientists 📍 On 5th July 2024, Dr. Eunice Akyereko Adjei, the Women in Technology Officer (WTO) at the Responsible AI Lab, delivered an inspiring presentation at the vibrant SciFest Ghana 2024, Kumasi Edition on behalf of Prof Jerry John Kponyo, the Scientific Director and Principal Director of RAIL. The event, held at the Allotey Auditorium of the College of Science, KNUST, was a platform to ignite the passion for science among pre-tertiary students in Kumasi and its surrounding areas. With the ultimate goal of equipping young scientists with the knowledge and tools required to excel in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Dr Akyereko Adjei emphasised RAIL's mission to promote the responsible use and deployment of inclusive AI solutions to advance Africans’ contribution to the fourth industrial revolution as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She highlighted the seven research themes under the Lab and elaborated on the various initiatives undertaken by the Women in Technology team. These initiatives include Innovation Challenges targeted at women innovators to foster creativity and problem-solving, SHECodes Programmes organised for female students at KNUST to enhance their coding skills and the Pre-tertiary Digitalization Outreach (PreDO) Program conducted in various Senior High Schools, where students are introduced to robotics and AI programming. During the festival, students from KNUST SHS visited the RAIL lab, where researchers provided insights into the various innovative solutions being developed. RAIL's involvement in SciFest Ghana 2024 underscores its commitment to fostering a new generation of well-equipped scientists to tackle global challenges through innovative AI solutions. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eintKaRr. #responsibleai

🎉 It’s finally here! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce that the Ghana Data Science Summit (IndabaX Ghana) 2024, in partnership with the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL), is celebrating the 5th Anniversary of IndabaXGhana! 📍 Join us from 17th to 19th July 2024 at the Great Hall, KNUST. 📍 Our special guest, Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Prof. Akosua Dickson, along with esteemed keynote speakers like Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of RAIL, will grace the event. This summit is set to unleash the potential of AI through grassroots engagement. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of groundbreaking discussions and network with leading experts in data science and #AI. Google | Aya Data | Maverick Research | GIZ Ghana | Digital Transformation Center | NVIDIA | Mozilla | MTN Ghana | Women in Machine Learning and Data Science Accra Ghana | Deep Learning Indaba | Wave-2 Analytics Limited | 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 #GhanaDataScienceSummit2024 #IndabaXGhana #DataScience #Innovation #Networking

📍 The Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) organises Stakeholder Engagement to Address Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) 📍 The RAIL convened a stakeholder engagement event on 27th  June 2024 at the RWESCK Auditorium. The stakeholder engagement event successfully gathered valuable input, user testing & feedback, and perspectives from key stakeholders on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (#AI) to develop a comprehensive toolbox aimed at supporting victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence. The engagement saw active participation from representatives of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Department of Social Welfare, the Department of Children, civil societies, individuals and the KNUST Counselling Unit. Dr. RITA Udor presented the initial challenges faced by Boame App, introduced by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), which eventually became dysfunctional. These challenges provided critical lessons for the development of the new AI toolbox. Dr. Udor explained the objective of the current project, emphasising its importance in filling the gaps left by previous initiatives like the Boame App. The new project aimed to leverage AI to provide more robust, scalable, and user-friendly support to victims of IPV and gender-based violence. Other project team members are Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Dr. Eric Tutu Tchao, Dr. Eunice Akyereko Adjei and Ms. Christiana Aggor. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-_PXAjk #responsibleai #gender #stakeholder #engagement

📍 Prof. Jerry John Kponyo Advocates for Responsible AI and Technological Advancements at Women In Mining Ghana Annual Conference 2024 📍 On 7th June 2024, Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL), addressed the Women In Mining Ghana Annual Conference at the Accra International Conference Centre. His presentation focused on "Leveraging Technology and Automation in Mining to Promote Sustainability and Workforce Diversity: Emerging Trends in Responsible AI." Prof. Kponyo emphasised the critical role of sensor-based monitoring in mines, highlighting the efficiency of drone deployment for data gathering in exploratory regions. He noted that AI and technology significantly reduce time and effort but must be deployed responsibly to ensure long-term benefits. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epnfE32G #mining #responsibleAI #sustanability #technology

📍Call for participation in the Network of Cluster Training Workshop📍 📅 Date: 26th - 28th June 2024 📍 Venue: IDL Conference Centre 🔖 Registration: FREE for all Postgraduate Students 🎟️ Secure your spot now: https://lnkd.in/e63HDCgq Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your skills and network with experts in the field. See you there!

Data Upskilling for Africans by Africans: #RAIL's Perspective on Ethical Inclusion In an era where data is the new gold, data practitioners' ethical management and upskilling are paramount. On May 31, 2024, this principle was the focal point of an enlightening presentation by Ing. Dr. Henry Nunoo-Mensah, PE-GhIE, Programmes Coordinator and AI in Health Thematic Lead for the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL). Speaking at a Data Upskilling for Africans-by-Africans workshop organised by Panoply Digital Ltd in Rwanda as part of the 17th eLearning-Africa Conference, Dr. Nunoo-Mensah delivered an insightful discourse on "Data Upskilling from an Ethical Lens," shedding light on the imperative of ethical considerations in data science and AI. Dr. Nunoo-Mensah began by emphasising the significance of data upskilling for success and productivity in today's data-centric world. As data increasingly drives decision-making across various sectors, the need for skilled professionals who can navigate this landscape ethically has never been more critical. He underscored that viewing data upskilling through an ethical lens is essential to ensure that individuals and organisations handle data responsibly and ethically. The contributions of other notable speakers, including Annita Mwagiru, Yaovi Habib and Lazare Houndekindo, spoke on the need for a relevant partnership to deliver demand-driven data upskilling programmes relevant to various organisations. Omeed Mosavat, from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, presented on e-learning for data upskilling. The session was moderated by Ronda Železný-Green, PhD Zelezny-Green, Co-founder and Director at Panoply Digital Ltd, who facilitated a robust discussion on the intersection of data, ethics, and innovation. As the dialogue around data ethics evolves, initiatives like the Data Upskilling for Africans-by-Africans program play a vital role in shaping a future where data is used responsibly. Dr. Nunoo-Mensah’s insights and the FACETS framework offer a guiding light for individuals and organisations committed to ethical data practices. By prioritising fairness, accountability, confidentiality, ethics, transparency, and safety, we can build a data-driven world that is not only advanced but also equitable and trustworthy. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epbFuivQ #responsibleai #ethics #data #upskilling