Events
Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development - The Keys to Success
September 19, 2023, Brussels, Belgium; Fez, Kingdom of Morocco
September 19, 2023, Brussels, Belgium; Fez, Kingdom of Morocco
Turritopsis AISBL, the Strategic Institute for Sustainable Development based in Brussels, Belgium, recently successfully hosted the 5th edition of the Sustainable Development Action Days (JADD). This event was organized in partnership with the Faculty of Science and Technology at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA) in a hybrid format, both online and in person. The central theme of the event was “Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development – The Keys to Success?”
This event was organized on the sidelines of the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, held on September 18-19, 2023. JADD-5 primarily targeted doctoral students, faculty members, and staff from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, as well as anyone passionate about sustainable development. The day provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the use of AI to achieve the SDGs.
The event brought together experts in AI and sustainable development to explore the applications of AI in addressing major sustainability challenges while addressing the ethical and governance issues that arise. Additionally, it emphasized enhancing human skills in these areas and fostering greater collaboration between universities, NGOs, and the private sector to support the SDGs through AI.
The day was inaugurated by Dr. Abdelilah Belatik, President of Turritopsis, followed by a special address from Prof. El Mestafa El Hadrami, Vice-President of USMBA. The opening ceremony also included welcome speeches by Prof. Taiufiq Achibat, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), and Prof. Ahlame Begdouri, Vice-Dean of FST.
A highlight of the day was the official launch of Turritopsis’ first publication, titled “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Overview, History, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.” This milestone marked the beginning of Éditions Turritopsis, a platform dedicated to in-depth exploration of sustainable development.
Moreover, international industry experts were invited to participate in two distinct sessions.
Session 1: Leveraging AI for Sustainable Development – Opportunities and Challenges
Moderated by Prof. Lahsene El Ghadraoui, Faculty of Science and Technology, the session featured the following speakers:
- Pr. Marc Deschamps, Vice-President, Turritopsis, Belgium
- Dr. Yassine Bakkar, Assistant Professor, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
- Dr. HOUNDJI Vinasétan Ratheil, Lecturer-Researcher, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
- Mr. Rachid Ettaai, Strategic Planning Manager, Turritopsis, Belgium
Session 2: Bridging the Gap Between AI and the SDGs
Moderated by Prof. Izeddine Zorkani, Faculty of Sciences, Fez, Morocco, this session included:
- Ms. Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Neotex (DR Congo) and Fit-For-Purpose Technologies (Belgium)
- Mr. Abderrahamane Lazraq, Engineering Lead, Virtual Traffic Lights LLC, USA
- Dr. Noura Qarmiche, First-Grade Administrator, Laboratory of Epidemiology, Clinical Research, and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry, Fez, Morocco
- Ms. Khaoula Radi, AI Engineer and PhD Candidate specializing in AI and Cybersecurity, ENSA Khouribga, Morocco
The day concluded with discussions involving students and participants.
Turritopsis aims to continue organizing similar events as part of the Sustainable Development Action Days (JADD) to create a platform for dialogue, encourage knowledge sharing on key sustainability topics, and actively engage participants in these critical discussions.
