Events
January - December 2024
Exploring Multidisciplinarity at the Data Science Hub
May 22, 2024
Nouri Sakr, Assistant Professor of Data Science and Operations Research at the American University in Cairo and founder of the Data Science Hub, discussed her work at the Data Science Hub and their goal of trying to leverage multidisciplinarity and cross-practice perspectives in order to use data science and apply it to problems that have social impact.
Empowering Education: Exploring Generative AI-Based Tutoring Systems for Upper Egypt Community Schools
March 19, 2024
Marwa Soudi, Responsible AI PhD Candidate, Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies and Co-founder of IdeasGym, presented her research paper titled 'Generative AI-Based Tutoring Systems for Upper Egypt Community Schools'. The topic of the webinar was centered around generative AI-based tutoring systems and how they can enhance the educational experience in Upper Egypt community schools. Marwa also discussed the potential benefits and challenges of implementing such systems in a resource-constrained environment.
Artificial Intelligence and Development in MENA: Inclusion or Inequality?' hosted by the London School of Economic and Political Science (LSE) Middle East Centre
February 1, 2024
In this webinar, Nagla Rizk, f<a+i>r MENA hub leader and Professor of Economics at the American University in Cairo School of Business, explores the potential opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on the future of work and questions of knowledge production in relation to development.
Arabic Glitch: Technoculture, Data Bodies, and Archives’ - Book Launch
January 30, 2024
As the Middle East and North Africa hub of the F<a+i>r Hubs Network Feminist AI Research Network, A2K4D hosted the book launch event with author Laila Shereen Sakr, celebrating the release of her new book 'Arabic Glitch: Technoculture, Data Bodies, and Archives’. Laila Shereen Sakr is Associate Professor of Media Theory and Practice at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research in media analytics and creative scholarship have deployed the idea, experimentation, and aesthetics of glitch to make a series of conceptual points culminating in her single-authored book, Arabic Glitch: Technoculture, Data Bodies, and Archives (Stanford University Press, 2023).
January - December 2023
Feminist Phenomenology and Applied AI examples in MENA
August 2, 2023
The Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) hosted its third webinar as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) hub of the f<a+i>r Hubs Network (Feminist AI Research Network). In this webinar, Aliah Yacoub, AI Philosopher and AI and head of techQualia at Synapse Analytics, discussed the connection of feminism, social justice, and AI in the region from a philosophical point of view. She also provided examples of the challenges associated with the use of applied AI in the region and the role of feminist theoretical frameworks in promoting gender equality and mitigating discrimination and biases.
MENA AI & Equality Human Rights Toolbox Online Workshop
July 11, 2023
As the Middle East and North Africa hub of the Feminist AI Research Project f<a+i>r project, A2K4D hosted a MENA AI & Equality Human Rights Toolbox Online Workshop on July 11, 2023.
The <AI & Equality> A Human Rights Toolbox workshop aims to foster a global community of practice on technology and human rights. The workshop was developed in collaboration with Women at the Table, EPFL and a human rights programme officer at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It’s been delivered several times at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), twice at University College Dublin (UCD), University of Lausanne (UNIL), in a three-part series at Tu/E Eindhoven, and to the Gates Fellows at Cambridge University, and the Sorbonne Center for AI.
The <AI & Equality Toolbox> is primarily aimed at data scientists but is multidisciplinary in its conception and delivery as social scientists and future policymakers need to understand the fundamentals of the technology they increasingly employ to implement policy goals.
Ia. Human Rights Module: a simple introduction to human rights developed by OHCHR currently delivered by Caitlin Kraft-Buchman, CEO and Founder, Women at the Table; Co-founder <A+> Alliance.
Ib. Applied Research conversation: a short presentation from Dr. Nagla Rizk and Marwa Soudi, within the MENA FAIR network, on research that is cutting edge and focused on advancing knowledge in the area, (algorithmic bias, social impact of machine learning algorithms, use cases of bias in automated decision systems, AI and law, etc).
II. <AI & Equality> Coding Toolbox: based on a methodology developed at EPFL which uses a jupyter notebook and discussion format to draw the line between the human rights principles and code. This will be delivered by Sofia Kypraiou, Data Scientist and Tech Fellow, A+ Alliance.
Algorithmic Decision Making (ADM), Feminism and Inclusion in MENA: Unpacking Concepts and Call for proposals
February 8, 2023
The Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) hosted its second webinar as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) hub of the Fa+ir Hubs Network titled Algorithmic Decision Making (ADM), Feminism and Inclusion in MENA: Unpacking Concepts and Call for proposals on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 3 pm Cairo local time via Zoom. Joining the webinar as a speaker was Manal Jalloul, Founder of AI Lab and NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, Certified Instructor and University Ambassador at the American University of Beirut. Jalloul unpacked concepts of ADM and discussed how it can be harnessed for gender inclusion in MENA. We also discussed the project’s latest call for proposals, titled Incubating Feminist AI: Call for Expressions of Interest Algorithmic Decision Making Systems. The call focuses on harnessing ADM for more equitable outcomes and models deploying more effective and inclusive social protection in MENA.