KAUST's 2018 Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) featured a significant number of female speakers, highlighting the growing role of women in STEM. Events like "The Rise of Nanomachines" and "Women in STEM" provided platforms for female scientists to share their work and experiences. A "Speed Mentoring" session facilitated mentor-mentee relationships between graduate students and women in STEM at KAUST. Why it matters: Such initiatives help to foster a supportive environment for women in science and engineering within Saudi Arabia's leading research university.
An article highlights the role of AI in promoting female empowerment, particularly in the UAE, where Emirati women entrepreneurs constitute a significant portion of business owners. MBZUAI is playing a key role by equipping women with AI skills, as exemplified by alumna Farha Albreiki, who is applying her ML expertise at Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO). Albreiki is also involved in initiatives like the TRANSCO Women Working Group to foster gender diversity in the tech sector. Why it matters: This underscores the importance of AI education and initiatives within the GCC to support women's participation and leadership in technology and engineering.
MBZUAI's Women in AI (WAI) club, founded by master’s students Asma Hashmi and Ameera Bawazir, aims to increase female representation in AI at MBZUAI and the UAE. The club aligns with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, addressing the underrepresentation of women in AI globally (22%). MBZUAI reports 31% female students in its first cohort and hopes to increase this, supported by faculty like Prof. Najwa Aaraj. Why it matters: This initiative highlights efforts to close the gender gap in AI within the UAE's leading AI university, fostering a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem.
A panel discussion at Manarat Al Saadiyat, featuring MBZUAI's Elizabeth Churchill, explored the evolving relationship between the physical and digital worlds. The panel, titled 'Body as medium: InterFACES: Skin/Screen,' addressed how hyper-connectivity and digital amplification alter our understanding of the human body and its limits. Churchill highlighted the profound shift occurring as we navigate the era of AI and its implications for human beings. Why it matters: The discussion underscores the increasing importance of understanding the ethical, social, and existential questions arising from the intersection of AI and human identity in the digital age.
MBZUAI held its inaugural Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Symposium in Abu Dhabi, focusing on the human and societal impacts of AI. The event, led by Professor Elizabeth Churchill, featured workshops and keynotes from figures like Google's Matias Duarte. Participants collaborated to address critical design aspects of human-AI interaction and co-author a book. Why it matters: The symposium highlights the increasing importance of human-centered design in AI development, ensuring AI tools are useful, desirable, and beneficial for society in the GCC region and beyond.