The significance of positioning Africa on the worldwide map of scientific manufacturing took middle stage on the opening ceremony of the fifth version of Science Week, held on Monday at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir beneath the theme “Shaping the Future,” and operating from February 17 to 23, 2025.
Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P, emphasised that “Africa must not only participate in global scientific progress but lead it,” particularly because the continent faces distinctive challenges—from meals safety to local weather resilience, from power entry to digital transformation. He confused that “the solutions to these challenges must come from African talent, African innovation, and African leadership.”
The President of UM6P emphasised the college’s dedication to proactively shaping world tendencies to go well with African realities, highlighting its concentrate on connecting science with native must drive tangible analysis outcomes.
He additionally underscored the college’s agency perception that “science serves society, positioning itself as a leader in technological innovation and applied research, with over 7,200 students, including 1,000 PhD candidates, and world-class research facilities dedicated to training Africa’s future scientists and innovators.”
“This is a great opportunity for students, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to work and explore the technologies that will shape the future of humanity,” mentioned the President of UM6P in a press assertion, including that it is usually a terrific alternative for college kids and researchers from throughout Africa to convey the continent’s voice to those applied sciences.”
He underscored that “the future of humanity will be shaped right here in Africa—across key sectors such as food security, health, and industry.”
El Habti famous throughout his opening comment that science and know-how are reshaping each side of contemporary life, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as data employees who as soon as relied on instruments like ChatGPT now witness the emergence of DeepSeek AI—a extra resource-efficient mannequin developed in China.
The President additionally underscored the potential of AI to revolutionize useful resource administration, citing Morocco’s management of 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves, and stressing that, if managed effectively, phosphorus might grow to be a key driver of world meals safety.
He added that “across Africa, this alchemy of technology and sustainability is happening as we speak. With digital penetration exceeding 43%, the continent is primed for data-powered development.”
El Habti confused that “in a world changing at an unprecedented pace, the responsibility falls upon all of us—scientists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, educators, and students—to redefine how we think, create, and innovate,” explaining that the occasion serves as a platform for collaboration, reflection, and motion, bringing collectively famend scientists, business leaders, and innovators who’re shaping the worldwide scientific panorama.
The President of UM6P famous that scientific development is now not a luxurious, however a necessity, provided that by 2050, world meals manufacturing should improve by 60% to feed 10 billion individuals, atmospheric CO₂ ranges have surpassed 427 elements per million—over 50% above pre-industrial ranges—and 90% of all world information has been created within the final two years.
This yr’s Science Week version “is about tackling these challenges head-on. It is about bridging disciplines, fostering innovation, and transforming research into real-world impact,” mentioned the president emphasizing that attendees—whether or not college students, researchers, or school members—are contributors to the conversations that can form the following decade of scientific innovation.
Fouad Laaroui, professor of epistemology and founding father of Science Week in 2020, mentioned in a press assertion that “that is crucial week of the yr at UM6P, as we convey collectively scientists and professors from world wide. They have interaction with our personal researchers and college students, discussing all types of matters—together with computing, agriculture, structure, and extra.
Laaroui emphasised that “science and research have been at the heart of UM6P since its inception. This university was founded as a research institution because we should be at the frontiers of science and no longer lag behind Europe and America, as we have done for over 200 years. That time is over—we have the potential to be at the forefront of scientific discovery.”
The write of this article has shown professionalism and total commitment to journalism. (Source)