THANKS to University of Namibia (Unam) pro-vice-chancellor for research, innovation and development, Anicia Peters, the university has scored USD35 000 (N$553 000).
Peters bagged a Google Artificial Intelligence (AI) award for inclusion research along with the cash.
The award is a global initiative that supports academic research in computing and technology, addressing the needs of underrepresented populations.
This programme allows faculty and Google researchers an opportunity to partner on their initiatives and build new and constructive long-time relationships.
Peters says she is delighted at Google’s support of innovative research and professors working on creating positive societal impact.
“This research focuses on the needs of the African innovators and start-ups using a design-making approach. I am confident that this award will allow Namibia to get one step closer to the rest of the world in terms of technology,” she says.
Over 100 applications were submitted from different universities globally, and only 16 proposals were selected for funding, including Peters’ proposal.
Her research was titled ‘Human Centred Technology Design for Social Justice in Africa’ with co-principle investigator Shaimaa Lazem from Egypt.
Recipients were predominantly from American universities.
The research proposals focused on topics such as diversity and inclusivity, algorithmic bias, education innovation, health tools, accessibility, gender bias and artificial intelligence for social good, security and social justice.
Criteria for the award included a credible track record of researcher performance, being innovative, the potential to change the academic landscape and the impact on communities.
Peters is a researcher known internationally for her work in human computer interaction (HCI), an interdisciplinary field in computing. HCI is one of the underlying key fields for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, the internet of things, and virtual and augmented reality, among others, that are propelling the fourth and fifth Industrial Revolution.
Peters’ research areas span social computing, gamification, gender and digital technologies, and digital transformation such as digital health and digital government.
She has penned about 70 publications and has successfully helped doctoral and master’s degree students graduate.
