UM6P Science Week 2025 Closes with Promise of African Leadership in Science
Ben Guerir – Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) concluded its ambitious Science Week today, marking a milestone in Morocco's journey to becoming a leading force in global scientific innovation.
The five-day event confirmed Africa's growing scientific capabilities and its emergence as an independent go-getter of research and development.
Hosted at UM6P's state-of-the-art campus in Ben Guerir, Science Week brought together researchers, innovators, and thought leaders from across Africa and beyond.
UM6P President Hicham El Habti delivered a rousing closing ceremony speech to wrap up the fifth edition of Science Week.
'What was shared during the week, the energy that was here and there was just amazing,' he said. UM6P President Hicham El Habti
'I think that we have now achieved what we have in mind where we have to celebrate science.'
This year's theme, 'Shaping the Future,' drew attention to how African scientists can collaborate to address the continent's unique approaches to addressing Africa's as well as global challenges.
The event's rich program revolved around sustainable development, food security, artificial intelligence, innovation, and solutions tailored to African contexts.
This year's Science Week also succeeded in reflecting UM6P's growing role as a catalyst for pan-African scientific collaboration. Through its various research platforms and partnerships, the university has created a network that connects researchers across the continent, fostering a uniquely burgeoning African scientific ecosystem.
Of the event's significance for Moroccan and African students, El Habti said: 'We have to give the opportunity to our students to share what they are working on.'
He pointed to the importance of such gatherings in shaping the future of science across the continent.
Read also: AI in Healthcare: Promises vs Realities for Africa's Medical Systems
Science Week's Scientific Director Fouad Laroui expressed satisfaction with the event's growing prominence in the global scientific landscape. Since its inception in 2020, he told Morocco World News, Science Week has positioned itself as a crucial platform where UM6P researchers engage with world-leading scientists.
In line with its motto, 'At the frontiers of science,' Science Week 2025 brought together high-flying academic discussions and real-world innovative projects. Fouad Laroui, Science Week's Scientific Director
He further specified that UM6P's Science Week particularly echoes Africa's development challenges. Its panels and networking engagements typically focus on Africa-specific research priorities.
Science should help resolve pressing concerns like food security for Africa's growing population and the need to create employment opportunities for millions of graduating youth, he concluded.
Convergence is the future of science
Looking ahead to next year's edition, Laroui unveiled at today's closing ceremony an ambitious theme of 'Convergence,' with a particular emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration. Science Week Next Year's Theme
He argued that this approach reflects a broader trend in global science: the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive sciences.
Next year's edition should engage with this type of convergence and have crossed projects in its agenda, he announced.
Read also: UM6P, STATION F Partner to Empower Agritech, Greentech, and Healthtech Startups
He envisions its panel sessions to bring together different departments and faculties and reflect UM6P's cross-disciplinary vision.
Reflecting UM6P's spirit of initiative and proactivity in positioning Morocco as a hub to bolster Africa's scientific landscape, Laroui noted 'We're closing one Science Week and immediately beginning preparation for the next.'
For Laroui, UM6P's ultimate hope with this transformative event is to set the stage for future scientific endeavors that will continue to position Morocco and Africa at the forefront of global innovation.
As it concluded today, Science Week left behind a legacy of cross-disciplinary dialogue and ambitious collaborations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Boston University scholar traces Morocco's ancient brocade tradition in Fes
A Boston University doctoral student is documenting the evolution of Morocco's centuries-old brocade weaving industry in the city of Fes, where the craft has persisted since medieval times despite significant changes in materials and techniques. According to BU Today, Morgan Snoap, a PhD candidate in African art and Fulbright Student Researcher, has spent nine months in Fes studying how traditional brocade production has adapted to modern times while maintaining its cultural significance. The research reveals that brocade weaving in Fes dates back to the 14th century, when ornate silk belts were essential wedding attire for both Muslim and Jewish women. These wide ceremonial belts featured intricate floral and geometric patterns and were wrapped multiple times around the waist over kaftans. Today's brocade industry faces different realities. The original silk material has been replaced by rayon after Morocco's silkworms died out in the late 19th century, forcing weavers to rely on imported silk. The complex medieval «lampas» weaving technique has evolved into a simpler but still intricate hand-operated process using drawlooms. Only four brocade workshops remain in Fes, where master weavers collaborate with drawmen to create designs. While ceremonial belts are no longer worn, brocade kaftans continue as wedding attire, and the fabric now decorates hotels, restaurants, and homes as furnishing material and curtains.
Morocco World
26-05-2025
- Morocco World
AI Offers Hope for Morocco's Groundwater Crisis in Oases
Rabat — A group of Moroccan researchers has developed an artificial intelligence system that could help solve critical water shortages in oases, offering new hope for communities facing severe groundwater depletion. Adil Moumane, a researcher at Ibn Tofail university in Kenitra, presented the study at the second edition of the International Congress on Oases and Date Palm (CIO), held May 22-23 in Ouarzazate. This year's edition focused on the resilience and adaptation of oases ecosystems to global changes, particularly climate change. The research combines machine learning with geographic technology to identify optimal locations for water collection infrastructure in arid regions. In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Moumane said: 'We use Geo AI to identify areas where we can build construction that can collect the rainwater.' 'We observed that in the area of Zagora, for example, there is a big decrease of the groundwater table.' The research focused on Morocco's Middle Draa Valley, a region facing severe aquifer stress. Moumane's team developed a system that analyzes ten environmental factors, including soil conditions, rainfall patterns, elevation, and vegetation coverage, to identify where water collection structures would work best. Read also: Morocco's ANDZOA Chief Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Argan, Oases Ecosystems The AI system tested six machine learning approaches and found that LightGBM, a gradient boosting framework that uses tree-based learning algorithms, performed best, achieving 90% accuracy in predicting optimal groundwater recharge zones. The system identified soil permeability, elevation, and proximity to streams as the most important factors for successful water collection. Morocco's oasis regions face mounting pressure from climate change and population migration. Traditional communities that have depended on these water sources for generations now struggle as water tables drop to dangerous levels. 'The Oases area is under pressure of climate change and also under the pressure of different other global changes like migration of local people,' Moumane noted. The researcher's framework offers a data-driven solution using satellite imagery and advanced algorithms. Local authorities can make informed decisions about water infrastructure investments before building expensive projects. 'Recent extreme rainfall during the 2024-2025 season in southeastern Morocco highlighted both challenges and opportunities these regions face,' he told MWN, explaining that 'while sudden floods cause damage, they also represent precious water that could be captured with proper infrastructure placement. 'This research pioneers the application of machine learning and deep learning on geospatial data for groundwater mapping in data-limited contexts,' Moumane explained. The framework's modular design allows adaptation for arid regions worldwide, potentially helping millions facing similar water challenges. Conferences like CIO provide a platform for innovations like Moumane group's AI system to offer practical solutions to preserve ancient oasis ecosystems for future generations, particularly in the backdrop of climate change pressing challenges. Read also: Morocco-UAE Partnership Strengthens Date Palm Industry Development Tags: AI and agricultureMoroccoOases and climate changeOases and date palme
Morocco World
23-05-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco's ANDZOA Chief Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Argan, Oases Ecosystems
Ouarzazate — As Morocco grapples with the mounting impacts of climate change, the National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones (ANDZOA) is sounding the alarm about the urgent need to protect two of the country's most fragile yet economically vital ecosystems. In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), ANDZOA Director Latifa Yaacoubi painted a stark picture of the challenges facing Morocco's argan forests and oasis communities, while outlining her agency's comprehensive strategy to build resilience against an uncertain climatic future. 'Climate change is truly a scourge in these two ecosystems – argan and oases,' Yaacoubi said. 'We experience it, we observe it in the field, as does the local population living in these two ecosystems.' Since its establishment in 2012, ANDZOA has been tasked with what Yaacoubi describes as the delicate balance of 'reconciling two essential objectives.' The agency promotes sustainable development while preserving these unique biospheres that are home to millions of Moroccans and represent significant economic potential for the country. A collaborative approach to conservation ANDZOA's mission extends beyond direct intervention to fostering collaboration across Morocco's research and academic institutions. Rather than conducting research independently, ANDZOA works closely with partners, including the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute (IAV), and various universities to establish priority research programs. 'We must accompany and support scientific research with our partners,' Yaacoubi explained, stressing the importance of ensuring that research outcomes directly complement the agency's development programs on the ground. This collaborative spirit extends to ANDZOA's signature events, including the International Argan Congress, held every two years since 2011, and the International Dates Food Salon, which incorporates a significant scientific component. The agency is now planning to establish a dedicated scientific event for date palms, alternating with the argan congress every two years. Climate projections paint troubling picture The urgency of ANDZOA's mission becomes clear when considering the climate projections for Morocco's southern regions. Yaacoubi outlined a troubling forecast of 'less rainfall, fewer water resources, and increasingly rising temperatures' — conditions that will only compound the existing vulnerability of these delicate ecosystems. 'The fragility of these ecosystems makes them even more vulnerable and also makes the local population more vulnerable,' she noted. This vulnerability creates a cascading effect where environmental degradation directly threatens the livelihoods of communities that have depended on these ecosystems for generations. Prevention over reaction Perhaps most critically, Yaacoubi spoke of ANDZOA's strategy that centers on anticipation rather than merely responding to climate impacts after they occur. 'We must anticipate these climate changes,' she stressed. 'All the programs we are setting up with our partners, whether national or international, go in this direction — how to preserve what we have today and how to make it more resilient.' This forward-thinking approach represents a shift from traditional conservation models that often focus on damage control to one that seeks to build systemic resilience before catastrophic changes take hold. Integrated development strategy ANDZOA's work is characterized by what Yaacoubi calls an 'integrated program' that requires coordination across all relevant government departments and the pooling of both human and financial resources. This holistic approach recognizes that the challenges facing Morocco's argan and oasis zones cannot be addressed in isolation but require coordinated action across multiple sectors. The agency's strategy acknowledges that these ecosystems face multiple, interconnected pressures. Beyond climate change, factors such as desertification, water scarcity, and economic pressures on local communities all contribute to the degradation of these environments. A race against time ANDZOA's mission has taken on added urgency in recent years as Morocco has continued to experience more frequent droughts and extreme weather events. The argan forests of southwestern Morocco and the palm oases scattered across the country's arid regions represent not just environmental treasures but also crucial economic lifelines for rural communities. The argan tree, found nowhere else in the world, supports a thriving cosmetics and culinary industry, while the date palm oases provide food security and economic opportunity in some of Morocco's most marginalized regions. Yaacoubi's awareness-raising comments come as Morocco prepares to host various international climate conferences and continues to position itself as a leader in renewable energy and climate adaptation. For her, ANDZOA's work represents a crucial test case for how developing nations can balance economic development with environmental preservation in an era of accelerating climate change. He believes that the success or failure of efforts to protect Morocco's argan and oasis ecosystems may well serve as a bellwether for similar conservation challenges across North Africa and the broader developing world. 'We must all redouble our efforts,' Yaacoubi concluded, stressing that the scale of the climate challenge requires unprecedented coordination and commitment from all stakeholders. Tags: ANDZOAargan treesclimate changeOases
