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Morocco World
21-02-2025
- Science
- Morocco World
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.
Morocco World
16-02-2025
- Science
- Morocco World
UM6P's Science Week Hopes to Transform, Morocco onto Scientific Hub
Ben Guerir – Morocco's Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is gearing up for its fifth annual Science Week, a landmark event that reflects the country's growing scientific prowess and its vision for the future. The event's organizers held a press conference today to share the passionate vision for this scientific gathering, with its kickoff scheduled for tomorrow until February 23. Science Week seeks to stand as proof of Morocco's growing influence in global science, turning the country from a follower into a leader in scientific research and innovation, they said. Fouad Laroui, Scientific Director of Science Week, spoke with excitement and belief as he introduced the event, noting it will bring together renowned scientists from around the world at UM6P's Benguerir campus. Fouad Laroui, Scientific Director of Science Week Speaking of the welcoming atmosphere at UM6P, Laroui said: 'When I became a professor here in 2020, I found something special – when you come up with an idea, people don't try to block you. Instead, they say 'Go for it.'' As 'science faces threats today,' Science Week is an opportunity to face today's 'social media spreading alternative facts, [and] stand up for real science,' he explained. He also shed light on the top researchers that the event will bring together, who he said usually keep a low profile. 'If you saw these scientists on a train or at the beach, you wouldn't notice them. But they rank among the top 1% of scientists worldwide in their fields,' Laroui said. Science Week, Morocco's shift from technical knowledge to scientific expertise Laroui noted that the scientific gathering will be an opportunity to illustrate Morocco's advancement in different fields of science. 'During the last two centuries, whenever we needed science, we went to get it from Europe or the United States,' Laroui explained, adding that 'now we're building a class of high-level scientists in Morocco.' 'Sometimes they're here, sometimes they're abroad as affiliated professors, but these are the people who can, in certain fields – why not phosphates? Phosphates are our domain. We should be the ones with this knowledge.' Laroui shared a story from his early days as an engineer at Morocco's phosphate company, when two French experts came to educate Moroccans about explosives but ended up learning from local workers instead. 'This shows how we often underestimate ourselves,' he said. 'Back then, we had technical knowledge. Today, we have scientific experts.' Read also: Morocco's Renaissance of Hospitality: Students Shine at UM6P Networking Forum Science Week's rich program Science Week 2025 will feature discussions on artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, future careers, and the intersection of science, ethics, and philosophy. Big names will attend, including Jacob Jones, a world expert on phosphorus, and Edward Bugnion, who helped create VMware. Organized under the theme 'Shaping the Future,' this fifth edition of Science Week will explore how science and innovation can shape tomorrow's world. Laroui wants students to explore beyond their usual subjects. 'If you study architecture, go see what computer scientists are doing. If you're in computing, visit the medical faculty,' he encouraged. The event also shows how Morocco's role in Africa has significantly evolved since its triumphant return to the African Union in 2017. 'We're not here to teach other African countries – we're here to work with them,' Laroui noted. Students from Ivory Coast and Nigeria will speak at the opening ceremony about their experiences at UM6P. 'Each year, 20 to 30 professionals work hard to make Science Week happen,' Laroui added. 'Thanks to this team, we've reached our fifth edition, and we hope it will be even better than previous years.'
