African Data Scientists Set to Gather in Kigali for the 3rd DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting
By Akros Media on November 4, 2023 in GIS, Health Data Systems, News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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KIGALI, RWANDA – November 3, 2023 – The Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I-Africa) Consortium is thrilled to announce the 3rd DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting, a significant event that promises to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of data science and health across Africa.
The event will convene from November 3 to 9, 2023, at the prestigious Kigali Serena Hotel and Conference Centre in Kigali, Rwanda. This in-person meeting is set to be an exceptional gathering of over 250 researchers and stakeholders, both from Africa and around the world, who are eager to exchange ideas, showcase their groundbreaking work, and drive the future of data-driven healthcare solutions.
DS-I Africa, launched in September 2021 through funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund and 11 other NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices, has been at the forefront of advancing data science capacity and fostering data-driven healthcare solutions in Africa. The program started with 19 funded projects and has recently grown to support 38 projects in 21 countries across the continent.
Michelle Skelton, the project lead for the DS-I Africa Coordinating Centre at the University of Cape Town, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “The next few days here in Kigali are earmarked for our Data Science Community to reconnect and plan for the future of data-centered healthcare.”
The program highlights include:
- Datathon (November 4-5): A two-day event designed to harness the diverse expertise within the consortium. Participants will be introduced to the eLwazi Open Data Science Platform and explore compute deployment.
- Networking Exchange (November 6): Open to data science-related organizations, this event offers an informal platform for participants to engage with DS-I Africa and its members and to gain insights into their projects. It’s akin to a scientific poster session, promoting collaboration and information exchange.
This prestigious event features such special guests as Professor Muganga Didas Kayihura (Vice Chancellor University of Rwanda), Dr. Eugene Mutimura (Executive Secretary of Rwanda National Council for Science and Technology), and Dr. Peter Kilmarx (Acting Director, Fogarty International Center, NIH). The lineup of keynote speakers includes such experts as Dr. Luqman Lawal, Dr. Ciara Staunton, Dr. Dirk Brand, Associate Professor Deshen Moodley, Dr. Akbar Waljee, and Dr. Ann Mwangi, among others.
The comprehensive program covers themes addressing critical areas of concern, including Sustainable Data Analysis Pipelines, Data Governance and Cross-border Data Sharing, Opportunities to Harness Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for Health in Africa, and Strategies for Effective and Equitable Partnerships. Additionally, there will be a follow-up discussion with colleagues from the Wellcome Trust.
For more information about the DS-I Africa Consortium and the event, please visit the official website https://dsi-africa.org/.
Stay up-to-date by following us on Twitter: @DSI_Africa and join the conversation using the hashtags #DSIAfrica and #Datascience.
Contact:
Michelle Skelton, Principal Investigator, H3Africa Administrative Coordinating Centre & DS-I Africa Coordinating Centre
Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town
Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925
Tel: +27 (0) 828103031
Email: Michelle.Skelton@uct.ac.za
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About DS-I Africa:
The Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I-Africa) Consortium is committed to advancing data science capacity and data-driven healthcare solutions in Africa. Funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), DS-I Africa is a network of 38 projects across the continent, working together to shape the future of healthcare through data science. For more information, please visit https://dsi-africa.org/.
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