UNU Rector AI Lecture Series II

SPEAKERS

DESCRIPTION

Professor Marwala is widely recognized for his contributions to artificial intelligence and its application across diverse sectors. His work spans engineering, economics, political science, medicine, and public policy, bridging technical innovation with societal relevance. As a scholar, policymaker, and institutional leader, he has consistently advanced the role of AI in addressing global challenges, particularly those affecting the Global South.

He is a Fellow of many distinguished academies, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the World Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Science of South Africa, and the African Academy of Sciences. His accolades include one of South Africa’s highest national honors, the Order of Mapungubwe, and the Science-for-Society Gold Medal from the Academy of Science of South Africa. In 2024, New African Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential Africans, citing his extensive application of AI concepts across multiple fields.

Professor Marwala is also a prolific author, with over 20 books to his name. His publications span dozens of book chapters, journal articles, and conference papers, alongside more than 200 magazine features and newspaper op-eds that bring complex ideas into public discourse.