4th edition of the Science Festival in Mali: debates on “Science and Development” and “Science and Artificial Intelligence”.
290 students from 20 teaching academies of Mali are gathered in Bamako for the 4th edition of the Science Festival in Mali, which runs from 5 to 7 December 2019, at the Abderhamane Baba Touré National School of Engineers.
The opening ceremony on Thursday, December 5, was chaired by the Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Ms. Lelenta Hawa Baba Ba, representing her counterpart of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Mahamadou Famanta. It was in the presence of the Representative of Unesco, Mr. Aly Kola Daou, the Rector of the University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako (USTTB), Prof. Ouaténi Diallo, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FMOS), Pr. Seydou Doumbia, UCRC Director , etc.
This festival, which is in its fourth edition, is a space for exchanges between students, research professors and inventors, with a view to promoting science by setting up an extension framework on the basic, experimental and applied sciences in Mali. In his welcome address, the President of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Amadou Koné, head of the UCRC molecular biology unit, not only welcomed the collaboration of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of National Education, and the partners, for the initiative and the holding of the event, but also the exhibitors for their scientific productions.
Difficult valuation of scientific series
Scientific and technological progress have brought considerable improvements to society in the last few decades, in terms of food security, health, communication, transport and others. At a time we must benefit more from the science, the young people are turning away from scientific careers, untill the teaching of science and industry is lacking in human resources. Despite the efforts made by the Government of Mali, difficulties still exist in the education system, particularly in terms of valorization of scientific series. In fact, although the number of students is generally increasing, from independence to now, more literary people are being covered than scientists in our schools, so that the number of scientists is decreasing year by year.
No country is built without quality human resources. And to be at the rendez-vous of modernization, Ms. Lelenta Hawa Baba Ba invites to the use of science, technology and innovation, with a view to boosting key sectors of development, namely : agriculture, livestock, health, mining, information technology, and communication. “This is why the government of Mali has adopted the national policy of science, technology and innovation with its action plan for the period 2017-2025 …” she added, while hoping Students and students will use these three days to benefit from the knowledge and skills of their mentors and teachers.
The three-day activities include visits to some 30 booths (including 10 for the USTTB) demonstrations, laboratories, and talk conferences organized around two round tables: “Science and Development” and ” Science and artificial intelligence. In addition, competitions will be organized for students in the scientific fields. Indeed, the aim is to reveal the scientific curiosity of young people, in order to encourage them to embrace scientific careers.
