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Draft:Deep Learning Indaba

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Deep Learning Indaba
Founded2016; 9 years ago (2016)
TypeNon-profit Organization
Websitehttps://deeplearningindaba.com/

The Deep Learning Indaba is non-profit organisation that aims to strengthening African Machine Learning And Artificial Intelligence through a number of activities[1]. The first Deep Learning Indaba gathering was held at the University of the Witwatersrand in September 2017[2][3].

The Deep Learning Indaba is driven by three pillars: community, leadership and recognition. The community pillar exists to bridge gaps, connect silos and form collaborations, the leadership pillar says that Africans must be owners, shapers and contributors of the advances in ML/AI - “by Africans, for Africans” and the recognition pillar recognises the research and innovation excellence that happens on the continent. All programmes related to the Deep Learning Indaba exist to strengthen these pillars. For example, the annual Deep Learning Indaba aims to support the development of communities, the Deep Learning IndabaX aims to build local leadership in individual countries across the continent, and the annual awards which recognise excellence in research and innovation by Africans across our continent and are awarded annually at the Deep Learning Indaba.

History

2017

Activities

The Annual Deep Learning Indaba

Scientific Keynotes + Tutorials

Notable keynote speakers in the past indaba include:

  • Ciira wa Maina (2019)
  • Finale Doshi-Velez (2019)
  • Richard Socher (2019)
  • Samory Kpotufe (2019)
  • Sebastian Ruder (2022)
  • Gabriela Csurka (2022)
  • Ernest Mwebaze (2022)
  • Sara Hooker (2022)
  • Elaine O. Nsoesie (2022)

Research in Africa Showcase

The Deep Learning IndabaX

The Deep Learning IndabaX movement was started in 2018, with the intention of supporting the leadership pillar and to increase the capacity of Africans contributing to the conversation around African AI. In 2018, there were events in 13 African countries, with this number growing to to 27 in 2019. The movement was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, after a one year hiatus, the IndabaX events continued in 2021 with 23 events. This number continues to grow with 25 events in 2022 and 37 in 2023.

Awards: Celebrating Excellence in African Machine Learning

The Deep Learning Indaba awards[7] serve to recognise excellence amongst Africans in all areas related to the development and flourishing of African AI.

  • The Thamsanqa Kambule Doctoral Award is named after Dr Thamsanqa “Wilkie” Kambule, a South African mathematician and teacher, in honour of commitment to his students and furthering the field. The award recognises excellence in research and writing by doctoral candidates at African universities, in any area of computational and statistical sciences.
  • The Alele-Williams Masters Award is named after Prof. Grace Awani Alele-Williams, a Nigerian mathematician and teacher, in honour of her contributions to mathematics and her consistent efforts in breaking down boundaries for woman. The award recognises excellence by Masters degree candidates at African universities, in any area of computational and statistical sciences.
  • The Maathai Impact Award is named after Prof. Wangari Muta Maathai, in honour of her contributions to democracy, peace and sustainable development in Kenya and across the greater African collective. This award encourages and recognises work by African innovators to be a positive force for change, by demonstrating an impactful application of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
  • The Umuntu Award for Services to the African Machine Learning Community is awarded at the discretion of the Indaba’s Board of Trustees to recognise individuals or teams who have gone beyond the call of duty to support our African communities.

The Deep Learning Indaba Mentorship Programme

Impact

The grassroots NLP community Masakhane NLP was founded at the 2019 Deep Learning Indaba NLP Workshop. The community went on to win the inaugural Wikimedia Foundation Research Award[8][9][10] .

References

  1. ^ "Deep Learning Indaba - About US". Deep Learning Indaba - About US. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  2. ^ "BBC Digital Planet Podcast - This September, the first Deep Learning Indaba - a shared space to learn, to share, and to debate the state-of-the-art in machine learning and artificial intelligence – will take place in South Africa". BBC Digital Planet Podcast. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  3. ^ "Deep Learning Indaba 2017 US". Deep Learning Indaba 2017. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  4. ^ "Anima Anandkumar, the machine learning guru behind AWS bids adieu to AWS | Packt Hub". Packt Hub. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Google AI with Jeff Dean: GCPPodcast 146". YouTube. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Nairobi—Deep Learning Indaba Keynote — Ruha Benjamin". Ruha Benjamin. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Awards". Deep Learning Indaba. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  8. ^ "Wikimedia Foundation Research Award of the Year". Wikimedia. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  9. ^ "Wikimedia Foundation Research Award of the Year | Knowledge 4 All Foundation Ltd". Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Grassroots NLP community Masakhane wins Wikimedia Foundation Research of the Year Award - Synapse Magazine". 2 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  11. ^ "KHIPU". KHIPU. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  12. ^ "Home". www.eeml.eu. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  13. ^ "SEA MLS 2019". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
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