TWAS Distinguished Speaker Webinar on AI and Data Science – 25 May

[Giovanni Ortolani]

Dear colleagues,

TWAS is pleased to launch its new Distinguished Speaker Webinar Series 
on AI and Data Science, aimed at exploring the opportunities, challenges 
and societal impact of artificial intelligence, particularly in the 
global South.

The inaugural webinar will feature Virgílio Almeida, TWAS Fellow and 
professor emeritus at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil). 
The event will take place online via Zoom on 25 May 2026 at 14:00 CEST, 
in a 45‑minute lecture format.

Abstract: The talk examines the challenges and opportunities of 
advancing responsible AI from the perspective of the global South. It 
argues that current governance frameworks, largely shaped by the global 
North, do not adequately reflect the socio-economic, cultural, and 
political realities of developing countries. The presentation calls for 
context-aware approaches that integrate ethical principles, local 
knowledge, and development priorities. It highlights the risk of 
widening inequalities due to unequal access to data, infrastructure, and 
computational resources, while also recognizing AI’s potential to 
support sustainable development. It advocates for inclusive governance, 
participatory design, and stronger international collaboration, 
positioning the global South as an active contributor to shaping AI’s 
future.

  * Registration is open:
    https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gpg-On4RT3q0M-HsWJDUZQ#/registration
  * More info:
    https://twas.org/article/twas-fellow-virgilio-almeida-kicks-twas-distinguished-speaker-webinar-series-ai-and-data

We hope you will join us for this first event in the series and take 
part in the discussion.

Kind regards,

Giovanni

Giovanni Ortolani
Public Information Officer 	Logo <https://twas.org/>
The World Academy of Sciences
for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS)
ICTP Enrico Fermi Building, Room 107
via Beirut 6, Trieste, Italy
t: +39 040 2240-324
e: gortolani at twas.org
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