Page 10 - UNAM Forum Ed1-2021

Pro-vice Chancellor of
Research, Innovation and
Development, Professor
Anicia Peters

he University of Namibia’s Pro-vice from Egypt. Recipients hailed predominantly from
Chancellor of Research, Innovation and American universities.
Development, Professor Anicia Peters, has
clinched a Google AI Award for Inclusion The research proposals focused on topics such as
TResearch. The Award was accompanied diversity and inclusive, algorithmic bias, education
with an unrestricted gift to UNAM of USD35,000. innovation, health tools, accessibility, gender bias,
Al for social good, security and social justice.
The Award for Inclusive Research Programme is a
global initiative that supports academic research Criteria for the Award included a credible track
in computing and technology which addresses record of the Researcher’s performance in the
the needs of underrepresented populations. This selected topic, innovativeness, potential to change
programme allows faculty and Google researchers the academic landscape and the impact on the
an opportunity to partner on their initiatives and communities.
build new and constructive long-time relationships.
Professor Peters is an astute researcher known
“I am extremely delighted that Google committed to internationally for her work in Human Computer
support innovative research and professors working Interaction (HCI), an interdisciplinary field in
to create positive societal impact. This research Computing. Human Computer Interaction is one
focuses on the needs of the African innovators and of the underlying key fields for the emerging
startups using a design making approach. I am technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big
confident that this award will allow Namibia to get Data, Robotics, The Internet-of-Things, Virtual and
one step closer to the rest of the world in terms of Augmented Reality, etc. that are propelling the
technology”, remarked an elated Prof. Peters Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions.

Over 100 applications were submitted from Professor Peters’ research areas span Social
different Universities globally but only 16 proposals Computing, Gamification, Gender and Digital
were selected for funding, in which Prof Peters was Technologies, and Digital Transformation such as
selected. Her research was titled “Human Centered Digital Health and Digital Government. She has
Technology Design for Social Justice in Africa” with penned about 70 publications and has successfully
a Co-Principle Investigator, Dr Shaimaa Lazem, graduated PhD and Master Degree graduates.

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