2024, September 19
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NU ARC-2024: From AI and Nanomaterials to Commercialization of Science
2024, September 19
Share this articleThe leadership of universities in the 21st century and the support of science were the key topics discussed at the First NU ARC-2024 Scientific-Practical Conference.
Andreas Cangellaris, founding president of NEOM University (Saudi Arabia), NU President Professor Waqar Ahmad, NU graduate and now rector of Aktobe Regional University named after K. Zhubanov, Laura Karabassova, and other university management representatives shared their vision on how contemporary challenges have transformed educational governance. This expert discussion with the participation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek was one of many sessions held during the NU ARC-2024 Conference, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Kanysh Satpayev, the founder of the Kazakh National Academy of Sciences.
“There are increasing transformations of universities in Kazakhstan and globally. One popular concept is called the Third Mission of universities: the first is teaching and education, the second is science and research, and the third is social, to seek to generate knowledge outside academic environments to the benefit of the social, cultural and economic development. My current agenda is to convince governors to have a new understanding of local universities. It is not just one of the academic institutions but an academic anchor for development. As a young country in this region, we want to be an educational hub by bringing a lot of universities, ” said Minister Sayasat Nurbek.
During three days, leading global and Kazakhstani researchers will present their latest discoveries and discuss future trends in scientific development. About 400 participants have registered for the conference, and 43 speakers present their projects.
Welcoming young researchers from Kazakh universities and renowned professors at the conference's opening, NU President Waqar Ahmad noted: "I am delighted that Nazarbayev University is contributing in all areas of science developed by the great scientists of ancient times— Al Khawarizmi, Ibn Sina, Al-Farabi, Al Beiruni... And in the best traditions of the Silk Road, we are a hub of the best talents from across the globe, and engage in the development of ideas that contribute to the development of disciplines and address contemporary problems in and beyond the region."
The conference features the Symposium on New Materials and Devices, a crucial platform for discussing cutting-edge research, and the Symposium on AI Research in Kazakhstan, which explores the growing impact of AI on society. Plenary sessions are focused on NU's key research areas: health and well-being, socio-economic transformation, new materials and devices, artificial intelligence, energy, and the environment. Additionally, there will be workshops on research skills and publishing in leading scientific journals, along with a scientific poster competition.
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The conference also includes scientific talks from leading global experts: John Rogers, founding director of the Querrey-Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics at Northwestern University (USA); Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, director of AI Singapore; Rashid Bashir, professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA); Nianqiang Wu, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (USA); Veena Sahajwalla, an Australian scientist and pioneer in electronic waste and plastic micro-factories; and Eyal Winter, author of Feeling Smart: Why Our Emotions Are More Rational Than We Think (UK), among others.
A highlight of the event is the final of the Three Minute Thesis competition, an innovative academic contest developed at the University of Queensland, Australia. This globally recognized competition challenges PhD students to present the significance of their research in just three minutes, a unique format that tests their ability to communicate complex ideas concisely. Winners will receive grants for further research. Research week will conclude with the STEM Scholars Summit 2024 on September 29, where students will present their research and ideas.
NU ARC-2024 is the first international conference of its kind in Kazakhstan, aimed at bringing together foreign and Kazakh experts and researchers, including young scientists, from various fields. It will serve as an intellectual platform for addressing current and future challenges facing Kazakhstan and the world.
For more details, visit: https://arc.nu.edu.kz/ru
