“Engineering in the service of sustainable development”, UGANC opens the debates during a scientific day

The Polytechnic Institute of the Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry (UGANC) organized this Wednesday the second edition of the Scientific Day, this year under the theme: “Engineering and sustainable development”. The objective is to promote the results of research work, to encourage scientific exchanges between disciplines, and above all to propose innovative solutions to local problems through engineering.

It was the vice-rector in charge of research at UGANC, Professor Mariama Béavogui, who opened the work of this second Scientific Day. In her speech, she recalled that this day is part of the implementation of the strategic plan of the University of Conakry. “Engineering helps improve everyone’s quality of life by inducing sustainable development”, she said. Professor Béavogui also insisted on the importance of training a new generation of engineers aware of environmental and social issues.

A rich and transversal program

The diversity of themes covered testifies to the richness of this edition. Energy and mechatronics, digitalization and artificial intelligence, mines and industry, environment and waste treatment, agro-industry and agro-business, health, hygiene and safety, infrastructure and urban planning; so many areas in which Guinean research intends to provide concrete answers.

In his welcome speech, the Director General of the Polytechnic Institute, Dr Amadou Oury Dieng recalled that:“This Science Day is much more than a simple academic meeting, it embodies a collective commitment to the promotion of research, innovation and scientific progress. »

For Dr Mohamed Anssoumane Camara, vice-rector in charge of studies and president of the organizing committee, this day aims to place scientific research at the heart of national priorities. “It must be at the center of our concerns to enable us to offer innovative local solutions,” he said.

Engineering as a lever

One of the highlights of this day rich in science was the intervention of Dr Mohamed Tayeb Laskry, Rector of the Koffi Annan University of Guinea, who spoke on the importance of artificial intelligence. “Technology should never be denigrated. On the contrary, it constitutes a major opportunity to meet the challenges of development”, he stressed.

Professor Mohamed Tayeb Laskry calls for national appropriation of these future tools to help accelerate sustainable development.

A multi-actor meeting

This major scientific meeting, which aims to be interdisciplinary, brought together scientists, supervisors and students with the aim of transmitting knowledge to future generations. Very enthusiastic, Professor Abdoul Karim Ly, full professor at the Polytechnic Institute, does not hide his satisfaction at seeing this multi-actor Scientific Day take place in an atmosphere of giving and receiving. “It’s an opportunity for me to talk about science, because many young people are in master’s studies and need to be supervised. The old pots that we are must pass on their know-how”, he insisted.

“This Scientific Day is a source of pride”, says Lamine Traoré, student at the Polytechnic Institute of Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry.

Through this initiative, the UGANC Polytechnic Institute affirms its desire to become a key player in the transition to sustainable development based on innovation and science. An ambition shared by all stakeholders, in the hope of making research a real lever for social and economic transformation in Guinea.

Mamadou Kindy Bah