RAIL Robotics Club Commissioned in Good Shepherd JHS

On August 31, 2023, the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) inaugurated the RAIL Robotics Club at Good Shepherd JHS in Ahinsan Estate, Kumasi. 

RAIL at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is under the Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa (AI4D) Multidisciplinary Labs project initiated by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). 

RAIL seeks to be a first step in establishing a sustainable approach to nurturing local talent to engage in multidisciplinary, responsible AI for development research and innovation. RAIL focuses on building capacity in AI in the fourth industrial revolution. As part of this vision, RAIL has established Robotics Clubs in Senior and Junior High Schools to develop young AI abilities. The RAIL Robotics Club has been inaugurated in Dormaa SHS, St. Louis SHS, KNUST SHS, Ayeduase Roman Catholic JHS and Good Shepherd School. Establishing these Robotics Clubs aims to prepare students for the world of robotics and artificial intelligence. It was a pleasure to witness about sixty (60) Junior High School (JHS) students express interest in AI and upcoming innovations, and the enthusiasm with which they welcomed the robotics club was heartening.

Dr. Dr. Christopher Seth Appiah, RAIL’s Ethics Thematic Lead, guided attendees through the fundamentals of AI and explained what artificial intelligence is all about. He explained how artificial intelligence works, AI’s benefits and potential threats, and the importance of using AI responsibly.

Dr. Eunice Akyereko Adjei, RAIL’s Women in Technology Officer, led the students in a thought-provoking exercise in which she challenged them to identify a problem in their environment and devise a solution for that problem. She then requested that they provide an AI solution to the stated problem.

Kasuadana Sulemana Adams, Administrative Assistant for the College of Engineering Innovation Center, took the club’s mentors through a hands-on session on Python programming fundamentals. Teachers who are interested in and passionate about AI volunteered to be mentors. The inauguration is a gateway to hands-on coding activities and an AI competition by students in the school. RAIL finds fulfilment in developing local and young talent in the responsible application of AI.