Rockefeller was at AIMS Cameroon’s Research Centre yesterday. The Cameroonian-born AIMS Senegal alumnus is a Ph.D. Candidate at AIMS South Africa Research Center, under Stellenbosh University, South Africa. He is also a fellow in the AIMS Doctoral Training Program in Climate-related Sciences.
His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence Techniques Applied to Renewable Energy. “In a nutshell, I am trying to develop deep learning models to unveil patterns behind complex dynamical systems (climate-related),” he explained.
Rockefeller is currently at AIMS Cameroon as a visiting Teaching assistant. “From the 15th of March to the 2nd of April, alongside a team of tutors, I have been assisting Dr. Bubacarr BAH, German Research Chair of Mathematics with a specialization in Data Science at AIMS South Africa in the teaching of the Data Science course,” said Rockefeller.
Managing abundant data in most spheres today has become a challenge and Rockefeller knows better. “We are living in a world where the collection of more abundant data and the development of sophisticated algorithms that help make complex decisions of predictive nature are becoming mainstream. Nowadays, thanks to the multiple devices, sensors around us, we have access to a massive amount of data in domains like agriculture, healthcare, banking, etc.”
Teaching Data Science to AIMS Cameroon students therefore was of utmost importance. “The goal of the course was to equip the students with mathematical and data science techniques to combine those vast arrays of data with better algorithms and growing computing power to extract meaningful insights that may eventually help make better decisions both in the academic and the industry framework. For instance, by the end of the course students were able to build toy models that could classify between various shoulder implants’ diseases; models that distinguish between different rice diseases; algorithms that predict music’s genres, and also forecast closing stock prices using real-world stock exchange data,” explained Rockefeller.
Rockefeller is not on his first trip to AIMS Cameroon and was happy reconnecting with students: “As a former teaching assistant at AIMS Cameroon and also AIMS Alumni, being involved back in the loop of academic activities – though for a short term this time – comes with an amazing feeling as it represents an incredible opportunity to empower the younger generation not only on the academic side but also on the general aspects of their career. It’s an honor and privilege – while building my own career – to contribute to building the next generation of African problem solvers and critical thinkers that will change the game for the continent and make it a better place to live. I could only express my gratitude to the AIMS Cameroon Centre as a whole for making that opportunity possible, making my stay smooth by providing a conducive environment to convey the bit I have learned so far.”