Can digital technology transform West Africa?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 1 February 2020
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
CrowdScience heads to Freetown, Sierra Leone for a panel debate in front of a live audience to answer listener questions about how artificial intelligence is helping tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. Anand Jagatia is joined by regional science experts to explore how robots, drones and big data are transforming sectors such as agriculture, health and governance. Could clever machines help eradicate invasive species? Will block chain IDs eventually replace physical documents? And while this technology is heralded as a force for change we’ll ask whether fears of an AI takeover are unfounded?
Presented by Anand Jagatia and Produced by Marijke Peters and Mel Brown
(Photo: The panel and Audience at Crowd Science live event in Sierra Leone. Credit: BBC)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello, this is Crowd Science from the BBC World Service. We're coming to you from |
| 0:39.0 | Sierra Leone in West Africa in front of a real crowd. |
| 0:43.0 | Hello, crowd. |
| 0:45.0 | Hello crowd. |
| 0:46.0 | Now, crowd science is a show that takes its inspiration from your inquisitiveness. |
| 0:50.0 | We answer questions on everything, from insects to infinity. |
| 0:54.0 | I'm Anand Jagatia and we're here at the British Council in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. |
| 1:00.0 | On this show we're exploring how digital technology is transforming West Africa. |
| 1:06.0 | How can drones, blockchain and artificial intelligence be used to shape the future of countries in this part of the world and beyond. |
| 1:14.2 | To help us find out I've got a panel of experts with me here on stage. |
| 1:18.0 | Can you each please introduce yourselves and tell us what you do in a sentence? |
| 1:22.4 | So Chika, why don't we start with you? |
| 1:24.0 | My name is Chika Banjo from University of Lagos Nigeria, |
| 1:29.0 | from the Department of Computer Science. |
| 1:31.9 | My name is Moinina David Sengue. |
| 1:34.2 | I'm the Minister of Basic and Senior Secretary Education |
... |
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