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Join on Telegram Ben Guerir – The fifth edition of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University’s (UM6P) annual Science Week kicked off today with a powerful message about Africa’s emerging role in global scientific leadership.
In his inaugural speech, UM6P’s president Hicham El Habti said that “Africa must not only participate in global scientific progress but lead it.”
Speaking of the challenges that Africa faces, he said that “the solutions to our continent’s unique challenges – from food security to climate resilience – must come from African talent, African innovation, and African leadership.”
The week-long event, themed “Shaping the Future,” comes at a critical time for global challenges.
El Habti noted that “by 2050, global food production must increase by 60% to feed a projected 10 billion people,” while “atmospheric CO2 levels have now reached 427 parts per million.”
On UM6P’s position as a scientific hub in Africa, the university is now home to over 7,200 students, including 1,000 PhD candidates.
“We are not just a university; we are a scientific ecosystem,” El Habti noted, adding that “this is a place where curiosity is encouraged, solutions emerge through collaboration, and science becomes a bridge between knowledge and action.”
Science Week scientific director Fouad Laroui also spoke, specifically about how this week was an opportunity for scientists to reconsider how they view science.
Through a presentation titled “Does science really think?”, he elaborated on the crucial role of scientists throughout history in coming up with solutions that address human challenges.
He answered this question, talking about the evolution of science by urging future scientists to use their critical minds in coming up with innovative ideas that take into consideration ethics and morals. “Science doesn’t think, scientists should,” he said.
Read also: UM6P’s Science Week Hopes to Transform Morocco Into Scientific Hub
A flagship week of innovation
Science Week at UM6P has emerged as a cornerstone event in Africa’s scientific calendar, bringing together global expertise with local talent.
Speaking to the press, including Morocco World News, Laroui said that “this is the most important week in the year at UM6P, because we convene at the same place scientists and professors from all over the world.”
“They are mixed with our own researchers and our students, discussing all kinds of topics – agriculture, computers, architecture, engineering – everything at the frontier of science.”
Laroui spoke of the university’s foundational mission, saying: “We should not lag behind Europe and America, as we have done for 200 years. This time is finished. We can be at the top of science and we will be at the top of science.”
The event’s significance extends beyond Morocco to the entire African continent.
“It’s a great opportunity for students and researchers coming from all over Africa to bring the voice of Africa in different areas, the food security, the health, the industry,” El Habti said.
“The future of humanity will be shaped here in Africa in different areas – food security, health, industry.”
El Habti also mentioned UM6P’s role as a platform enabling crucial conversations about humanity’s future, bringing together renowned scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders under one roof to shape tomorrow’s solutions.
“Science is not just about knowledge – it is about action,” El Habti concluded in his remarks. “It is about transforming research into real-world solutions. It is about ensuring that innovation serves humanity.”
The Science Week program continues through February 23, featuring sessions on artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, future careers, and the intersection of science, ethics, and philosophy, reflecting UM6P’s commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges.
