Assahafa.com
Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is gearing up for its fifth annual Science Week, a landmark event that reflects the country’s growing scientific prowess and its vision for the future.
The event’s organizers held a press conference today to share the passionate vision for this scientific gathering, with its kickoff scheduled for tomorrow until February 23.
Science Week seeks to stand as proof of Morocco’s growing influence in global science, turning the country from a follower into a leader in scientific research and innovation, they said.
Fouad Laroui, Scientific Director of Science Week, spoke with excitement and belief as he introduced the event, noting it will bring together renowned scientists from around the world at UM6P’s Benguerir campus.
Speaking of the welcoming atmosphere at UM6P, Laroui said: “When I became a professor here in 2020, I found something special – when you come up with an idea, people don’t try to block you. Instead, they say ‘Go for it.’”
As “science faces threats today,” Science Week is an opportunity to face today’s “social media spreading alternative facts, [and] stand up for real science,” he explained.
He also shed light on the top researchers that the event will bring together, who he said usually keep a low profile. “If you saw these scientists on a train or at the beach, you wouldn’t notice them. But they rank among the top 1% of scientists worldwide in their fields,” Laroui said.
Science Week, Morocco’s shift from technical knowledge to scientific expertise
Laroui noted that the scientific gathering will be an opportunity to illustrate Morocco’s advancement in different fields of science.
“During the last two centuries, whenever we needed science, we went to get it from Europe or the United States,” Laroui explained, adding that “now we’re building a class of high-level scientists in Morocco.”
“Sometimes they’re here, sometimes they’re abroad as affiliated professors, but these are the people who can, in certain fields – why not phosphates? Phosphates are our domain. We should be the ones with this knowledge.”
Laroui shared a story from his early days as an engineer at Morocco’s phosphate company, when two French experts came to educate Moroccans about explosives but ended up learning from local workers instead.
“This shows how we often underestimate ourselves,” he said. “Back then, we had technical knowledge. Today, we have scientific experts.”
Science Week’s rich program
Science Week 2025 will feature discussions on artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, future careers, and the intersection of science, ethics, and philosophy.
Big names will attend, including Jacob Jones, a world expert on phosphorus, and Edward Bugnion, who helped create VMware.
Organized under the theme “Shaping the Future,” this fifth edition of Science Week will explore how science and innovation can shape tomorrow’s world.
Laroui wants students to explore beyond their usual subjects. “If you study architecture, go see what computer scientists are doing. If you’re in computing, visit the medical faculty,” he encouraged.
The event also shows how Morocco’s role in Africa has significantly evolved since its triumphant return to the African Union in 2017.
“We’re not here to teach other African countries – we’re here to work with them,” Laroui noted. Students from Ivory Coast and Nigeria will speak at the opening ceremony about their experiences at UM6P.
“Each year, 20 to 30 professionals work hard to make Science Week happen,” Laroui added. “Thanks to this team, we’ve reached our fifth edition, and we hope it will be even better than previous years.”
Source: Morocco word news
