Dr.David Cuartielles, co-founder of Arduino, recently participated in a workshop titled “TinyML for Sustainable Development” in Zomba, organized by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), a category 1 UNESCO institute, and the University of Malawi.Bringing together students, educators, and professionals from Malawi and neighboring countries, as well as international experts from Brazil, Slovenia, Italy, and Sweden, the event aimed to introduce participants to tiny machine learning (tinyML) and its applications in addressing global challenges, bringing cutting-edge technology to new frontiers.
The workshop was supported by various global organizations and companies, including RAiDO, ICTP, NAiXus, UNESCO’s IRC-AI, the EDGE AI FOUNDATION, ITU’s AI-4-Good, CRAFS, and the Ministry of Education of Malawi.As part of our commitment to supporting educational initiatives that promote technological empowerment and sustainable development worldwide, Arduino contributed by donating equipment for the hands-on sessions, enabling participants to gain practical experience with embedded systems and machine learning.Cuartielles – who centered his session on an introduction to Nicla Vision – is a long-time supporter of the importance of providing access to advanced technologies in regions with limited resources.
He believes that such communities can leapfrog traditional development stages by adopting innovative solutions tailored to their specific needs.During the workshop, participants engaged in projects focusing on agriculture, health, and environmental monitoring, demonstrating the potential of tinyML in improving local livelihoods.“You cannot imagine the pride of seeing things work, when students and teachers from different countries or regions join to learn about our technology, and about how they can apply it in their own education programs or everyday implementation cases,” Cuartielles says.
For those interested in learning more about the workshop and its content, all presentation slides and resources are available online.
