Indigenous Research Renaissance: From Inquiry to Impact
- 30 September 2026
- 9:00 AM–5:00 PM GMT
- Google AI Community Center, Accra
The inaugural YARA Fellows will present the research they are pursuing and bring it into conversation with researchers, universities, public institutions, industry and funders.
Registration closes Friday, 25 September 2026.
Why the Symposium
The Symposium brings YARA’s first Research Fellowship cohort into public view. Ten Fellows are developing original work with structured training and mentor support. On 30 September, they will present that work, respond to questions and meet people and institutions that may be able to strengthen, publish, use or extend it.
Indigenous Research Renaissance: From Inquiry to Impact
The theme starts with a simple proposition: African researchers should be able to ask questions from within the societies they know, work with evidence relevant to those settings and contribute to the knowledge used to understand them.
“From Inquiry to Impact” asks what can happen when a research question becomes credible work. Some research may lead to further study. Some may inform policy or institutional decisions. Some may find applications in technology or industry. The Symposium creates a place for those next conversations to begin.
Research in public view
Artificial Intelligence
Research includes credit-risk modelling using mobile financial-service histories, few-shot agricultural AI, offline pneumonia screening and machine-readable movement data from the Ghanaian game Ampe.
Climate
Research includes projected dry-day patterns over Ghana and long-term sea-surface temperature change in Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Public Health
Research includes lead exposure, maternal mental health and child development, integrated HIV-TB care, and ageing, obesity and related health risks.
The Symposium Programme
- Morning
Opening & Research in Context
Welcome, opening remarks and the first Fellow research presentations.
- Midday
Research Exchange
Poster exhibition, moderated discussion and direct engagement between Fellows, mentors and delegates.
- Afternoon
From Research to Application
Further Fellow presentations and discussion about how research moves into academia, policy, institutions, industry and practice.
- Closing
Recognition & Next Connections
Recognition of the inaugural cohort, closing reflections and networking.
Who Should Attend?
Researchers and academics, public institutions, industry and technical teams, funders and development organisations, students and emerging researchers.
Registration is required.
- 30 September 2026
- 9:00 AM–5:00 PM GMT
- Google AI Community Center, Accra
Registration deadline: 25 September 2026.
Watch the presentations
Available after the event.
View the research
ViewSymposium photographs
Available after the event.
Read the Symposium report
Available after the event.