Prof Flora Salim joins Day of AI’s inaugural Dolphin Tank competition to judge AI Proposals for Climate Solutions
Author Natalie Campbell
Date 23 August 2024
ADM+S CI Prof Flora Salim recently joined Day of AI Australia to judge students’ ideas for AI interventions in climate change, in the inaugural Dolphin Tank competition.
As part of National Science Week, the Dolphin Tank took place on 14 August 2024.
The Dolphin Tank competition invited students to get creative and propose ideas for how AI could help tackle climate change and the UN sustainability goals.
Earlier in the year students from across Australia were invited to submit ideas, with 6 teams being selected to collaborate with experts from Rokt and UNSW’s AI Institute and School of Computer Science and Engineering to refine their idea and pitch a prototype to an expert panel as part of the Day of AI program.
ADM+S CI Prof Flora Salim joined experts Claire Southey from Rokt and Scientia Professor Toby Walsh from UNSW to judge the final pitches.
“The teams who made it through to the final round presented very clear and passionate pitches on their innovative ways to tackle climate change using AI,” said Prof Salim.
“We received more than 190 entries from students from all across Australia. From rubbish sorting systems, smart greenhouses to ideas for improving commercial fish stocks to predicting drought – innovative, creative and practical solutions where students had really thought about how AI could be used for positive impact,” said Day of AI Australia Program Director Natasha Banks.
“The six finalists who stepped into the Dolphin Tank were all exceptional.”
The innovative ideas of Fountain College students (junior competition) and North Sydney Boys School (senior competition) earned first prize.
The student entries were complimented by lightening talks delivered by the experts, inspiring students with stories of creative ways people are using AI in everyday life, work, and mobility.
“Having experts involved as both expert mentors for the six finalist teams, as judges, and delivering lightning talks really makes it evident for students that the opportunities for interesting, challenging and meaningful work is something they can be part of,” said Ms Banks.
Open to students from year 5-10, the Day of AI initiative encourages students to develop critical skills and knowledge for their increasingly digital future. The program covers topics including What is AI? How do machines learn? AI in Careers and Industries, and ethics and responsible use of AI. So far more than 60,000 primary and high school students have participating in the Day of AI Australia program.
Day of AI’s Dolphin Tank 2024 was supported by Rokt, UNSW Sydney and CSIRO .
