Twenty young scientists from across Nigeria converged on the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (IGH), Redeemer’s University, Ede, marking the beginning of the on-site phase of Africa’s first-ever Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Genomics Hackathon.
The event, which aimed to revolutionise the way genomics is taught and experienced, brought together a unique blend of technical skills and scientific expertise to simulate laboratory processes.
For the past two weeks, over 150 international participants worked remotely in teams, developing operational flows for various genomic sequencing steps using Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking about the event, the Director of IGH, Professor Christian Happi, said: “We are happy to bring these young minds together, which include participants from Kenya and Uganda that will be collaborating remotely in this second phase.
This hackathon is a major step in shaping the future of genomics education in Africa.”
He added that “by integrating technologies like XR and AI, we are creating new ways for young scientists to experience and learn about complex genetic data, making high-level, complex lab procedures accessible through a virtual space.”
These virtual simulations are designed to allow young scientists to learn about complex, hands-on lab procedures within an immersive digital environment.
According to him, the on-site phase will conclude with a public Demo Day on Friday, August 22, 2025, where the finalists will showcase their final projects: simulations of genomics laboratory processes.
The event is open to the public, offering a rare glimpse into the future of scientific education and the potential of African innovation.
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