WiDS brings AI, Metaverse and Web3 – the digital future of humanity – to the fore

Women in Data Science (WiDS), an event now in its third edition in Romania, organized by Think Tank 360 under the auspices of Stanford University, with the support of Wolters Kluwer Romania, on March 8, returns this year with a current and complex approach to the domains that will govern humanity by bringing clarifications about how new digital technologies will influence future economic developments.

Thus, notions such as artificial intelligence (AI), Metaverse and Web3 will be debated and explained, for everyone to understand, with national and international experts in related fields, with an emphasis on data science.
Mariana Ungureanu, WiDS Stanford Ambassador and president of 360.org said: “The future is digital, and this aspect will influence our lives and work, which is why we want to show the importance and necessity of data science that goes beyond a simplistic approach, situating is at the intersection of several research areas and fields of activity, and the success of future projects lies in finding effective collaboration and communication bridges. We need to move from the paradigm of focusing on a single goal to a holistic view that will offer more advantages in finding reliable and sustainable solutions regardless of the area of activity”.

Starting from this approach, this year’s WiDS conference will bring to the forefront representatives from different sectors of activity, who speak a common language: that of data science. Areas such as innovation, aerospace and defense industry, security, data protection and the industries of the future will be represented at the debates that will take place at the Military Circle, on the day dedicated to women.

“WiDS brings together internationally renowned experts and prominent national personalities who will emphasize the importance of data, not only at the level of artificial intelligence and machine learning, but also at the level of Web3, Metaverse or the space industry. Although such approaches are not yet known or heavily publicized, they will certainly be part of our daily lives in the near future. I believe that through an openness to collaborations and a way of thinking that transcends the status quo, we can become competitive and ready for a future of digital avatars, of the Web 4.0 revolution, a future based on decentralization and new economic and social models”, Anca Goron, AI expert and moderator of WiDS said.

Alina Popa, CFO of OMV Petrom, says: “We see data science as an important field of the future. We believe that the best future is a predictable one, and data can help us build better predictions and understand situations or information around us more objectively. I am proud that OMV Petrom can support such development opportunities for the “data science” community in Romania”.

Claudia Benchescu-Pecingină, undersecretary of state within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, will open the WiDS conference in Bucharest, together with Pamela Ward, Minister Counselor of the US Embassy in Bucharest, Alina Popa, CFO OMV Petrom and Mioara Mandea, Head “Science Coordination” Department, Strategy Directorate – Center National d’Etudes Spatiale, Paris.

This year’s WiDS conference is where the digital future and its impact on aspects of our lives will be debated. One of the most exciting things about the digital future is the great potential for innovation. At the same time, however, we must also be willing to take risks and accept change when it is uncomfortable or unknown.

On the same day, the awarding of the winners of the WiDS Datathon 2023, an academic competition of international scope in the field of “data science”, carried out under the auspices of Stanford University (USA), will take place this year, reaching its second edition this year.
Partners of the event are: OMV Petrom, Adobe, InnovX BCR, MHS Truck & Bus, UNIQA Insurance, US Embassy in Romania, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy Sibiu, Ava Research, Association for the Development of Indigenous Entrepreneurship ADAA , Lotus Cosmetics, Domeniile Urlati, Ziarul News, National Patronage of Business Women in SMEs.