Northwestern Qatar deepened its engagement in global media and technology discussions through NU-Q Talk, a series of seven panel discussions as part of its program at Web Summit Qatar 2025. Bringing together industry experts, scholars, and media practitioners, NU-Q Talks showcased the University’s role in shaping conversations on the intersection of artificial intelligence, media, and communication.
The series launched with a Dean’s Global Forum: Web Summit Special Edition, where Jassim Al Khori, CEO of Media City Qatar, joined Dean Marwan M. Kraidy in a discussion on the impact of technology on global education. The Executive Education Program followed with a compelling discussion, “The Ghost in the Machine: Authentic Intellect and Artificial Intelligence,” featuring Simon Ferguson and Moneer Barakat of Resolution Films in conversation with Gregory Ferrell Lowe, professor and director of the Executive Education Program.
On the second day, Alfredo Cramerotti, director of the Media Majlis Museum, hosted a conversation on art and media with artist and scholar Hadeer Omar. This was followed by a session led by Northwestern Qatar’s Artificial Intelligence Initiative, where Professor and Associate Dean for Education Venus Jin, Associate Professor Wajdi Zaghouani, and postdoctoral scholar Zaid Almahmoud, along with the 2025 recipients of the Advanced Undergraduate Research on Robots and Artificial Intelligence grants Dushime Uwonkunda Sylvie, Ginger Wang, Shugyla Karshygakyzy, examined AI’s role in research and development, education, and community engagement.
As the summit continued, Northwestern Qatar’s Communication Program hosted a session exploring the AI revolution’s impact on the human connection. Featuring Rana Kazkaz, associate professor and director of the Communication Program, Associate Professor Banu Akdenizli, Zaghouani, and Assistant Professor Yasemin Celikkol, the panel explored the evolving ways in which AI is reshaping communication and relationships.
The Journalism and Strategic Communication Program organized a panel on the future of journalism and strategic communication, with speakers Ilhem Allagui, professor and director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program, Professor George Anghelcev and Assistant Professors Claudia Kozman, Scheherazade Safla, and Shakeeb Asrar offering insights into the changing media landscape in an AI-driven world.
Closing the NU-Q Talk series, the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South (#IAS_NUQ) hosted a discussion on digital storytelling in the Global South, featuring Safla and #IAS_NUQ Global Undergraduate Fellows Eiman Nasir, Esther Kamanzi, and Xingyu Qin, who shared their experiences in leveraging digital tools for evidence-based storytelling.
NU-Q Talks was part of Northwestern Qatar’s expanded presence at Web Summit Qatar 2025, along with a digital showcase by the Media Majlis Museum, Sound Bytes, interactive demos, and networking meetups. For more information about Northwestern Qatar’s expanded presence at Web Summit Qatar 2025, click here.
