Background and Rationale

Africa and the Caribbean face growing risks from natural hazards that threaten lives, infrastructure, economic development, and environmental sustainability. While the two regions are geographically separated, they are linked through important meteorological and scientific processes, particularly within the Atlantic basin. Tropical waves originating from West Africa contribute to many Atlantic hurricanes that ultimately affect the Caribbean and North America. At the same time, both regions face significant seismic hazards arising from distinct tectonic processes.

Climate change is increasing the intensity of many weather-related hazards, including hurricanes, through rising ocean temperatures, increased atmospheric moisture, and sea-level rise. Although earthquakes are not caused by climate change, they remain major natural hazards that require advanced approaches to risk assessment, monitoring, prediction, preparedness, and response.

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, geospatial analytics, remote sensing, high-performance computing, and smart systems are creating new opportunities to improve disaster forecasting, risk modelling, early-warning systems, and emergency response. These technologies also provide opportunities for increased collaboration between African and Caribbean researchers, governments, meteorological agencies, and disaster management organizations.

This panel seeks to explore how AI and smart systems can strengthen disaster resilience, improve predictive modelling, and foster Africa-Caribbean partnerships in climate and natural hazard research.

Proposed Panel Theme
Climate Change and Natural Disaster Modelling: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Smart Systems to Enhance Resilience in Africa and the Caribbean

Objectives
The proposed panel will:

Examine current trends in climate-related hazards and seismic risks affecting Africa and the Caribbean.
Explore the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in hurricane forecasting, disaster prediction, and risk assessment.
Discuss advances in geospatial analytics, remote sensing, and digital modelling for disaster preparedness and response.
Share experiences and best practices in early-warning systems and emergency management.
Promote Africa-Caribbean collaboration in research, education, training, and data-sharing initiatives.
Identify opportunities for joint projects involving universities, research laboratories, government agencies, and international organizations.

Proposed Participants
Potential presenters and panelists may include representatives from:

University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (Caribbean seismic monitoring and hazard assessment)
Argonne National Laboratory (AI, high-performance computing, and advanced modelling)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Hurricane Center (NHC)
National Weather Service (NWS)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Royal Museum for Central Africa
Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja)
The University of the West Indies (UWI)
Caribbean Maritime University (CMU)
Northern Caribbean University (NCU)
University College of the Caribbean (UCC)
African universities and meteorological agencies involved in climate and disaster research

In addition, a joint UWI–UTech student team mentored by Microsoft may present ongoing work on hurricane tracking and predictive modelling, demonstrating how emerging technologies can support disaster resilience and public safety.

Proposed Discussion Topics
The panel may address:

Climate and Hurricane Modelling

Climate change and its implications for hurricane intensity and rainfall.
AI-enhanced weather forecasting and hurricane prediction.
Satellite data, remote sensing, and real-time monitoring systems.
Africa's role in Atlantic hurricane development and Caribbean risk assessment.

Seismic Risk and Multi-Hazard Modelling

Earthquake hazards in Africa and the Caribbean.
Advances in seismic monitoring and predictive analytics.
Multi-hazard risk assessment frameworks.
Infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness.

Smart Systems and Digital Technologies

Machine learning applications in disaster management.
Digital twins and simulation environments.
High-performance computing for disaster modelling.
Big data analytics for risk reduction and emergency response.

Collaboration and Capacity Building

Africa-Caribbean scientific cooperation.
Data sharing and interoperable warning systems.
Joint research and educational initiatives.
Building regional capacity in AI-driven disaster management.

Expected Outcomes
The panel is expected to:

Strengthen Africa-Caribbean partnerships in climate and disaster research.
Identify opportunities for collaborative grant proposals and research projects.
Promote the use of AI and smart technologies in disaster risk reduction.
Encourage greater student participation in climate and disaster analytics.
Share best practices in forecasting, preparedness, and emergency response.
Generate recommendations for improving early-warning systems and community resilience.

Relevance to PAAISS 2026
This panel directly aligns with the objectives of the Pan African Conference on AI and Smart Systems by showcasing how artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, high-performance computing, and digital technologies can be applied to real-world challenges in climate resilience and disaster management. The session will highlight innovative approaches to predictive modelling, decision support, risk assessment, and international collaboration, demonstrating the transformative role of AI in protecting communities and supporting sustainable development across Africa and the Caribbean.

Additional Inforation, contact: Dr. David White, University of Technology, Jamaica. Email: DWWhite@utech.edu.jm