WISE On Air

WISE Qatar Foundation

An education podcast where we talk to the world’s leading minds. Brought to you by WISE: The global platform for innovators in education. Join us as we talk to thought leaders, innovators, educators and artists from around the world about any and all things to do with education.

  1. 117: Learning Through Touch: How Sensory Education is Breaking Barriers

    22/09/2025

    117: Learning Through Touch: How Sensory Education is Breaking Barriers

    In this episode of WISE On Air, we explore how sensory education is breaking barriers and transforming literacy and numeracy for learners often left behind by traditional systems. We speak with two remarkable WISE Prize finalists who are pioneering innovative solutions for students with diverse needs and communities with limited access to education. From Qatar, Ramy Abdulzaher, Co-Founder and COO of @Bonocle, shares how Braille-based technology and gamified learning tools are improving Arabic literacy for visually impaired students. From Nigeria, Gideon Olanrewaju, Chief Executive Director of the Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (@AREAi), demonstrates how offline digital pens and multilingual resources are delivering literacy programs to refugee camps with no internet access. In this episode, we discuss: How Braille technology fosters inclusion and engagement for students with visual impairments The potential of Fast Track tools to transform literacy learning for underserved communities How Bonocle adapts its solutions to meet diverse needs across different regions and communities The role of the WISE Prize in helping scale and accelerate these impactful educational initiatives This conversation highlights how touch, sound, and human connection are redefining what literacy and learning mean in the twenty-first century and expanding opportunities for students who are often overlooked. About the Guests: Ramy Abdulzaher is the Co-Founder and COO of Bonocle in Qatar, developing Braille-based solutions to improve Arabic literacy for visually impaired students. Gideon Olanrewaju is the Chief Executive Director of AREAi in Nigeria, leading initiatives that bring literacy to refugee communities through offline and multilingual learning technologies. 🎧 Subscribe to WISE On Air: https://pod.link/wiseonair Learn more about WISE: https://www.wise-qatar.org Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:27 Introducing Ramy Abdulzaher & Gideon Olanrewaju 01:48 How Does Braille Technology Foster Inclusion in Education? 04:59 Can the Fast Track Tools Transform Literacy Learning? 12:05 How Bonocle Designs for Inclusion Across Communities 18:37 How WISE Prize Helped Fast Track 21:28 Appreciation and Farewell

    22 min
  2. 115: The Trilingual Student - Why AI Needs Humanity

    23/08/2025

    115: The Trilingual Student - Why AI Needs Humanity

    Register for #WISE12 - Join us for the world's premier education innovation summit: https://wise-qatar.org/wise-12/ In this episode of WISE On Air, we explore the human side of #artificialintelligence with Professor Munther Dahleh, founding director of MIT's Institute for Data Systems and Society. As machines become increasingly capable, Munther argues that understanding people, not just #algorithms, will determine whether AI truly serves humanity. From his early work designing control systems for spacecraft to his current focus on societal applications of #AI, Munther shares insights on: - The "trilingual student" concept - why future innovators need technical skills, social science understanding, and domain expertise - Why he uses ChatGPT for reports but never for recommendation letters - The hidden dangers of "mediocre systems at scale" - How self-driving cars force us to confront moral decisions we never ask human drivers to make - Why he wishes he had studied more philosophy and anthropology - The future of healthcare, education, and work in an AI-driven world Munther challenges the notion that technological advancement alone will solve society's problems, emphasizing that the most critical breakthroughs may come from understanding human behavior, ethics, and social systems. About the Guest: Professor Munther Dahleh is a Professor at MIT and founding director of the Institute for Data Systems and Society. He is the author of "Data Systems and Society: Harnessing AI for Societal Good" and has spent over three decades working at the intersection of #technology and #society. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Experience with ChatGPT 00:22 Welcome to Wise On Air 00:30 Introducing Professor Munther Dahleh 02:02 The Journey to AI and Control Systems 04:13 From Machines to Social Networks 13:45 The Concept of Trilingual Students 15:28 AI's Impact on Society and Education 25:53 The Future of Jobs and Continuous Learning 29:10 Open Access and Vocational Education 30:31 Ethics and Data Privacy in AI 33:29 Self-Driving Cars and Moral Dilemmas 37:39 Global AI Collaboration and Geopolitics 42:36 AI's Role in Healthcare and Research 49:59 The Future of AI and Human Expertise 52:45 Final Thoughts and Advice for the Next Generation 🎧 Subscribe to WISE On Air: https://pod.link/wiseonair Learn more about WISE: https://www.wise-qatar.org

    58 min

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An education podcast where we talk to the world’s leading minds. Brought to you by WISE: The global platform for innovators in education. Join us as we talk to thought leaders, innovators, educators and artists from around the world about any and all things to do with education.