User:Njoroge Wa Chege

Herman Njoroge Chege (born February 24, 1988) is a Kenyan - American computer scientist, artificial intelligence researcher and author. Renowned for his contributions to AI education and research, Chege serves as a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at a leading AI-assisted online school. His work and advocacy has significantly impacted the field, leading to major breakthroughs in the open sourcing and democratisation of the technology.

Early life and education
Born in Central Province, Kenya, and raised as a Christian, Chege developed a love for reading at an early age, often spending time in libraries and exhibiting prodigious abilities across various disciplines very early on. His peers have described him as a modern day polymath.

Chege's academic journey is marked by global experiences. He earned his bachelor's degree from the from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (the first privately chartered private university in Kenya) in 2011. Pursuing further education, he obtained a Master of Science from the University of Nairobi. His quest for knowledge took him abroad to the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and the University of Vermont where he pursued a PhD. In Vermont, Chege published a monumental paper on the integration of biological data to artificial intelligence. The paper however, led to conflict with his advisor forcing him to resign from the University in 2020.

Additionally, Chege expanded his horizons through exchange programs at the Haub School of Environmental and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming and had brief stints as a student at the Makerere University Biological Field Station in Kibale forest, and the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India.

A notable aspect of Chege's character is his advocacy for educational reform, inspired by the slow evolution of the human education system since the Enlightenment era and his educational experiences. In a symbolic protest, he eschews the use of formal titles for himself.

Career
He was elected as graduating class valedictorian and went on to spearhead the first internet project of its kind at the age of 22. Herman then worked for the National Museums of Kenya as an associate researcher and scientist ; exploring the intricate assemblages of bats in South Africa, tropical ecology and conservation in the rainforests of Uganda, mammal ecology in India and unraveled the cryptic ecology of the African Clawless Otter 𝙰𝚘𝚗𝚢𝚡 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚜 (𝚂𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚣, 𝟷𝟾𝟸𝟷) in the landscapes of Laikipia in Central Kenya.

He then stepping into the role of Digital Editor and Senior Video content producer at the Global Think Tank - The International Institute for Sustainable Development where he communicated outcomes of global pacts such as the historic Climate Change Conference in Paris. For 7 years he and others provided insightful coverage of historical multilateral agreements in clean air, climate, biodiversity, timber and sustainable energy in Geneva, Brussels, Paris, Merida, Washington D.C., New York, Bonn, Poland, Marrakech, Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi for the United Nations and governments globally.

As of 2024, Chege resides in Seattle, where he consults and advocates for Artificial Intelligence. His contributions include writing open-source code for the Arctic Code Vault Arctic Code Vault, an initiative aimed at preserving knowledge for future generations.

Chege spearheaded the ambitious AI Project Kenya 🇰🇪 Project 2052, envisioning an AI inspired climate-smart infrastructure in Kenya worth over $100 billion by 2052. This visionary plan includes designs for schools, roads, universities, airports, housing complexes, and specialized labs, aiming to transform Kenya into a first-world country.