Tshilidzi Marwala

{{Short description|South African engineer and university administrator}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Tshilidzi Marwala

| image =

| image_size = 125px

| caption =

| residence =

| citizenship =

| nationality = South African

| title1 = 7th Rector of the United Nations University

| president =

| deputy1 = Sawako Shirahase, Senior Vice-Rector, UNU

| 1blankname1 = Secretary-General

| 1namedata1 = António Guterres

| term_start1 = 1 March 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor1 = David M. Malone

| successor =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|07|28|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Duthuni, Limpopo

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = St John's College, Cambridge
Case Western Reserve University

| title2 = 2nd Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg

| chancellor2 = Njabulo Ndebele
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

| term_start2 = 1 January 2018

| term_end2 = 28 February 2023

| predecessor2 = Ihron Rensburg

| successor2 = Letlhokwa George Mpedi

| module = {{infobox scientist

| child = yes

| field = Artificial intelligence, Computer science, Mechanical engineering

| work_institutions = {{unbulleted list|Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine|University of the Witwatersrand|University of Johannesburg}}

| doctoral_students = Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, Megan Jill Russell

| thesis_title = Fault Identification Using Neural Networks and Vibration Data

| thesis_year = 2000

}}

| known_for =

| author_abbrev_bot =

| author_abbrev_zoo =

| awards = Order of Mapungubwe, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

| footnotes =

| signature =

| website = {{URL|http://www.gov.za/about-government/tshilidzi-marwala}}

| spouse = Jabulile Vuyiswa Manana (m. 2000, 3 children)

}}

Tshilidzi Marwala (born 28 July 1971) is a South African artificial intelligence engineer, a computer scientist, a mechanical engineer and a university administrator. He is currently Rector of the United Nations University and UN Under-Secretary-General.{{Cite web |title=Tshilidzi Marwala {{!}} United Nations University |url=https://unu.edu/about/staff/tshilidzi-marwala |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=UNU {{!}} United Nations University}} In August 2023 Marwala was appointed to the United Nations scientific advisory council.{{Cite news|agency=United Nations University |title=UN Secretary-General Creates Scientific Advisory Board |url=https://unu.edu/news/un-secretary-general-creates-scientific-advisory-board |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=UNU, United Nations University |language=en-UK}}{{Cite web |title=UN Secretary-General Creates Scientific Advisory Board for Independent Advice on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology {{!}} UN Press |url=https://press.un.org/en/2023/sga2223.doc.htm |date= 2023-08-03 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=press.un.org}}

Biography

= Early life and education =

Marwala was born on 28 July 1971 in Duthuni Village in the Limpopo Province.{{Cite web |last=Mkize |first=Phumla |date=2022-08-16 |title=Well-travelled professor who loves technology |url=https://sundayworld.co.za/news/well-travelled-professor-who-loves-technology/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Sunday World |language=en-ZA}} He obtained a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, graduating Magna Cum Laude,{{Cite web |url=https://casealumnus.org/newsmakers/international-educator/?fbclid=IwAR39vl0GjdW0EcmgWXeDkpiJ2EOEn-2JlBGCNBaV61cm3Gse94KYHE3fkW0_aem_AczShICf1rJv-D3ED5lmHTecqgfDBFcQv3QDUo5w2hZcsv56Beedp3_1EN-VmVqU28g |title=Case Western Reserve University Alumni |language=en |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=3 March 2023}} followed by a PhD in artificial intelligence from St John's College, Cambridge in 2000.{{Cite web |url=https://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=44CAM_ALMA21404576030003606&context=L&vid=44CAM_PROD&lang=en_US&search_scope=SCOP_CAM_ALL&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=cam_lib_coll&query=any,contains,Marwala&offset=10 |title=University of Cambridge PhD Thesis |language=en |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=3 March 2023}}

= Career =

From 2000 to 2001, Marwala was a post-doctoral research associate at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. In 2003, he joined the University of the Witwatersrand and became a professor of electrical engineering in 2008. From 2013 to 2017, He was the deputy vice chancellor for research and internationalization as well as the dean of engineering at the University of Johannesburg.

From 2018 to 2023, Marwala was the vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Johannesburg. As Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, Marwala developed and implemented the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) strategy,{{cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=4IR |url=https://www.uj.ac.za/news/fourth-industrial-revolution-lets-all-get-to-work-in-a-synchronised-manner/ |access-date=14 July 2023}} by introducing a compulsory artificial intelligence course and an Africa Insights course for all students, irrespective of their majors.{{cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=4IR |url=https://www.uj.ac.za/news/uj-introduces-two-100-free-fully-online-course-moocs-to-the-public-introduction-to-artificial-intelligence-in-the-4ir-and-african-insights/ |access-date=27 April 2022}}

Marwala has been Rector of the United Nations University and UN Under-Secretary-General since 1 March 2023.{{Cite web |date= |title=Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala Begins Term as United Nations University Rector {{!}} United Nations University |url=https://unu.edu/press-release/prof-tshilidzi-marwala-begins-term-united-nations-university-rector |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=UNU {{!}} United Nations University |language=en}} He was a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) committee that developed the ethical guidelines of using artificial intelligence in medicine.{{cite web |date=20 April 2021 |title=WHO |url=https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ethics/biographies-of-advisory-group-on-ethics-gov-of-ai-for-health-dg-briefing.pdf?sfvrsn=d4d6acaa_12 |access-date=20 April 2021}}

Marwala served as a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (2020-2023){{cite web |date=20 March 2023 |title=NelsonMandelaFoundation |url=https://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/prof-tshilidzi-marwala |access-date=20 March 2023}} and on a board of Nedbank (2019-2023).{{cite web |date=20 April 2022 |title=NedbankBoard |url=https://www.listcorp.com/jse/ned/nedbank-group-limited/news/nedbank-group-and-nedbank-change-to-the-boards-to-take-place-in-2023-2746554.html |access-date=20 April 2022}} He is a member of council of the University of Peace{{cite web | url=https://upeace.org/council-of-the-university-for-peace/ | title=Council of the University for Peace – UPEACE }} and the STS Forum Kyoto.{{cite web | url=https://www.stsforum.org/aboutus/councilmembers.php | title=Council Members｜NPO STS forum }}

Marwala was the Deputy Chair of South Africa’s Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (with the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa serving as Chair).{{cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=RSA |url=https://www.gov.za/search?search_query=Marwala |access-date=27 April 2022}} He is the Chair of the International Scientific Advisory Board for the African Centre of Excellence in the Internet of Things (ACE-IoT) based in Rwanda.{{cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=Rwanda |url=https://aceiot.ur.ac.rw/?Prof-Tshilidzi-Marwala |access-date=27 April 2022}} The government of Namibia appointed him on the Fourth Industrial Revolution Task Team.{{cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=Namibia |work=The Namibian |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/103156/read/Geingob-appoints-UJ-professor-to-4IR-task-force |access-date=27 April 2022}}

= Research =

{{Scholia}}Marwala's research interests include the theory and application of artificial intelligence to engineering{{cite journal |author1=Tshilidzi Marwala |year=2003 |title=Fault classification using pseudo modal energies and neural networks |journal=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Journal |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=82–89 |bibcode=2003AIAAJ..41...82M |doi=10.2514/2.1916}}{{cite journal |author1=Tshilidzi Marwala |author2=Sibusiso Sibisi |year=2005 |title=Finite element model updating using Bayesian framework and modal properties. |journal=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Journal of Aircraft |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=275–278 |doi=10.2514/1.11841}}{{cite journal |author1=Tshilidzi Marwala |year=2002 |title=Finite element model updating using wavelet data and genetic algorithm. |journal=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Journal of Aircraft |volume=39 |issue=4 |pages=709–711 |doi=10.2514/2.2971}} and computer science such as the St. Petersburg paradox,{{cite arXiv |eprint=1910.09544 |class=econ.GN |first1=Daniel |last1=Muller |first2=Tshilidzi |last2=Marwala |title=Relative Net Utility and the Saint Petersburg Paradox |year=2019}} blockchain,{{cite arXiv |eprint=1802.04451 |class=cs.AI |first1=Tshilidzi |last1=Marwala |first2=Bo |last2=Xing |title=Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence |year=2015}} and poker.,{{cite arXiv |eprint=0705.0693 |class=cs.AI |first1=Tshilidzi |last1=Marwala |first2=Evan |last2=Hurwitz |title=Learning to bluff |date=7 May 2007}}{{cite journal |last=Merali |first=Zeeya |date=2 June 2007 |title=Software learns when it pays to deceive |journal=New Scientist}} finance and economics,{{cite arXiv |eprint=1510.02867 |class=cs.AI |first1=Tshilidzi |last1=Marwala |first2=Evan |last2=Hurwitz |title=Artificial Intelligence and Asymmetric Information Theory |year=2015}}{{Cite web |title=Artificial Intelligence can Reduce Information Asymmetry : Networks Course blog for INFO 2040/CS 2850/Econ 2040/SOC 2090 |url=https://blogs.cornell.edu/info2040/2015/11/26/artificial-intelligence-can-reduce-information-asymmetry/ |access-date=27 October 2017 |website=blogs.cornell.edu}}{{cite book |last1=Marwala |first1=Tshilidzi |title=Artificial Intelligence and Economic Theory: Skynet in the Market |last2=Hurwitz |first2=Evan |publisher=Springer |year=2017 |isbn=978-3-319-66104-9 |location=London}} medicine like his work on pulmonary embolism{{cite arXiv |eprint=0706.0300 |class=cs.CV |first1=Simon |last1=Scurrell |first2=Tshilidzi |last2=Marwala |title=Automatic Detection of Pulmonary Embolism using Computational Intelligence |last3=Rubin |first3=David |year=2007}} epileptic activity,{{cite journal |author1=Nadim Mohamed |author2=David Rubin |author3=Tshilidzi Marwala |year=2006 |title=Detection of epileptiform activity in human EEG signals using Bayesian neural networks. |journal=Neural Information Processing-Letters and Reviews |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages= |doi=}} HIV{{cite journal |author1=B.B. Leke |author2=T. Marwala |year=2006 |title=Autoencoder networks for HIV classification. |journal=Current Science |volume=81 |issue=11 |pages= |doi=}} and Covid-19,{{cite journal |author1=R. Mbuvha |author2=T. Marwala |year=2020 |title=Bayesian inference of COVID-19 spreading rates in South Africa. |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=15 |issue=8 |pages=e0237126 |bibcode=2020PLoSO..1537126M |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0237126 |pmc=7406053 |pmid=32756608 |doi-access=free}} and political science.{{cite book |author1=Tshilidzi Marwala |title=Militarized Conflict Modeling Using Computational Intelligence |author2=Monica Lagazio |publisher=Springer |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85729-789-1 |location=Heidelberg}}{{cite book |author1=Bhaso Ndzendze |title=Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in International Relations. |author2=Tshilidzi Marwala |publisher=World Scientific Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=978-981-123-454-5 |location=Singapore}}{{cite book |author1=Bhaso Ndzendze |title=Artificial Intelligence and International Relations Theories |author2=Tshilidzi Marwala |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2023 |isbn=978-9811948763 |location=London}}

= Outreach and public engagement =

Marwala work and opinion have appeared in media such as New Scientist,{{Cite news |title=Software learns when it pays to deceive |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19426066.600-software-learns-when-it-pays-to-deceive/ |access-date=27 October 2017 |work=New Scientist |language=en-US}} The Economist,{{Cite news |date=14 May 2009 |title=On Jacob Zuma, Iraq, Croatia, home ownership, Somali pirates, education, Greece, Machiavelli, economics |url=http://www.economist.com/node/13642290 |access-date=27 October 2017 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}} CNN,{{Cite web |date=15 January 2018 |title=UJ grabs AI spotlight in CNN feature |url=https://yiba.co.za/uj-grabs-ai-spotlight-cnn-feature/}}{{Citation |last=University of Johannesburg official Youtube |title=UJ Vice-Chancellor speaks on AI on CNN Marketplace Africa |date=16 January 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKvf99dy3jk |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/CKvf99dy3jk |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}} and BBC.{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service - Business Daily, The education scam |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cswh1b |website=BBC}} He has also given talks at Royal Society,{{Cite web |title=Day 1 highlights - 2021 Commonwealth Science Conference: Science for a resilient future | Royal Society |url=https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/02/day-1-highlights-2021-commonwealth-science-conference/ |website=royalsociety.org}} Cambridge Union,{{Cite news |title=Is AI dangerous |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc2B7mXaNzo&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/Gc2B7mXaNzo |archive-date=2021-12-19}}{{cbignore}} and Oxford Union.{{Cite news |title=AI Panel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqeqnE7CLr8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/uqeqnE7CLr8 |archive-date=2021-12-19}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web |title=AI Panel |url=https://www.oxford-union.org/node/1844}} In 2016 Tshilidzi Marwala delivered the Bernard Price Memorial Lecture in South Africa. With Stephen Hawking and Guy Laliberté, he was a judge of the YouTube Space Lab competition.{{cite web |title=Judges |url=https://sites.google.com/site/ytspacelab/press/judges#TOC-Judges |access-date=2 January 2013 |work=YouTube Space Lab Resources |publisher=Google Sites}}

= Personal life =

Marwala is married to Jabulile Vuyiswa Manana since 2000, and together they have 3 children.

Awards and honours

Marwala is a fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (2010),{{Cite web|url=http://twas.org/member/marwala-tshilidzi|title=Marwala Tshilidzi|website=TWAS|language=en|access-date=27 October 2017}} African Academy of Sciences (2012),{{Cite web |title=Marwala Tshilidzi {{!}} The AAS |url=https://old.aasciences.africa/fellow/marwala-tshilidzi |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=old.aasciences.africa}} American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2022),{{Cite web|url=https://www.amacad.org/person/tshilidzi-marwala|title=Marwala Tshilidzi|website=American Academy of Arts and Sciences|language=en|access-date=28 April 2022}} Chinese Academy of Sciences (2023),{{Cite web|url=http://www.cas.ac.cn/tz/202311/t20231123_4986839.shtml|title=Marwala Tshilidzi|website=Chinese Academy of Sciences|language=en|access-date=23 November 2023}} and the Academy of Science of South Africa.{{When|date=January 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.assaf.org.za/members-directory/|title=ASAf Fellows in South Africa|website=Academy of Science of South Africa|language=en|access-date=27 October 2017}}{{Failed verification|date=December 2024}} He is the recipient of the Bronze Order of Mapungubwe in 2004.{{cite web | url=https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/node/5274 | title=The Order of Mapungubwe | the Presidency }}{{Failed verification|date=December 2024}} In 2022, Marwala was awarded the IT Personality of the Year Award in South Africa for his work on the fourth Industrial Revolution.{{Cite web |url=https://www.itweb.co.za/content/RgeVDqPY6lpvKJN3 |language=en |access-date=28 April 2022 |title=UJ's Prof Marwala wins IT Personality of the Year Award |date=12 April 2022}} In 2020 the Science-for-Society Gold Medal from the Academy of Science of South Africa,{{Cite web |url=https://www.assaf.org.za/2021/03/03/gold-medal-winners-2020/|language=en |access-date=24 November 2023 |title=Asaf Gold medal |date=12 April 2022}}{{Failed verification|date=December 2024}} and in 2024 the Hans Carl von Carlowitz Sustainability Award.{{Cite web |title=UNU Rector Recognized for Contributions to Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability |url=https://unu.edu/flores/news/unu-rector-recognized-contributions-artificial-intelligence-and-sustainability?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=United Nations University |language=en}}

Marwala has received honorary doctorates from the Caucasus University in Tbilisi in Georgia,{{Cite web|url=https://www.uj.ac.za/news/prof-tshilidzi-marwala-awarded-honorary-doctorate-from-the-caucasus-university-in-tbilisi-georgia/|language=en|access-date=1 August 2022|title=UJ's Prof Marwala awarded honorary doctorate from Caucasus University |date=1 August 2022 }} the University of Venda.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uj.ac.za/news/vice-chancellor-message-27-october-2022/|language=en|access-date=1 August 2022|title=honorary doctorate f|date=1 August 2022 }} and Tshwane University of Technology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tut.ac.za/latest-news/151-prof-marwala-to-be-awarded-honorary-doctorate-at-tut|language=en|access-date=28 March 2024|title=honorary doctorate f|date=28 March 2024}} Marwala has been a visiting fellow at Harvard University,{{Cite news |date=7 June 2007 |title=South African Fellowship Program certificates awarded |url=http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/06/south-african-fellowship-program-certificates-awarded/ |access-date=27 October 2017 |work=Harvard Gazette |language=en-US}} Wolfson College, Cambridge,{{Cite web |title=New appointment for former Visiting Fellow {{!}} Wolfson College Cambridge |url=http://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/2009/02/11/new-appointment-for-former-visiting-fellow |access-date=27 October 2017 |website=www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk |language=en}} and University of California, Berkeley.{{Cite web |title=Visiting Scholars Program {{!}} Center for Studies in Higher Education |url=http://www.cshe.berkeley.edu/visiting-scholars-program |access-date=27 October 2017 |website=www.cshe.berkeley.edu |language=en}}

Marwala was selected as one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2024 by New African Magazine, which noted "his extensive application of artificial intelligence concepts across multiple fields, including health care, aerospace engineering, economics, finance, and political science."{{Cite web |date=7 Jan 2025 |title=UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala Named One of 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 |url=https://unu.edu/news/unu-rector-tshilidzi-marwala-named-one-100-most-influential-africans-2024 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=United Nations University |language=en}}