Breakout Session 4

This talk explores how AI and robotics are evolving from powerful machines into human-centered partners. Through real-world projects in smart manufacturing, sustainable robotics, circular systems, and AI-enabled learning factories, the session shows how intelligent robots can think efficiently while acting responsibly. Students will discover how human values—ethics, empathy, and purpose—shape technology that reduces waste, supports people, and regenerates our planet. This vision, called Earth 2.0, imagines a future where robots work with humans to create industries and societies that are productive, sustainable, and meaningful. The talk invites students to become thoughtful creators of technology, not just users of it.

About Dr. Rafiq Ahmad:

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad is the Engineering Research Chair in Smart Manufacturing and Industrialized Robotics and an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, leading transformative work at the intersection of robotics, AI, and sustainability. As founder of the SMART Lab and the Agile Learning Factory, he bridges research and real-world impact, translating ideas into industrial solutions and award-winning ventures, including a NASA Lunar Recycling Challenge–winning startup. Recognized with the ASTech Award for Digital Technology Innovation and Edify’s Top 40 Under 40, his work is shaping resilient industries and advancing a sustainable Earth 2.0 vision—from factory floors to planetary-scale systems.

Videogames can lead players through fantastic worlds full of memorable characters, and exciting experiences. At the heart of these games lies a team of dedicated and creative game developers, who use a variety of tools to bring these worlds to life. Come learn how developers use AI systems to determine things from NPC behaviour, to the shape of their worlds, and even music! The focus of this panel is for high school students to learn more about how game developers create their worlds, and some basic explanations for the AI systems that determine how the game responds to the player.

This panel will not discuss generative AI in video game development, and its purpose is to highlight the creative process with the game developer at the center of it.

About the Panelists:

Dave Chan - Dave Chan is a sound designer with 25 years of industry experience. He has worked as an independent contractor and in-studio development. Dave has contributed to titles in both the indie and AAA space. He started at BioWare with his first game, MDK2, which shipped in 2000.

Alison Czarnietzki - Alison Victoria Czarnietzki is a veteran game developer and studio leader with 24 years of professional experience spanning engineering, design, and production. She is the CEO and co-founder of Only By Midnight, an Edmonton-based indie studio, and has shipped award-winning and commercial titles across multiple platforms. Alison specializes in building ambitious gameplay and AI-driven systems in Unity, turning complex technical challenges into player-facing magic—whether that’s novel simulation, tooling, or production-ready pipelines. In addition to leading original IP, she consults with multiple teams and partners on advanced gameplay architecture, performance, and scalable content workflows. Alison is passionate about demystifying game development for emerging creators, and she brings a candid, practical perspective on what it takes to ship games: craft, collaboration, iteration, and resilience. 

Jawdat Toume - Jawdat is an indie game developer and a games researcher. She has felt a love for designing games from a very young age, feeling particularly interested in all the different aspects of video games and how they can be combined together to create a full experience. She is now a co-founder of Daisy Chain Games, working as an audio designer, level designer, writer, and AI programmer on an indie racing game, Slipstream. 

Jawdat also worked towards a Masters degree in Computing Science, with a particular focus on game AI and how it can be used in different ways for different gameplay experiences. Her research revolved primarily around player behaviour and how it can be impacted by NPC behaviour in strategy games. Jawdat is always excited about expanding her knowledge in all different aspects of game design and loves creating new gameplay experiences.

This session provides a look at how the Edmonton Police Service is approaching artificial intelligence today and into the future. We will begin by outlining EPS’s vision for responsible and ethical use of AI, including how emerging technologies can support operational effectiveness, enhance public safety, and improve internal efficiency. From there, we will showcase current AI-related projects and prototypes underway within the organization, highlighting practical examples of how analytics, automation, and machine‑assisted insights are being used to support policing.

About the Speakers:

Scott Bennet, PhD - is a civilian analytics leader with the Edmonton Police Service, with 11 years of service, where he works in the Business Analysis, Intelligence and Reporting section. He has extensive experience leading business intelligence, advanced analytics, and geospatial research in support of evidence‑based policing. With a PhD in Human Geography and a background in GIS, statistical modeling, and applied research, Scott has an interest in the practical application of AI, with a focus on using emerging technologies responsibly and ethically to enhance decision‑making in the public service. Outside of work, Scott is an avid outdoorsman, and enjoys fishing, mountain biking and rock climbing.

A/Sgt. Abdirahman Kulmiye - is a member of the Information Governance Branch at the Edmonton Police Service and has been with the EPS for approximately ten years. As a sworn member, Abdirahman is interested in how artificial intelligence can be introduced thoughtfully and responsibly to support policing, while maintaining public trust, ethical safeguards, and clear governance. Prior to policing, Abdirahman worked in the renewable energy sector, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to technology and innovation. Abdirahman also brings a practical frontline lens to discussions about emerging tools and is pleased to be part of conversations on how AI can support learning, innovation, and a future-ready public service. Outside of work, Abdirahman is an avid gamer and holds a degree in physics.

AI is everywhere, from the code deciding what you see in your TikTok feed to the chatbot you use for homework – and if you aren't careful, it can be easy to get lost in the noise. In this session, we’re going to learn how to cut through slop, hallucinations, and misinformation to take control back from the algorithms that surround us. We will also learn how to use AI tools in a way that supports rather than supplants your thinking by tackling hidden biases, modeling transparency, and using advanced techniques like retrieval augmented generation. 

About Benjamin Ehlers:

Benjamin Ehlers is a Digital Literacy Librarian at the Edmonton Public Library, where he bridges the gap between emerging technologies and community empowerment. With a unique dual background as a certified educator (B.Ed.) and librarian (MLIS), Benjamin specializes in instructional design, makerspace technologies, and information literacy. He is dedicated to moving learners from passive tech consumers to critical curators, whether he is training library staff or prototyping public-facing service innovations. 

From Discovery to Decisions introduces the Indigenous‑led Community Atlases (ICAs), a multi‑year research project that integrates open data, legacy archives, and community‑generated knowledge to visualize landscapes and support local decision‑making.  We will discuss how local computation - running AI and analysis where the data lives - can strengthen data sovereignty and community control over traditional knowledge.  Data Sovereignty principles will be translated into day‑to‑day choices about storage, consent, access, and what, if anything, ever leaves the machine.  Finally, we will discuss the project’s next steps, including our design of a local workstation to serve as the community’s sovereign computing hub, as well as data readiness, education, transparency, and outreach.

About David Blaine:

Dave Blaine is an interdisciplinary research specialist whose work integrates geospatial technologies, audiovisual media, and applied field science. With academic foundations in archaeology, GIS, and digital new media, he brings a unique skillset to collaborative research projects that span heritage management, emergency response, environmental conservation, and community mapping. Dave combines technical fluency with visual storytelling to transform complex information into accessible, meaningful narratives, whether through maps, photos, video, or interactive media. His approach is grounded in hands-on experience and a commitment to making data and stories resonate across disciplines and audiences.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in 7 different self-paced hands-on activities to learn more about artificial intelligence (AI), how data and AI intersect, how generative AI works, and engage in ethical conversations about AI use.