Mapping the built up environment of Africa and beyond

Abigail Annkah is a Google AI Research Software Engineer in Ghana. Abigail is interested in computer vision and optimisation applied to global concerns, such as overcoming information gaps in underdeveloped regions of the world or improving health, education, and/or agriculture. She frequently takes part in mentorship programs and is generally excited about collaborations that promise to have an influence on the lives of Africans and others. Her undergraduate studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, in Accra provided her with a foundation in mathematics and statistics. She was awarded a full scholarship for a Master of Science in Machine Intelligence from the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Kigali, Rwanda. She completed a residency at Google and made contributions to the Open Buildings Dataset. Prior to residency at Google, she worked on several projects, including the Application of Image Analysis to Advanced Complex Microbial Images, spatio-temporal modeling and malaria prediction in sub-Saharan Africa, and image denoising using the diffusion equations with explicit numerical methods. She is an ambassador for Mind the Gap, a Google initiative to encourage female students to pursue careers in STEM, and was mentor for the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Ghana's Girls in Mathematical Sciences Program (GMSP) in 2022. Previously, she was a member of a Rwandan team that engaged high school teachers and teacher in-training for problem solving for Mathematics students, as well as a pilot version of the Rwandan Mathematical Olympiad. My mo is inspired by "Life is short. Smile while you have teeth" by Mallory Hopkins.