State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Edward Amoah is trained as an engineer and as a scientist. With a BS in Computer Engineering and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Edward combines the methodical and scientific training from Ecology to address real-world challenges with his engineering skills from his training as a computer engineer. Some of his notable works involve using Artificial Intelligence to tackle social and ecological challenges in developing countries. Edward Co-founded and led the Nyansapo AI team to win the Nittany AI challenge in 2020. As the senior software engineer, Edward led a team of 8 members to gather data and train and customize a speech-to-text model for Kenya accents. The team also developed an Android mobile application to help assess the literacy levels of children. The team utilized AWS cloud infrastructure to provide smooth services to users. Nyansapo AI continues to innovate with educational organizations to create custom EdTech tools powered by AI for literacy and numeracy intervention programs. Edward's work goes beyond technology development; Edward was one of the 20 students awarded $100,000 to develop a monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system for carbon sequestration. For this project, Edward has developed an MRV system that uses a custom semantic segmentation model to power a sophisticated algorithm that estimates tree diameter from an image with a reference object. Edward also contributed to the PlantVillage grant application, awarded the $1M Xprize Milestone award for carbon sequestration. Edward used his scientific knowledge of Ecology to analyze the life cycle analysis for carbon sequestration with smallholder farmers in Africa.
The U.S. National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) program is an immersive, entrepreneurial training program that facilitates the transformation of invention to impact. I am enrolled in this program to commercialize my research into real-world impact.
• Selected as one of 28 fellows for the prestigious African Fellows Program at the World Bank. • Collaborate with the Global Education Unit, focusing on educational development in East and Central Africa. • Specialize in the development and application of AI tools to enhance educational outcomes.
At Penn State, I am leading work on PolliSense, an AI-powered system for assessing habitat quality and guiding biodiversity improvements. This project focuses on pollinators that are essential for food security and ecosystem health but are threatened by habitat loss and climate change. We are developing machine learning models that analyze images of landscapes (gardens, farms, urban green spaces) to produce a Habitat Quality Score (HQS) and provide actionable recommendations for improving pollinator-friendly environments. Unlike traditional resource-intensive surveys, this approach offers a scalable, user-friendly tool for farmers, land managers, and conservationists. My research combines computer vision (CNNs, Vision Transformers), contrastive learning, and counterfactual explanation methods to address challenges such as diverse habitats, noisy image data, and complex biodiversity metrics. Ultimately, PolliSense aims to empower communities with accessible technology to support ecological resilience and sustainable agriculture. This project is co-led by Prof. Christina Grozinger, Prof. Mehrdad Mahdavi, and Dr. Harland Patch.
Dissertation Research: Monitoring and Managing Ecological Systems My doctoral dissertation constitutes a pivotal phase in my academic journey, centered on the convergence of Remote Sensing, Crowdsourcing Platforms, Artificial Intelligence, and IoT to revolutionize the monitoring, modeling, and management of ecological systems. Remote Sensing Advancements: My research focuses on harnessing the power of cutting-edge Remote Sensing technologies. I will explore methodologies to capture and analyze high-resolution data, enabling a deeper understanding of ecological systems on various scales, from landscapes to ecosystems. Crowdsourcing for Data Collection: In recognition of the value of collective intelligence, I will integrate crowdsourcing platforms to facilitate data collection. This inclusive approach not only expands the scope of data acquisition but also engages communities in ecological monitoring efforts, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. Artificial Intelligence and IoT Integration: Artificial Intelligence and IoT play a pivotal role in studies. My dissertation will explore ways to use AI and IoT to gather real-time data for the monitoring and management of ecological systems using low-cost, open-source technologies. Ecological Management Strategies: The overarching goal of my dissertation is to provide valuable tools and insights for the effective management of ecological systems. By integrating these technologies, I aimed to contribute to informed decision-making in conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable practices. Edward Amoah recognizes the potential of interdisciplinary research and technology-driven solutions to address ecological challenges. I remain dedicated to exploring opportunities at the intersection of technology and ecology, with a vision to drive positive change for our environment.
As the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Nyansapo AI, I am passionate about leveraging technology to drive positive change in education, particularly in developing countries. Nyansapo AI is committed to partnering with organizations to develop customized AI-powered EdTech solutions for literacy and numeracy intervention programs, and my role has been instrumental in shaping our mission and vision. Innovative EdTech Solutions: I have been privileged to lead a dynamic team of professionals dedicated to creating innovative EdTech tools. Our focus on custom solutions enables us to address the unique challenges faced by learners in developing countries. These tools are designed to enhance literacy and numeracy, providing students with the skills they need to succeed. Collaborative Partnerships: Nyansapo AI's success is built on strong collaborations with educational organizations. My role involves fostering and nurturing these partnerships, ensuring that our AI-powered tools are tailored to meet the specific needs of the communities we serve. Through these collaborations, we aim to make a lasting impact on education. Technology at the Core: As CTO, I ensure that technology remains at the core of our initiatives. This involves overseeing the development of cutting-edge AI solutions, exploring emerging technologies, and continuously improving our tools to stay at the forefront of the EdTech landscape. Global Reach: Nyansapo AI's work extends across borders, reaching learners in diverse settings. I am proud to be part of a team that is making a difference on a global scale, bridging the educational divide through technology. My journey with Nyansapo AI is a testament to our commitment to innovation, education, and social impact. I am excited about the opportunities ahead as we expand our reach and make education more accessible and effective for all.
1. Curated and extracted datasets and documents from partners to build the knowledge base for the AgriData AI Lab chatbot at the World Bank Group. 2. Implemented Python scripts to automate data extraction and curation 3. Collaborated with the Data and Digital Agriculture team to facilitate the discovery of agricultural data and knowledge about digital agriculture solutions. 4. Contributed to developing the AI chatbot, enhancing accessibility to valuable agricultural information.