
Scivil
Karen Verstraelen
- 2025
- Speaker
- Engage
Karen Verstraelen holds an MSc in Research Psychology and an MA in Journalism from the University of Leuven. She studied at the University of Birmingham as an exchange student and interned at the University of Oxford. Since 2021, she has managed projects at Scivil, the Flemish knowledge centre for Citizen Science, including Amai!. She also leads the UNESCO Citizens4Water initiative, creating a global repository that connects citizen science efforts in hydrology and water management worldwide.
Breaking the Wall to Citizen-Driven AI: Karen Verstraelen's 2025 Falling Walls Engage Finalist Project is Amai!.
Amai! is a co-creation project developing AI solutions for challenges in climate, health, mobility, and work. It engages citizens, including those less interested in technology, to shape AI tools relevant to their lives through workshops, conversations, and public voting. By involving the public, researchers, and professionals, Amai! makes AI accessible. Funded projects include climate tools like litter detection and tree mapping, empowering communities to create real impact.