AI and life sciences: Area at Guatemala’s first biophysics school

Creating a meeting place between different disciplines, where students and researchers can acquire new tools and skills to address scientific questions at the interface between physics and biology. This was the aim of the first biophysics school in Guatemala, that was held at the University of the Valley from November 26th to December 5th, promoted by ICTP – International Centre for Theoretical Physics with the participation of Area Science Park.

Francesca Cuturello, a researcher at the Data Engineering Laboratory (LADE) at Area Science Park, took part in the initiative with the course “Machine Learning for Structural Biology.” In her presentation, Cuturello illustrated how statistical artificial intelligence models can be used to understand the structure and function of biomolecules.

Edith Natalia Villegas Garcia, a PhD student in the Area, was also among the organizers and teaching assistant for the Machine Learning course.

The school represents an important step toward building an international biophysics network, with the aim of promoting biophysics research and creating lasting links between Guatemalan universities and the international scientific community.