May 6, 2025
On November 20-21, 2025, Universidad Católica San Pablo in Arequipa, Peru, hosted PhawAI + TaReCDa 2025. This event united students, faculty, and researchers from around the globe for two days of discussion, learning, and collaboration surrounding artificial intelligence.
This initiative was spearheaded by SCI Assistant Professor Nils Murrugarra and Professor Tilsa Oré Mónago from Rice University’s Department of Economics, and funded by Google’s exploreCSR Grant, which they received in 2024. The grant and accompanying event aimed to broaden participating researchers’ AI horizons and expand pathways to graduate-level computing and AI studies in Peru, Ecuador, and the United States.
The event hosted 32 scholars, 15 speakers, 16 research projects, and several workshops, mentorship opportunities, and project-based learning experiences. Conference attendees developed new technical skills alongside their global peers, growing their network within an already rapidly growing AI field.
Google’s exploreCSR grant program (2018-2024) “supported institutions in designing and hosting research-focused initiatives that build skills, community, and motivation to pursue computing research pathways.” Murrugarra’s PhawAI + TaReCDa 2025 exemplified this mission by creating an accessible, collaborative space where emerging AI and computing researchers worldwide can enhance their potential and find support in pursuing advanced studies.