Beltus Nkwawir

Beltus Nkwawir

Using AI and data science to improve Public Health Intelligence systems and contribute to a sustainable world

Welcome to my blog

Picture of Beltus Nkwawir

Hi, I'm Beltus Nkwawir. I work as a Research Associate and Data Scientist at the Robert Koch Institute's Center for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, based in Berlin, Germany.

My work sits at the intersection of AI and public health. I design and build agentic AI systems powered by large language models that help people find critical, accurate health knowledge; faster and more reliably.

How I got here

My path into AI didn't begin in Silicon Valley or at a top computer science program. It began in Buea, Cameroon, where I studied Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Buea. That degree gave me something invaluable: a rigorous foundation in mathematics, programming, and systems thinking.

In 2017, a Udacity course introduced me to AI for the first time. Something clicked. I could see it clearly; this technology had the potential to transform every facet of human life. I had to go deeper.

That conviction led me to Istanbul Technical University (ITU) — Turkey's oldest and most prestigious university; where I earned a Master's degree in Computer Science as a fully funded scholar of the Turkish Government Scholarship Programme.

Today, I have over a decade of experience in AI and Data Science.

I've had the privilege of applying that experience to real-world challenges at some of the world's most important institutions — including the United Nations Development Programme in Istanbul and the World Health Organization Hub in Berlin — working on AI-driven solutions for sustainability, global health capacity, and pandemic intelligence.

And I'm not done. Alongside my work in Berlin, I'm a PhD candidate at ITU, where my research tackles two of the most pressing challenges facing modern data center infrastructure: their soaring operational costs and their significant carbon footprint.

What I write about

This site is my corner of the internet — a place where I think out loud and share what I'm learning. You'll find writing on:

  • AI, machine learning, and data science — concepts, tools, and ideas worth understanding
  • Personal growth systems — frameworks and lessons drawn from my own experiences
  • The broader world — Ideas from history, psychology, philosophy books that shape how I see things

A few more things

🌍 I speak English, French, and Turkish — along with two local languages, Lamnso and Pidgin. I'm currently learning German.

📚 I'm an avid reader of non-fiction — history, psychology, philosophy, science. Books are how I make sense of the world.

🎵 Born and raised in Cameroon, I carry the rhythm of African music wherever I go.

I'm glad you're here. If something you read resonates with you — or if you'd like to collaborate on a project or article — reach out on LinkedIn. I'd love to connect.

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