Every journey begins with a farewell and a hope – bon voyage!

Salima was a distinguished professor of computer science at Claude Bernard University, deeply involved in both teaching and research. She pioneered the Artificial Intelligence master’s program at UCBL, contributing to its development and accreditation. As a founding member of the LIRIS laboratory, she led the SMA team and played a significant role in the SyCoSMA team, focusing on AI’s societal applications.

Her research spanned multi-agent systems, autonomous agents, and self-managed systems, with an emphasis on intelligent systems featuring decentralized control. She also delved into embodied cognition and developmental learning.

Salima’s influence extended globally, serving on the advisory board of the INAIQT and as Vice-Chair for European project evaluations. She was involved in evaluating numerous H2020 and HORIZON programs and took on additional responsibilities with the HCERES.

A respected member of various scientific communities, Salima chaired several conference committees, including AICCSA’2015 and IEEE SASO, and contributed to the editorial board of ACM TAAS. Her work in social robotics and ambient intelligence systems, particularly through projects funded by the ANR, showcased her commitment to social computing and intelligent governance.

As an educator, Salima was responsible for courses in AI, fostering a dynamic environment for learning. She successfully led the SyCoSMA team, focusing on AI’s role in addressing societal challenges. Her collaborative approach was reflected in her facilitation techniques and involvement with students.

Salima’s passing leaves a significant void, marked by her charismatic presence and impactful contributions to the field of AI.