Recursive Senior Machine Learning Engineer Yago del Valle Inclan Speaks at Sophia University on AI Applications in Environmental Systems

On June 25, 2026, Recursive Senior Machine Learning Engineer Yago del Valle Inclan gave a lecture at Sophia University’s Institute for Studies of the Global Environment.

The talk was delivered under the theme “AI for science and sustainability.” In the session, Recursive introduced practical examples of AI applications in environmental systems and shared how the company approaches real-world challenges through applied AI. A Q&A session followed the lecture, where Matt Whalley and Oktay Kurtulus also joined to answer questions from students and other attendees.

Session Highlights:

The lecture introduced three examples of Recursive’s work in environmental and infrastructure-related domains as part of its broader approach to AI for science and sustainability.

First, Yago presented Recursive’s work on improving weather forecasting through downscaling. Because global forecasting data is often too coarse for real operational decision-making, Recursive is developing approaches that combine topographical data and ground observation data to generate much higher-resolution weather forecasts.

Next, he introduced work on groundwater level prediction. As a topic closely related to forest fire prevention and CO2 emissions reduction, the session explained how combining physics-based modeling and AI can make it possible to approach complex environmental systems in a more practical and actionable way.

He also shared Recursive’s approach to water leak detection in pipes. Since underground leaks are difficult to detect through sensor data alone, Recursive uses a combination of physical information and AI for both leak detection and localization. This type of technology has important implications for water conservation and the maintenance of urban infrastructure.

The Q&A session also opened up discussion on broader themes, including AI ethics, algorithms, and the future of work.

Recursive’s Commitment:

Recursive believes AI should not remain just an efficiency tool, but should be implemented in ways that truly work in industries, society, and critical infrastructure.

This lecture provided an opportunity to share how AI can contribute to solving complex environmental and operational challenges through the perspective of AI for science and sustainability. Recursive will continue advancing the social implementation of AI to help build a fairer and more sustainable society.