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!AIMS NEI 2012-2013 AR 2014-09-16 9:46 AM Page 1 Towards an Innovative and Sustainable Approach to Development Annual Report June 2012 - June 2013 EXCELLENCE • RESPECT • PAN-AFRICANISM • INTEGRITY !AIMS NEI 2012-2013 AR 2014-09-16 9:46 AM Page 2 Contents 3 Message from the Chairman 4 Message from the Executive Director 6 2013 in Review • AIMS-NEI Vision, Mission, Values 8 Growth of the Network • Training • Future Centres • Research • Advancement 12 AIMS Centre Highlights • AIMS-Ghana • AIMS-Sénégal • AIMS-South Africa 16 Alumni • Statistics • Alumni Profiles • Global Alumni Reunion • Alumni Association 20 New Initiatives • Call to Action • AIMS Industry Initiative 21 AIMS in the Media 22 AIMS-NEI Staff 22 AIMS-NEI Board of Directors 23 List of Partners The reporting period for this report is June 2012 to June 2013. The work of AIMS-NEI as reported here was carried out with financial support from the UK Government's Department for International Development (DFID) and Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). !AIMS NEI 2012-2013 AR 2014-09-16 9:46 AM Page 3 Message from the Chairman Inspired by Our Students In 2008, when we launched AIMS Next Einstein Initiative, it seemed a distant dream. It captured our core belief: that a vast untapped pool of scientific and technical talent lies waiting to be discovered in Africa. With the early success of the first AIMS centre in South Africa, we believed we had a proven a model for how to unlock this talent: by gathering together the brightest African graduates and bringing the best lecturers in the world to teach them, we could create a transformation in Africa’s prospects for science, technology, and development. followed by AIMS-Ghana (2012) high quality. Those have been and AIMS-Cameroon which the guiding principles of the should open later in the year. original AIMS centre in Cape Thierry assembled a Town, as well as in the growth professional staff, establishing of the network. “Everything we do is inspired by our marvellous students. Most have “ overcome huge obstacles to pursue their education and their passion for science. They give everything to their studies and they go on to become examples of what young Africans can do. They are ambassadors; they are role models; they are the future.” effective financial systems, Everything we do is building relationships across the inspired by our marvellous network, and laying the ground students. Most have overcome for this unique continent-wide huge obstacles to pursue their institution. He and his team education and their passion for REATING A and managerial ability. They had have raised AIMS’ profile science. They give everything to CpanAfrican network of to be able to interact with among African leaders and their studies and they go on to scientific centres of excellence is academics and scientists from all consolidated major funding become examples of what more easily said than done. In over the world, and above all, to commitments with the young Africans can do. They are 2008, we were a long way from inspire everybody they met to Canadian government, the UK ambassadors; they are role realizing this vision. What we contribute to our common government, and the Humboldt models; they are the future. did know was that it would cause. Foundation in Germany, among We hope and believe that by require exceptional leadership, Thierry Zomahoun others. Just as significant, they creating the conditions in which committed staff, and an brought all these qualities to have secured funding large numbers of young African unequalled pioneering spirit. AIMS, and much more. He has agreements with every host people can become scientists, One of our highest been a dynamo driving the country, making them true technologists and, more priorities was to recruit an pan-African AIMS network partners in carrying AIMS’ generally, highly skilled people, Executive Director. That person ever since. vision forward. the spinoff from our search for needed to understand the Thierry and his team's AIMS has many unique the next Einstein may be just as African landscape well – both its achievements have been little features, summarized in our significant as the goal itself. positive and negative features. short of remarkable. New motto, which is that we want They needed formidable centres have opened in short Africa to be: RICH – relevant, Sincerely, intelligence, foresight, energy, order: AIMS-Sénégal (2011), innovative, cost-effective, and Professor Neil Turok Annual Report 2012-2013 3 !AIMS NEI 2012-2013 AR 2014-09-16 9:47 AM Page 4 Message from the Executive Director A Dream of Transformation AIMS began as a dream, a vision that scientific and mathematical prowess would transform the African landscape and aid in its sustainable development. At AIMS, we believe this dream has become a reality. To date, we have trained over 560 students from 38 African countries, and have moved beyond a single centre to a network of pan-African centres in Ghana, Sénégal and South Africa with plans for further expansion. Reunion include A Call to Action which urges officials to invest in Mathematical Sciences education, and the creation of The Next Einstein Forum, a global forum celebrating HIS YEAR, in our country to build the science in Africa and Tthe AIMS qualification has capacity of our scientific highlighting the essential role transformed from a Postgraduate community. This mark of trust that science plays in human Diploma to a fully accredited by a prestigious knowledge development. Master’s Degree. Our research institution should not only I am pleased to report that centres are flourishing consolidate our own trust in the media and the global attracting highly qualified staff ourselves, but also spur our community at large have begun and visitors to study socially youth to choose studies in the to catch on to the AIMS relevant topics each year. AIMS scientific and technical fields in scientific revolution, and has begun Career Development initiatives including The AIMS Industry Initiative, which was “This year AIMS hosted our first ever launched this year and seeks to “ Global Alumni Reunion, which engage industry across the scope marked the 10-year anniversary of of AIMS network activities. AIMS, and brought together leading AIMS has also begun offering online courses, to connect the industry and academic leaders with knowledge at AIMS with the our accomplished alumni.” broader community and learners across the globe. As AIMS continues to which they are naturally gifted.” incorporate it into their own contribute to African This year AIMS hosted our coverage. For example, in development, African first ever Global Alumni March, AIMS was represented governments are coming on Reunion, which marked the at the BBC Africa Science board to support AIMS 10-year anniversary of AIMS, Festival in Uganda, and our initiatives in their countries. We and brought together leaders Alumni have been highlighted in have seen tremendous support from industry and academia print media around the world. in South Africa, Sénégal and with our accomplished alumni. Of course, none of our Ghana, and now we turn our We were deeply honoured to achievements would be possible sights towards Cameroon, who have many notable guests and without the continued support have already pledged to open an speakers at the event, including of our generous partners and AIMS Centre in their country. Her Excellency Naledi Pandor, supporters. On behalf of all President Paul Biya of South African Minister of AIMS staff, students and Cameroon acknowledged the Home Affairs, an exceptional Alumni, let me express our key role that AIMS plays, and female public figure and heartfelt gratitude. stated in his Youth Day speech longtime supporter of AIMS. that “…AIMS is planning to Concrete and immediate results Sincerely, establish a Centre of Excellence from the Global Alumni Thierry Zomahoun 4 AIMS Next Einstein Initiative • www.nexteinstein.org !AIMS NEI 2012-2013 AR 2014-09-16 9:47 AM Page 5 Annual Report 2012-2013 5 !AIMS NEI 2012-2013 AR 2014-09-16 9:47 AM Page 6 2013 in Review Exceeding all Expectations This year AIMS celebrated its 10 year anniversary and it is fair to say that AIMS has far exceeded the expectations and dreams of its founding group and supporters. To recognise the importance of this milestone, the first ever Global Alumni Reunion was held and AIMS launched a book on its history titled AIMS: the first decade. Other notable achievements for the year included over 100 students graduating, planning for a future centre in Cameroon, online courses and the launch of the AIMS Industry Initiative. Additional Partners Integration of Career AIMS Centres graduated Development Programmes 109 students with a Master’s in Mathematical Sciences AIMS Global Alumni Reunion Government buy-in to open future AIMS Centres: AIMS-Cameroon AIMS and its Schools Enrichment Online Courses at Centre AIMS-South Africa (AIMSSEC) celebrated 10 years of existence Research projects related to industry AIMS Centres offering consulting services to industry students and alumni and students training/funding for training/funding Business start-up start-up Business Creation of the Industry involvement Jobs and Internships in curriculum for students Launch of The AIMS Next Einstein and alumni development/delivery Industry Initiative Forum 6 AIMS Next Einstein Initiative • www.nexteinstein.org !AIMS NEI 2012-2013 AR 2014-09-16 9:47 AM Page 7 AIMS-NEI Vision, Mission, Values The first African Institute for innovative pan-African centres Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) for post-graduate training, centre was established in 2003, research and educational in Cape Town, South Africa. outreach. The second AIMS Following the success of this centre was then opened in centre, the African Institute for Sénégal in 2011 and the third in Mathematical Sciences – Next Ghana in 2012.