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September 2014 Network News Note from the President & CEO Celebrating a growing network for maths and science in It’s always a pleasure to share news on the diverse and distinctive projects undertaken by the AIMS Global Network to advance development efforts.

n pursuit of our goal to open 15 Centres of Excellence in Africa studying overseas to return to the continent to continue their by 2023, the AIMS Next Einstein Initiative recently signed a academic career and contribute to Africa’s growth through research IMemorandum of Understanding with the government of and teaching. to open its fifth Centre. The new AIMS centre is scheduled The 2013/2014 academic year came to a successful close in July. to open in October 2014 in the city of Arusha in the country’s On behalf of the entire AIMS family, I would like to congratulate the northern region, a temporary location while AIMS’ permanent 171 students who successfully completed their year and earned a facility in Bagamoyo is being prepared. This expansion marks a Master’s in Mathematical Sciences. A series of graduation period of exceptional economic growth in Tanzania, which has truly ceremonies took place across AIMS’ centres to celebrate their emerged as an economic leader in East Africa. As of 2012, its Gross achievements and to wish the new graduates the best of success in National Product (GNP) totalled US $72.39 billion, ranking the their future careers. I know we are not saying goodbye as we expect Tanzanian economy second only to that of Kenya (US $74.68 billion). to stay in touch with all of our Alumni. AIMS continues its concerted efforts to promote its model and demonstrate the crucial role that Mathematical Sciences should play in the transformation of Africa. At Centre level, a number of On behalf of the entire AIMS family, technical workshops designed to address local development “ I would like to congratulate the 171 challenges were organised over the last semester, in collaboration students who successfully completed with partner academic institutions. At institutional level, their year and earned a Master’s in participation in regional and international conferences is enabling the AIMS Global Network to progressively position itself as a major Mathematical Sciences. scientific player, reinforcing its contributions and attracting new partners from a variety of sectors. I cannot conclude without mentioning the current health crisis This international recognition will be enhanced at the Next in West Africa, which remains of growing concern for the AIMS Einstein Forum, a new initiative launched by AIMS in partnership Global Network. As a pan-African organisation, we are supporting with the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) will the international community’s efforts to stop the spread of the Ebola be a global forum for science that will bring together virus and ensure that all members of our staff and students are 500+ outstanding thinkers and leading stakeholders from around the educated about the epidemic. We have established a surveillance world in Africa. The NEF will highlight breakthrough discoveries, team dedicated to coordinating and sharing essential information showcase Africa’s top young scientists, and catalyze scientific and procedures to prevent the transmission of the virus. We are collaboration for human development. As we prepare to host the working hard to safely bring all of our new students, including those NEF in October 2015 in , I encourage our partners, colleagues from countries affected by the virus, to our centres for the coming and friends across the scientific community to spread the news about academic year, which is starting now. the NEF, and to let us know if you would like to participate in this With that, I send a warm welcome to our 2014/2015 cohort of exciting event that will help to transform Africa into a leading 190 students, including 59 women, from 31 countries to our Centres member of the global scientific community. in , Sénégal, and , and a special With the launch of the AIMS ARETÉ Junior Chairs welcome to the additional 40 students who are preparing for their programme, established through a grant from the Robert Bosch travel to Tanzania in October. I truly hope you will all enjoy your Stiftung, Dr. Antoine Tambue, a brilliant African scientist and an journey at AIMS. AIMS Alumni, has returned to Africa to become the programme’s Chair of Junior Research. The Junior Chairs programme was Sincerely, designed to encourage African scientists currently working or Thierry Zomahoun

EXCELLENCE • RESPECT • PAN-AFRICANISMAIMS-NEI Network News• • INTEGRITYSeptember 2014 1 AIMS-NEI Sept 2014 news ENG 2014-09-11 2:27 PM Page 2

Network News

Skills Development (TVSD), but should also prioritise the Sharing the AIMS story Mathematical Sciences. AIMS was highlighted as the working model for Africa in building the high level skills that talented young around the world men and women need to lead and transform the continent. Mr. Thierry Zomahoun, President & CEO of AIMS-NEI, Kenya led a team of representatives to key meetings across The Forum for Africa and abroad to share the vision of the AIMS African Women network and to promote Mathematical Sciences as a Educationalists vehicle for the transformation of Africa. (FAWE) invited AIMS-NEI to Canada participate in its At the invitation of the 9th General International Assembly held Development Research from 13- 15 Centre (IDRC), AIMS August in participated in a round Nairobi, Kenya. table at the June 2014 As a key partner FAWE's team and partners. Montreal conference on in FAWE’s “Innovation in Africa: An mandate to promote girls Opportunity for education in STEM in Africa, Investment and Economic AIMS-NEI took part in a round Development.” The event table on “Nurturing Diverse was an opportunity for Partnership for FAWE’s Mr. Zomahoun to present Sustainability” to identify areas for AIMS’ mission and future collaboration. A emphasise how its unique comprehensive partnership model equips students framework is being finalized and with skills for problem AIMS-NEI is excited about the Mrs. Massouka Bih (center) with Drs. Nuwagaba and Marijani. solving and critical opportunities to engage more girls thinking. Policy-makers, in STEM through the partnership with FAWE. industry leaders and high AIMS-NEI was represented at the General Assembly by net worth individuals Mireille Massouka Bih, Director Africa Development Agenda, and attended the round table Drs Savannah Nuwagaba and Theresia Marijani, both AIMS Alumni. Above: Thierry Zomahoun at the Montreal conference. and offered to support Below: AIMS-NEI delegation with the Hon. Ed Fast, Canadian this innovative initiative in Germany Minister of International trade. African scientific training. In July, the German Federal Ministry for Cote d’Ivoire Education and Later in July, Mr. Zomahoun led a delegation from AIMS-NEI to Research (BMBF) take part in the Ministerial Conference on “Providing Africa’s Youth hosted a round table with Skills and Training for Jobs” in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. During a discussion at their round table on this theme, Mr. Zomahoun delivered a powerful, Berlin headquarters challenging and engaging with leading presentation. Calling governmental African governments to stakeholders and Irene Tamajong, AIMS-NEI UK Director (left), and Arun Sharma, Managing Director of the Next Einstein Forum (right). invest in African youth, he some of Germany’s emphasised that largest foundations. The round table was convened to highlight investment should not AIMS’ work, achievements and future objectives. The event was only be placed in very well attended, with 10 institutions present from across Technical and Vocational Germany. Irene Tamajong, AIMS-NEI UK Director, and Arun Sharma, Managing Director of the Next Einstein Forum, represented AIMS-NEI delegation at the Abidjan the AIMS Network at the round table. Ministerial conference. •

AIMS-NEI VISION:Leading the transformation of Africa through innovative scientific training, technical advances and breakthrough discoveries that benefit the whole of society.

IN THIS ISSUE 2 Network News 5 Training Workshops 7 Alumni Alumni 1 Note from the 3 Outreach 6 AIMS Industry 8 Media Hits President and CEO 4 Research Initiative

AIMS-NEI Network News is produced quarterly by AIMS Next Einstein Initiative. Contact : [email protected]

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Ceremony in Dar es Salaam confirms AIMS-NEI’s expansion to Tanzania

On 4 August 2014, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences - Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Tanzania to open the fifth AIMS centre of excellence.

he ceremony took place in Dar es Salaam at the offices of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT). Prof. Sifuni Mchome, TPermanent Secretary to the MoEVT, signed on behalf of the government of the United Republic of Tanzania, alongside Mr Thierry Zomahoun, President & CEO of AIMS-NEI. Signing the MOU with government of Tanzania officials, to open the fifth AIMS centre of excellence. The new AIMS centre is scheduled to open in October 2014 in the city of Arusha in the country’s northern region. The permanent campus will reside at the Old Boma in Bagamoyo, a historical building donated by the government of saviour at the right time. “Mathematics learning at Secondary and Primary level Tanzania, and is set to open in September 2015, after extensive renovation work need to improve and with AIMS coming to Tanzania we are pleased. The vision of has been completed. President Kikwete is to accelerate the development of Tanzania through the use of The expansion agreement was finalised following a meeting of top officials Science and Technology. This vision is alive.” from the government of Tanzania and AIMS-NEI representatives in Toronto, Learn more about the expansion here: Canada, at the International Summit on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health http://www.nexteinstein.org/next-einstein-initiative-to-expand-to-tan in May. Tanzania’s President, His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete, co-chaired the summit zania-following-signing-ceremony-in-dar-es-salaam • with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. According Prof. Mchome, Tanzania is to become a knowledge driven economy by 2025 and sees AIMS’ newest centre of excellence in Tanzania as a Outreach Teacher Training Workshops

Above: Teacher training workshop in Sénégal African Institute for Left: AIMS-Ghana Teacher training workshop. Mathematical Below Left: AIMSSEC July Residential Courses. Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC) The AIMSSEC July residential courses were hosted at Stellenbosch High School and attended by 97 teachers for the Mathematical Thinking 22 (MT22) course and 54 Year Two Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) students, hailing from all parts of South Africa. The courses were delivered by six local lecturers from Learning through technology and media AIMSSEC, two local visiting lecturers and five international lecturers from the UK. In collaboration with Pepperdine University, AIMS-Ghana organised a workshop Four local teaching assistants, all graduates from previous MT and ACE courses, for local senior high school mathematics teachers from six schools in the central and three additional teaching assistants, alumni of Warwick University and the region. From 7-11 July, 21 participants comprising 13 men and 8 women were Massachusetts Institute of Technology, supported the lecturers. trained in the use of technology and media as tools for learning. Teaching mathematical sciences differently In collaboration with the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Dakar, AIMS-Sénégal organised a teacher training workshop on innovative teaching techniques for mathematics and physical sciences from 4-8 August in Mbour. Entitled “Teaching mathematical sciences differently,” the objective of this one-week workshop was to familiarize teachers with innovative teaching methods to engage and inspire their students. A total of 25 teachers, including 2 women, received training at the workshop. •

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Raising AIMS’ The AIMS-NEI UK team will be delivering a presentation at the Profile in the UK Cambridge-Africa seminar at King's College in December. The team will Since opening in May 2014, one of the Tbe joined by AIMS Alumni who will have an opportunity to engage in a Q&A with top academics. key focus areas of AIMS-NEI UK has This type of event provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen AIMS' links been to raise the profile of AIMS in the to Cambridge University, while also highlighting AIMS' role in transforming Africa UK through outreach activities. through STEM. • TEDxAIMS The second TEDxAIMS took place on 22 June, with the theme “Alone in a Crowd.”

n audience of over 200 from the wider AIMS community gathered to enjoy stimulating talks, beautiful music and Aengaging conversation. The nine speakers came together from all over the world to exchange their ideas and stories. New York Times bestselling author Wendy Goldman Rohm shared a story entitled, “The Silent History of a Displaced Man”, local musician Siya Ngcobo explained how he constructed his alter ego “Umlilo,” and Odman-Govender, Kate Abney, Laura Santoni and Athenkosi Dyoli former AIMS student Savannah Nuwagaba explained how “oddness” also spoke at the event. took her from a Ugandan village to studying for a PhD at Listen to the TEDx AIMS talks here: Stellenbosch University. Shani Judes, Marina Nash, Carolina https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tedxaims • Research

“These AIMS ARETÉ Chair positions are Dr. Gaston of highest importance and provide Mazandu Bringing back previously unthought-of opportunities for developing research Africa’s own talent capacity in Africa by strengthening the capacity and profile of top African One of Africa’s brightest young minds, the scientists like Dr. Tambue and mathematician and computer scientist Dr. Antoine facilitating their return and Tambue, has returned to Africa to continue his integration into the academic research career. environment in Africa.” currently studying or working Dr. Tambue will be based at the Dr. Antoine overseas to return to the continent to Research Centre at AIMS-South Africa Tambue continue their academic career and in Muizenberg, Cape Town. Made possible through funding contribute to Africa’s growth through from IDRC, the appointment marks a research and teaching. concerted effort to grow and On accepting the inaugural In May, Dr. Gaston strengthen the research programmes AIMS ARETÉ Junior Chair position, Mazandu, a 2004 across the AIMS Network and to Dr. Tambue said: “Being awarded with graduate of AIMS-South contribute to the research capacity the ARETÉ Chair position to me feels Africa and a specialist in building of AIMS Alumni. While based like receiving the Fields Medal. This Computational Biology at AIMS-South Africa, Dr. Mazandu programme allows me to continue will spend approximately five months is return has been international-class research as well as and Bioinformatics, of the year at the AIMS-Ghana facilitated through the help to build international recognition commenced his Research Centre while also identifying HAIMS ARETÉ Junior Chairs for research in Africa. I was not only appointment as one of opportunities to help build research programme, which provides awarded a long-term position at an two IDRC-AIMS Career collaboration in Canada. Dr. Mazandu, high-profile and pioneering academic AIMS Centre but also entered into a Development Research from the Democratic Republic of positions to young African scientists. partnership with the University of Chairs, and will split his Congo, will be joined by Dr. Wilfred The programme, a collaboration Cape Town (South Africa) in a leading Ndifon, a Cameroonian between AIMS-NEI and the Robert group (Centre for Computational time between researcherwith an interest in Bosch Stiftung (Germany), offers an Mechanics - CERECAM) in my field.” AIMS-South Africa and Quantitative Immunology and opportunity for African scientists Mr. Zomahoun states that: AIMS-Ghana. Bioinformatics. •

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Training Workshops

Students gathered at AIMS-South Africa to prepare the IMO. International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp Fifty-eight contestants from 12 African countries gathered at AIMS-South Africa for a final International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp to prepare for the challenge of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), hosted by the University of Cape Town on 8 -9 July.

ifty-eight contestants contestants to sharpen their from 12 African mathematical skills individually Fcountries gathered at whilst being in a group AIMS-South Africa for a final environment.” He asserted that International Mathematical activities like the IMO help Olympiad Training Camp to identify, encourage and prepare for the challenge of the promote mathematical talent, International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), hosted by the “This is the first University of Cape Town on 8-9 year in the July. “ The IMO is the world history of the championship mathematics competition that Participants group photo. competition for youths under so many African 20. The championship is hosted countries by a different country each year Meaningful Modelling and requires contestants to participated,” solve six mathematical said Prof. Johann of Epidemiological Data problems in nine hours. Engelbrecht. From 2-14 June, the South African Centre for “This is the first year in the Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA) history of the competition that so many African countries which is essential for the held a two-week Clinic on the Meaningful Modelling of participated,” said Prof. Johann creation of new advances in Epidemiological Data in collaboration with Engelbrecht, Executive Director computational science, big data, AIMS-South Africa. of the South African statistics and modelling that Mathematics Foundation will catalyse growth and (SAMF), the organisers of this development. he Clinic focussed on combining mathematical modelling ideas year’s IMO. The Department of Basic with practical approaches to infectious disease data and policy, Prof. Barry Green, Education, Google, SABC Tand emphasized the use of data in understanding infectious Director at AIMS-South Africa, Education, South African disease dynamics. The event brought together graduate students, explained, “At this training National Roads Agency Ltd. postdoctoral students, and researchers from North America and Africa, camp ahead of the IMO we and Sasol were the main with the goal of engaging participants in epidemiological modelling provided an opportunity for the sponsors of the event. • projects using real data to grapple with practical questions. •

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AIMS Industry Initiative AIMS Industry Workshop on entrepreneurship. AIMS-Cameroon students visit the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) Pursuing internship and research opportunities

IMS-Cameroon students, interesting to both the students and staff and tutors visited the staff. The group had the opportunity ACameroon Development to enjoy the beautiful views of the Corporation’s (CDC) banana processing plantations and beaches and observe house and oil mill in Tiko and Idenau the process of converting palm nut on 4 July. The objective of the visit fruits to palm oil. was to seek a partnership between AIMS-Cameroon hopes to carry Building the the corporation and AIMS-Cameroon out research programmes in in order to explore internship and collaboration with the CDC to solve entrepreneurial research opportunities for AIMS some of the problems the corporation students and Alumni. is facing, especially the challenge of The CDC is an Agro-Industrial maintaining records of statistical data skills of scientists Complex that grows, processes and to improve production. A number of markets tropical export crops. The students have expressed a strong and engineers processing of banana from the field to interest in working in this field next the final packaging was very year. AIMS-Ghana and the Institute of Physics (IOP), U.K, • jointly organised the 2014 Entrepreneurship Workshop for Scientists and Engineers at the AIMS-Ghana campus, from 14 -18 July.

total of 39 participants from four African countries, including nine women, took part in the workshop Adesigned to build the entrepreneurial skills of scientists and engineers and accelerate the commercialisation of their inventions. Sponsors of the workshop included AIMS-Ghana, the IOP, the American Physical Society, the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and the Optical Society (OSA). •

AIMS-Cameroon students visit CDC. Courtesy call from Google Vice President & Head of Francophone Africa

The Vice President of Google, Ms. Jena Troussers, and Google’s Office Lead for Francophone Africa, Mr. Deme, visited AIMS-Sénégal on 10 July.

he Vice President was very impressed with the AIMS model and expressed her Twillingness to support the network’s career development activities. Google is a key AIMS donor that awarded a grant of US $2 million for the AIMS-Sénégal team with Google delegation. construction of AIMS centres in 2010. •

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AIMS Alumni Dr. Dr. Theresia Savannah Marijani Nuwagaba AIMS Alumna, 2006 AIMS Alumna, 2011 “At AIMS I developed “As a young research skills and learned mathematician, I believed how mathematics and that mathematics that biology could be used to does not meet society’s solve the problems that needs is not mathematics. can be caused by diseases Therefore AIMS’ dream of in society.” using Mathematical Sciences to meet the development challenges of Africa was what excited

r. Theresia Marijani Point Average (GPA). Theresia avannah is the me to enrol for the from Tanzania was decided to pursue this route firstborn child to a postgraduate diploma at Dborn the fourth and worked hard at her first Smother of five in AIMS-South Africa.” child in a family of five children. degree. Bushenyi, Uganda. Her mother At primary school, her life After finishing her final is a primary school teacher totally changed when her father exams, she applied to while her father is a farmer. lost his job and her mother AIMS-South Africa and Regardless of their low income, struggled to pay the children’s secured a place. She describes they always believed in school fees with the low salary the Centre as an opportunity education. she earned as a secretary. that “rose up in my dreams.” At As a young child in During this period, AIMS-South Africa she primary school, Savannah often Theresia caught malaria and developed research skills and believed that mathematics was was forced to miss some of her learned how mathematics and the most relevant subject in studies. It was at this point that biology could be used to solve school because she could apply food webs with the hope that she first dreamed of solving the the problems that can be almost everything she learnt to her findings will inform the problem of malaria and decided caused by diseases in society. her daily life at home. For complexity-stability debate. she would study science. Completing her studies at example, planning how much To those who think However, her dream AIMS-South Africa in 2006, food to prepare for the family, scientists are boring, Savannah seemed to die when there were Theresia began to apply the or counting money when welcomes anyone to a challenge no good biology teachers knowledge and research skills shopping. To her everything in football and music. available. A motivational maths she had gained to pursue her was mathematics. She therefore Regardless of her tight teacher at her school inspired dream of fighting infectious opted to study applied schedule, she finds time to sing her to switch to mathematics. diseases. She received her PhD mathematics. While studying in different choirs and to play Years after making this in mathematical modelling in bio-mathematics, her lecturer football. AIMS encourages important decision, Theresia 2012 and is now lecturing at the told her about AIMS. all-round self-discovery and not went on to receive a University of Dar es Salaam After her graduation from just science and mathematics. government undergraduate while pursuing research on AIMS-South Africa in 2011, she Besides her research, Savannah fellowship and began a infectious diseases. proceeded to Stellenbosch also enjoys inspiring young Bachelor of Science in She loves to inspire young University, where she people, especially African girls, Mathematics and Statistics. people to enjoy mathematics completed her Master’s degree to love education. Savannah While Theresia was in the and currently supervises six and is currently pursuing her believes that the future of any middle of her studies, her Master’s students in the PhD in mathematics. Her woman, and hence of Africa, is mother retired and she could modelling of infectious disease. Master’s thesis involved looking dependent on education, no longer consider a Master’s or Two of her students have at the architecture of because, “if you educate a PhD as an option. Her priority graduated. antagonistic networks and woman, you will have educated became to find any career in Offering a word of advice examining how the different a nation”. She hopes to continue science. to future AIMS students, ecological network inspiring young Africans to But at the end of her first Theresia states: “Our deepest architectures influence the engage in Science, Technology, year, a woman introduced her fear is not that we are stability of ecological networks Engineering and Mathematics to the possibility of studying a inadequate, our deepest fear is against perturbations. Her PhD (STEM) courses in order to Master’s of Science abroad if that we are powerful beyond research aims to understand help bring about the change she maintained a high Grade measure.” • eco-evolutionary dynamics of that Africa needs. •

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Cameroon Senegal

Ghana

South Africa Graduation at AIMS AIMS 2013-2014 Graduates – 33 countries Sex After ten months of intensive training, 171 students from Centre Female Male Total Nationalities 33 countries, including 53 women, received their Master's Cameroon 12 24 36 12 in Mathematical Sciences from AIMS centers in South Ghana 12 28 40 16 Sénégal 13 33 46 20 Africa, Sénégal, Ghana and Cameroon. The graduation South Africa 16 33 49 20 ceremonies took place during the months of June and July. TOTAL 53 118 171 33

Media Hits SKA’s satellite dishes will eventually span Australia, New Science in Africa Zealand and eight sub-Saharan countries. When complete, On the Rise hopefully in around a decade, Scientific research in Africa is gathering momentum • Aug 9th 2014 they could be the world’s single EXERPT: AFRICA has a poor reputation for scientific innovation. But when South largest source of data. That Africa jointly won a bid in 2012 to host the world’s largest science project, for a radio may in turn help host countries develop data-processing skills that will benefit them telescope called the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), it hoped to foster a new image. in other areas of “big data”. “It’s changing the way the world sees us, as somewhere for cutting-edge science For the entire story, go to: http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east and technology,” says SKA’s Bernie Fanaroff. “And also the way we see ourselves.” -and-africa/21611112-scientific-research-africa-gathering-momentum-rise Tanzania: Mathematical Institute Government welcomes new science, Opens Office in Tanzania maths university By Rose Athumani • allafrica.com • July 28, 2014 By Malela Kassim • IPPmedia.com • August 4, 2014 http://allafrica.com/stories/201407280797.html http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/?l=70676.html