Category: Cameroon

  • #AlumoftheWeek — Rehema Kwamboka Ouko, AIMS Cameroon’20

    #AlumoftheWeek — Rehema Kwamboka Ouko, AIMS Cameroon’20

    And our #AlumOfTheWeek is Rehema Kwamboka Ouko, AIMS Cameroon alumna, who is currently pursuing further studies in Biostatistics at Hasselt University, Belgium. We caught up with her for the gist of her scientific journey.

    Q: Tell us a little about yourself before coming to AIMS.

    Rehema: My passion for understanding how data and numbers, in general, can be used for insightful decision making propelled my application to study applied statistics with computing at the Maasai Mara University, Narok, Kenya, where I graduated in 2016. After graduating, I had the opportunity to work temporarily with some organisations in Kenya. These included the Busara Centre, Innovations for Poverty Action, Dalberg Research, and Geopoll. I gained some productive working experience in these industries and developed a great urge to enhance my leadership skills. Thereafter, I secured a postgraduate scholarship to study for a Master’s in Public Administration at Peking University China, from which I graduated in July 2019.

    Q: How would you describe your experience at AIMS?

    Rehema: At Dalberg Research, I had a supervisor by the name of Mr Steve Bicko Cygu. He was an AIMS South Africa Alumnus. His way of working was unique, and he always stood out. His work style made me yearn for the AIMS model, and that was how I found myself at AIMS Cameroon in September 2019. I found the AIMS learning environment unique as compared to the standard university setup. The collaboration between students, tutors and lecturers made life smooth for me. It was nice to experience a 24-hour learning environment. I recall my fellow students creating a joke on the AIMS initial as African Institute for Minimum Sleep as there was a lot to learn.

    Q: Tell us about the impact AIMS has had on you.

    Rehema: My journey at AIMS Cameroon exposed me to intense knowledge on core areas applicable to many real-life challenges. I realised that many of such issues could be tackled by applying mathematical and statistical modelling, programming, and many others. AIMS equipped me with academic knowledge and essential skills such as CV and motivation letter writing, presentation and communication skills, networking, and the essence of giving back to society.

    Q: Which of the SDGs is most important/relevant to you? How do you plan on addressing it in your work?

    Rehema: “Good Health and Well-Being” is the most important for me because health is wealth. I aspire to apply my expertise in biostatistics, data science and mathematics to strategically solve problems in the medical industry using the available data.

    Q: What would you describe as your post-AIMS success story?

    Rehema: Immediately after AIMS, I was offered an opportunity with the VLIRUOS scholarship to pursue an MSc in Statistics and Data Science with a specialisation in Biostatistics at Hasselt. The Latex and R programming knowledge learnt at AIMS makes my life easier to deal with my project assignment. It also gives me the confidence to share my knowledge with other colleagues.

    Q: What is your message to current AIMS students and young people across the continent?

    Rehema: Collaborating and making the most out of AIMS is the best thing. AIMS believed in you by selecting you and so believe in yourself that you are capable. Work smart and know that there are a lot of opportunities after AIMS waiting for you!

  • #AlumoftheWeek – Dr Woldegebriel Assefa Woldegerima, AIMS Cameroon’14

    #AlumoftheWeek – Dr Woldegebriel Assefa Woldegerima, AIMS Cameroon’14

    We make a stop at Ethiopia this week to speak with Dr. Woldegebriel Assefa Woldegerima, AIMS Cameroon Alumnus, 2014.

    Q: Tell us about yourself and your time at AIMS

    Assefa: I graduated with a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education from Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. Then I got sponsored by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education (currently named Ethiopia Ministry of Science and Higher Education) to pursue my MSc in Mathematics at Addis Ababa University.

    I heard about AIMS for the first time from my MSc thesis supervisor at Addis Ababa University, though I only applied two and a half years later.  I did not know so much about the institute, and I also wanted to work to help my parents after finishing my MSc at Addis Ababa University.

    While teaching mathematics courses, I wanted to show a visual demonstration and plots of some concepts so my students could understand the courses better. The quest led me to read in detail about AIMS on the internet. The information I read highlighted the teaching of programming languages at AIMS, which motivated me to apply. I was admitted to AIMS South Africa in 2012, but I could not reply to the acceptance email on time due to personal inconveniences and lost the chance. A year later, I joined AIMS Cameroon.

    My stay at AIMS was full of surprises, great experiences, memories, as well as stressful and sleepless nights, but they were worth it. My AIMS Cameroon experience has been my most valuable. They include the opportunity to live and share with students from different African countries and cultures, values, and academic backgrounds. Accomplishing complex tasks within a short period, either as individuals or in a group, was also learnt.

    Most importantly, my stay in AIMS as a student and then as a tutor helped me understand how mathematics can be applied to model, study, investigate and predict our real-world problems in health, climate change, engineering, etc.

    In addition to this, being in AIMS taught me how to fight and win personal difficulties, including adapting to different temperatures, cultures, individual behaviours, and challenges.

     Q: Tell us about the impact AIMS has had on you.

    Assefa: In general, my time at AIMS enriched my life in many ways. It provided me with a platform where I could learn valuable knowledge and skills, which I used to diversify my study and research in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research group.

    AIMS impacted me to change my research career from pure mathematics to applied mathematics (mathematical biology and data sciences). The different levels of academic educational training and skills I got from AIMS, especially in terms of scientific computing programming, applying mathematical tools, techniques, theories to model and analyze real-world phenomena, scientific research writing, effective communication skills, etc. helped me to diversify my research skills and become more performant on the global landscape.

    Q: Which of the SDGs is most important/relevant to you? How do you plan on addressing it in your work?

    Assefa: My research work lies on the SDG 3 (Good health and well-being),

    Currently, as a Postdoctoral fellow, I am working on mathematical and statistical modelling and analyzing novel Transmission-Blocking Interventions (TBIs), especially on Transmission-Blocking antimalarial Drugs (TBDs) and Transmission-Blocking Vaccines (TBVs).

    This is in line with several scientists’ new research and innovation efforts towards global malaria control and elimination. For example, for the case of TBDs, our work includes mathematically assessing the Pharmacodynamics (PD) & Pharmacokinetics (PK) properties of such new TBDs; studying the impact of such TBDs on malaria transmission, including the efficacy of such drugs, slackness rate, treatment coverage rate, data visualization and fitting to such models, and then prediction and recommendation to health researchers, and decision-makers, etc.

    I am also involved in other collaborative researches on another infectious disease modelling such as COVID-19, Cholera, TB, and Hepatitis.

    New mathematical models have the potential to radically alter drug and vaccine development and regulatory decision-making processes and lead to more affordable and more effective drug therapy and vaccine development and deployment. So, in my future research career, I am interested in performing collaborations in a wide range of mathematical sciences applications, especially in health-related problems. In the long term, I see myself working on expanding my expertise in data science and machine learning (ML) to model and solve real-world systems, particularly in the biological phenomenon and climate.

     Q: How is your current work contributing to the development of the continent?

    Assefa: Africa is the most affected continent in terms of emerging diseases, which indirectly affects its economic status, increases poverty, and reduces quality education, especially for children under ten years. So my research contributes to solving multi-type Africa health and health-related problems.

    Currently, I am a Postdoc Research Fellow at the DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. I joined this Postdoc research after completing a PhD in August 2018 at the University of Buea with a co-supervision from the USA. As part of my PhD, I also have travelled to the USA as a Pre-doctoral Research Associate for three months. Recently, I was selected to be part of a short-term mentorship program in the One Health Cluster UNICEF project. All these and other achievements are due to the training and skills I got from AIMS.

    Q: What’s your message to current AIMS students and young people across the continent?

    Assefa: Put maximum effort to use the most from AIMS. Try to challenge your self to learn or try new courses and problems.

    Life is about transitions or change; each transition comes with fear, hindrances, obstacles and excitement. But remember, there is always a solution to any problem.

    I would like to mention one of my favourite mathematics quotes known as Plato’s geometry of God:

    Biologists think they are biochemists,

    Biochemists think they are Physical Chemists,

    Physical Chemists think they are Physicists,

    Physicists think they are Gods,

    And God thinks he is a Mathematician.”

  • AlumoftheWeek – Jeannette M. Gahunga, AIMS Cameroon’17

    AlumoftheWeek – Jeannette M. Gahunga, AIMS Cameroon’17

    This week, we caught up with AIMS Cameroon This week, we caught up with AIMS Cameroon alumna and Mastercard Foundation Scholar Jeannette M. Gahunga from Rwanda!

    Q: Tell us about your time at AIMS    

    Jeannette: Before joining AIMS, I undertook my undergraduate studies at the College of Science and Technology at the University of Rwanda, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I first heard about AIMS from social media and got interested. From there, I started to look for information about the institution. The first alumnus I asked about AIMS shared his experience, and I was so interested and decided to apply. My time at AIMS was so exciting and inspiring. I had many memories because before, I used to work but not as hard as I learnt to at AIMS. The AIMS program was quite intensive, so much so that the time to sleep became very minimal. We always had assignments to do, books to read, lectures, new programming skills to learn and new events to attend. I enjoyed the training process, which built my confidence and readiness to solve Africa’s problems and develop my leadership skills.

    Q: Tell us about the impact AIMS has had on you.

    Jeannette: AIMS has sharpened me into the person I am today. At AIMS, I learnt various skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking, which I frankly needed the most. AIMS improved my interpersonal relations with others due to my exposure to many other students from different parts of Africa.

    Q: How is your current work contributing to the development of the continent?

    Jeannette: I am currently working as an Information Systems Analyst at Ecobank Rwanda. My work contributes to the continent by helping the company identify high risks areas and weaknesses that can lead to fraud. I gained the confidence to work on these issues because of the training I had from AIMS. My work goes a long way to clean up the banking sector we have in Africa and, as such, make us competitive on the world market.

    Q: Which of the SDGs is most important/relevant to you? How do you plan on addressing it in your work?

    Jeannette: Gender Equality is the Sustainable Development Goal I envision to help achieve. I believe that providing the same opportunities to men and women helps create a better balance and facility equity. Empowering both sides to sustain the world will bring about the kind of development and growth we envision for the advancement of humanity at large.

    Q: What’s your message to current AIMS students and young people across the continent?

    Jeannette: Maximize the chances and opportunities that you have at AIMS. Take the skills you are acquiring seriously, and learn how to leverage them on the labour market.

  • Statement from the AIMS CEO on the Celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

    Statement from the AIMS CEO on the Celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

    Theme: Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19

    Today, we celebrate every woman scientist across the globe, especially the women at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19.

    According to UNESCO, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women, with only around 30% of female students pursuing STEM fields. These statistics reinforce the relevance of AIMS’ mission, enabling Africa’s brightest students to flourish as independent thinkers, problem solvers and innovators capable of propelling the continent’s scientific, educational and economic self-sufficiency. We achieve this by making gender mainstream across all our initiatives, namely our Centres of Excellence, Research Centres, AIMS Industry Initiative, Teacher Training, Quantum Leap Africa, and the Next Einstein Forum. While applying a 30% minimum quota to ensure the recruitment of women into AIMS programs, our gender-responsive Teacher Training program is working to improve STEM learning outcomes for secondary school students, especially girls, to build a pipeline of STEM talent in Africa.

    Gender parity in science is indispensable. The need for more women in science has become more glaring against the backdrop of the complex coronavirus. Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, half of its potential. Ensuring women’s fuller participation in research, innovation, and development is the simplest and quickest way to connect research with societal needs and achieve socio-economic well-being for all.

    Today, we salute all the women engaged in the fight against COVID-19, especially the members of the AIMS community of scientists.

    Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

    Lydie Hakizimana

    Chief Executive Officer, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)

  • Déclaration de la PDG d’AIMS sur la Célébration de la Journée Internationale des Femmes et des Filles de Science

    Déclaration de la PDG d’AIMS sur la Célébration de la Journée Internationale des Femmes et des Filles de Science

    Thème : Les femmes scientifiques à la pointe de la lutte contre la COVID-19

    Aujourd’hui, nous célébrons toutes les femmes de science du monde entier, en particulier celles qui sont à la pointe de la lutte contre la COVID-19.

    Selon l’UNESCO, moins de 30 % des chercheurs dans le monde sont des femmes, et seulement 30 % environ des étudiantes poursuivent des études dans le domaine des STIM. Ces statistiques renforcent la pertinence de la mission d’AIMS, qui vise à permettre aux étudiants les plus brillants d’Afrique de s’épanouir en tant que penseurs indépendants, solutionneurs de problèmes et innovateurs capables de propulser l’autosuffisance scientifique, éducative et économique du continent. Nous y parvenons en intégrant la dimension de genre dans toutes nos initiatives, à savoir nos centres d’excellence, nos centres de recherche, l’initiative industrielle AIMS, la formation des enseignants, Quantum Leap Africa et le Next Einstein Forum. Tout en appliquant un quota minimum de 30 % pour assurer le recrutement de femmes dans les programmes AIMS, notre programme de formation des enseignants s’efforce d’améliorer les résultats d’apprentissage des STIM pour les élèves du secondaire, en particulier les filles, afin de développer une réserve de talents dans le domaine des STIM en Afrique.

    La parité des genres dans les sciences est indispensable. Le besoin de plus de femmes dans les sciences est devenu plus évident dans le contexte du coronavirus qui a entraîné une crise sanitaire très complexe. Les femmes et les filles représentent la moitié de la population mondiale et, par conséquent, la moitié de son potentiel. Assurer une participation plus importante des femmes à la recherche, à l’innovation et au développement est le moyen le plus simple et le plus rapide de relier la recherche aux besoins de la société et d’atteindre le bien-être socio-économique pour tous.

    Aujourd’hui, nous saluons toutes les femmes engagées dans la lutte contre la COVID-19, en particulier les membres de la communauté scientifique d’AIMS.

    Bonne Journée Internationale des Femmes et des Filles de Science !

    Lydie Hakizimana

    Présidente Directrice Générale, Institut Panafricain des Sciences Mathématiques (AIMS)

  • African Institute for Mathematics Sciences (AIMS) partners with the University of Liverpool

    African Institute for Mathematics Sciences (AIMS) partners with the University of Liverpool

    The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Liverpool to foster new collaborations towards the development of the next generation of scientists. The partnership will facilitate the emergence of new research collaborations between Liverpool academics and leading African scientists, support the mobility of AIMS students to Liverpool, and enable Liverpool academics to spend time working at AIMS centres.

    “We are thrilled by the partnership with the University of Liverpool, which comes to formalise and enhance existing collaboration between the two institutions and serve as another testament to our commitment to scientific excellence in Africa. Through our Centres of Excellence and Research Centres, AIMS invests in training Africa’s youth, while conducting meaningful research to advance knowledge-led development. Our cooperation with the University of Liverpool is consistent with our mission, and we look forward to the scientific outputs which will emerge from this collaboration”, said Professor Mama Foupouagnigni, Chief Academic Officer for the AIMS Global Network.

    Professor Wiebe Van Der Hoek, Executive PVC for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “The University is delighted to have formed a partnership with AIMS to support their outstanding work. This MOU will enable us to strengthen our connections with researchers and students across Africa, explore new joint research projects and increase future academic collaborations”.

    “My secondment with AIMS Ghana was an amazing experience. I had the privilege of working with very dedicated and committed students. I would encourage anyone interested in getting involved in the AIMS network to do so,” said Dr Olivier Menoukeu Pamen, Reader in Mathematical Sciences, Institute of Financial and Actuarial Mathematics (IFAM).

    This partnership will build on existing links between Liverpool academics and AIMS centres in microfinance, climate change, and other relevant research areas.

    Meet some of the Scientists

    Dr Olivier Menoukeu Pamen, Reader in Mathematical Sciences, part of the University’s Institute of Financial and Actuarial Mathematics (IFAM), was seconded for four years at AIMS Ghana as German Research Chair on Stochastic Analysis, supported by a Humboldt Foundation grant. He is currently a research associate under the Humboldt Chair framework at AIMS Ghana and supervises PhD and MPhil students at AIMS Ghana. 

    Prof Corina Constantinescu, professor of mathematics and Director of the Institute for Financial and Actuarial Mathematics (IFAM), is participating in joint research with Dr Olivier Menoukeu Pamen, on financial inclusion in Ghana. Key focus areas include risk management solutions for flood insurance  and joint-life insurance accounting for the broken-heart syndrome

    About AIMS

    Founded in 2003, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for post-graduate training in mathematical sciences, research and public engagement in STEM. With centres in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon and Rwanda, AIMS is leading Africa’s socio-economic transformation through innovative scientific training, cutting-edge research, and public engagement. With expertly tailored academic and non-academic programs spanning through Centres of Excellence, Research Centres, the AIMS Industry Initiative and gender-responsive Teacher Training, AIMS equally created two critical initiatives: Quantum Leap Africa, which aspires to do leading-edge research in quantum science, and the Next Einstein Forum, which is positioning Africa to become an important player in global science. Visit www.nexteinstein.org or follow us on Twitter at @AIMS_Next.

    About the University of Liverpool

    Founded in 1881 as the original ‘red brick’, the University of Liverpool is one of the UK’s leading research institutions with an annual turnover of £545.7 million, including £95.6 million for research. Consistently ranked in the top 200 universities worldwide, we are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of the UK’s leading research universities. Visit www.liv.ac.uk or follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/livuninews.

    Partnership Inquiries

    Dr Olivier Menoukeu Pamen

    Reader in Mathematical Sciences, Institute of Financial and Actuarial Mathematics (IFAM)

    O.Menoukeu-Pamen@liverpool.ac.uk

    Media Contacts

    Dr Layih Butake

    Senior Outreach Manager  & Acting Director of Communications, AIMS

    Lbutake@nexteinstein.org

    Sarah Stamper
    Media Relations Manager, External Relations, University of Liverpool

    sarah.stamper@liverpool.ac.uk 

  • eLife Publishes AIMS Researcher’s Paper on HIV Treatment

    eLife Publishes AIMS Researcher’s Paper on HIV Treatment

    Kigali, January 25 2021 – The eLife journal has published an article titled “A Mechanistic Model for long-term Immunological outcomes in South African HIV-infected Children and Adults receiving ART”, following a recent study. Led by Eva Liliane Ujeneza, AIMS alumna and PhD researcher affiliated to AIMS and the South African Center of Excellence for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA) in Cape Town, the article combines clinical data and mathematical analysis to understand how T cell numbers are affected by infection and treatment at different ages.

    “The HIV global pandemic is still very much pervasive across the globe,” said Eva Liliane Ujeneza. “Even though antiretroviral treatment (ART) counter’s the virus’ highly destructive effects on the immune system’s CD4 T cells, the response to treatment varies across patients, for reasons that are not fully understood. Our study uses a combined mathematical and empirical approach, to demonstrate how age, gender, and other parameters affect the recovery of CD4 T cells following treatment initiation, and how these effects vary over time,” she said.

    “Several previous studies have quantified the effects of ART on the CD4 T cells,” said Prof Wilfred Ndifon, co-author and Chief Scientific Officer for AIMS. “These studies generally used so-called “semi-mechanistic” mathematical models, the analysis of which incorporated reference CD4 T cell counts from healthy individuals in an ad hoc way.” Eva’s study is the first to use a mathematical model that provides mechanistic insight into the changes that CD4 T cells undergo during ART while enabling systematic comparison with changes occurring in healthy individuals. We are excited about the imminent impact of the findings. One possible application is for projecting normal ranges of CD4 T cell recovery rates in paediatric HIV patients on ART, such that instances of abnormal recovery can be easily detected,” he said.

    The raging COVID-19 pandemic has shifted focus from HIV/AIDS. According to UN AIDS, since the start of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, around 75 million people have become infected with HIV, and over 30 million people have died from AIDS-related diseases. HIV/AIDS is less devastating today, thanks to the development of ART, which many patients would have to receive throughout their lifetime to have a chance at leading a healthy life. This study analyses the long-term effects of protracted ART, highlighting the variations with age and gender. This research’s findings are relevant to public health actors (doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and Ministries of Public Health) in managing HIV/AIDS treatment. Read the article here.

    About AIMS

    Founded in 2003, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for post-graduate training in mathematical sciences, research and public engagement in STEM. With centres in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon and Rwanda, AIMS is leading Africa’s socio-economic transformation through innovative scientific training, cutting-edge research, and public engagement. With expertly tailored academic and non-academic programs spanning through Centres of Excellence, Research Centres, the AIMS Industry Initiative and gender-responsive Teacher Training, AIMS equally created two critical initiatives: Quantum Leap Africa, which aspires to do leading-edge research in quantum science, and the Next Einstein Forum, which is positioning Africa to become an important player in global science. For more information, visit www.nexteinstein.org.

    Media Contact                                                          

    Dr Layih Butake, Senior Outreach Manager & Acting Director of Communications, AIMS  

    Lbutake@nexteinstein.org

  • Trouver le prochain Einstein, préparer l’Afrique à devenir leader dans la découverte scientifique”.

    Trouver le prochain Einstein, préparer l’Afrique à devenir leader dans la découverte scientifique”.

    KIGALI, Rwanda, Le 8 Décembre , 2020,-

    Trois lauréats du prix Nobel et un lauréat de la Médaille Field s’exprimeront lors de la toute première édition virtuelle du Rassemblement International du Next Einstein Forum (NEF-GG), le plus grand rassemblement scientifique d’Afrique qui se tiendra du 8 au 10 décembre 2020. Organisé dans le contexte de la pandémie de COVID-19, sous le thème « Renforcer la résilience de l’Afrique à travers l’éducation, la recherche et l’innovation » . L’événement de cette année aura lieu via la plateforme de visioconférence Airmeet

    Les scientifiques se joindront à une conversation animée par le fondateur et président du conseil d’administration de AIMS, le professeur Neil Turok, lors de la première session plénière de l’événement qui se tiendra le 8 décembre 2020 de 14h45 à 15h45 CAT, sous le thème – l’Afrique, leader mondial en matière de recherche scientifique, par des interventions en direct et pré-enregistrées.

    Découvrez les intervenants :

    Prof. Caucher Birkar

    Lauréat de la Médaille Field 2018 en géométrie algébrique

    Prof. Donna Strickland

    Lauréat du prix Nobel de physique 2018

    Prof. François Englert

    Lauréat du prix Nobel de physique 2013

    Prof. Leon Mutesa

    Directeur du Centre de génétique humaine

    Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université du Rwanda

    Prof. Jacques Marescaux

    Président, IRCAD France

    Sir Richard J. Roberts, Ph.D. F.R.S.

    Lauréat du prix Nobel de physiologie ou de médecine en 1993

    En mettant l’accent sur l’identification des moyens de renforcer l’avenir scientifique de l’Afrique, la conférence de cette année portera sur le leadership scientifique dans la lutte contre les pandémies telles que la crise COVID-19 en cours, la mise en place de systèmes éducatifs performants, le rôle crucial de l’économie numérique et l’emploi des jeunes, entre autres questions.

    Les rencontres mondiales biennales du NEF sont l’événement phare du NEF. Loin d’être un forum scientifique ordinaire, les rassemblements internationaux du NEF placent la science au centre des efforts mondiaux de développement. En présence de scientifiques (lauréats du prix Nobel et du Fields Medal), de dirigeants politiques et industriels, de la société civile et des médias, et en mettant l’accent sur les jeunes et les femmes, les voix des leaders scientifiques mondiaux ont la possibilité de se faire entendre et d’avoir un impact majeur sur l’avenir scientifique de l’Afrique.

    À propos de l’AIMS

    Fondé en 2003, l’Institut Panafricain des Sciences Mathématiques (AIMS) est un réseau panafricain de centres d’excellence pour la formation universitaire en sciences mathématiques, la recherche et l’engagement du public dans les STIM. Avec des centres en Afrique du Sud, au Sénégal, au Ghana, au Cameroun et au Rwanda, AIMS dirige la transformation socio-économique de l’Afrique à travers une formation scientifique innovante, la recherche de pointe, la prospective stratégique et la conception de politiques. Avec des programmes académiques et non académiques conçus par des experts et comprenant des Centres d’Excellence, des Centres de Recherche, l’Initiative Industrielle de AIMS et la Formation des Enseignants sensible au genre, AIMS a également créé deux initiatives essentielles : Quantum Leap Africa, un groupe de réflexion sur la révolution quantique à venir et le Next Einstein Forum pour propulser l’Afrique sur la scène scientifique mondiale. Pour plus d’informations, visitez le site www.nexteinstein.org.

    Vous en saurez plus sur nef.org

    Twitter: @NextEinsteinFor 

    Facebook: NextEinsteinForum

    Contact pour les médias

    Mme Layih Butake

    Directrice intérimaire de la Communication, AIMS   

    Lbutake@nexteinstein.org

  • Nobel Prize and Field Medal Laureates to Speak at Virtual Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering

    Nobel Prize and Field Medal Laureates to Speak at Virtual Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering

    KIGALI, Rwanda, December 7, 2020,-  Three Nobel Prize laureates and one Field Medalist will speak at the first-ever virtual Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering (NEF-GG), Africa’s largest scientific gathering set to take place from 8-10 December 2020. Organized against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, under the theme“Building Africa’s resilience through education, research and innovation”, this year’s event will take place through the  Airmeet video conferencing platform. 

    The scientists will be joining a conversation moderated by AIMS Founder and Board Chair, Prof Neil Turok on the first plenary session of the event to discuss: “Finding the Next Einstein, Preparing Africa to lead in scientific discovery” on 8 December 2020 from 2.45-3.45 CAT, through live and pre-recorded interventions.

    Meet the Speakers:

    Prof Caucher Birkar

    2018 Field Medal Laureate in Algebraic Geometry

    Prof Donna Strickland

    2018 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics

    Prof François Englert

    2013 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics

    Prof Leon Mutesa

    Director of Center for Human Genetics

    College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda 

    Prof Jacques Marescaux

    President, IRCAD France

    Sir Richard J. Roberts, Ph.D. F.R.S.

    1993 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

    With a focus on identifying ways to strengthen Africa’s scientific future, this year’s conference will address science leadership in combating pandemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, building resilient educational systems, the crucial role of the digital economy and youth employment among other issues.

    The biennial NEF Global Gatherings are the NEF’s marquee event. Far from an ordinary science forum, the NEF Global Gatherings position science at the centre of global development efforts. In the presence of scientists, political and industry leaders, civil society and media, and with a strong focus on youth and women, the voices of global science leaders have the opportunity to be heard and to have a significant impact on Africa’s scientific future. 

    ABOUT AIMS

    Founded in 2003, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for post-graduate training in mathematical sciences, research and public engagement in STEM. With centres in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon and Rwanda, AIMS is leading Africa’s socio-economic transformation through innovative scientific training, cutting-edge research, and public engagement. With expertly tailored academic and non-academic programs spanning through Centres of Excellence, Research Centres, the AIMS Industry Initiative and Gender-Responsive Teacher Training, AIMS equally created two critical initiatives: Quantum Leap Africa, which aspires to do leading-edge research in quantum science, and the Next Einstein Forum, which is positioning Africa to become an important player in global science. For more information, visit www.nexteinstein.org.

    More at nef.org

    Twitter: @NextEinsteinFor 

    Facebook: NextEinsteinForum

    Media Contact

    Dr Layih Butake

    Senior Outreach Manager & Acting Director of Communications, AIMS

    Lbutake@nexteinstein.org

  • NEF Global Gathering 2020 Attractions

    NEF Global Gathering 2020 Attractions

    KIGALI, Rwanda, December 4, 2020, 

    Scientists, researchers, delegates and key decision makers from Africa and around the globe will convene for the the first-ever virtual edition of the Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering (NEF-GG), Africa’s largest scientific gathering from 8-10 December 2020. this year’s event will take place through the  Airmeet video conferencing platform. 

    With a focus on identifying ways to strengthen Africa’s scientific future, this year’s conference will address science leadership in combating pandemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, building resilient educational systems, the crucial role of the digital economy and youth employment among other issues.

    On the topic of Finding the Next Einstein – Africa, leading the world in scientific discovery, AIMS Founder and Board ChairProf Neil Turok will be joined by other leading global voices in the innovation and policy ecosystem to discuss pathways to a scientifically self-sufficient Africa.This will be followed closely by IRCAD France President, Prof Jacques Marescaux’s session on Mathematics and the future of surgery, alongside the summit’s signature NEF Fellows Spotlight sessions.

    NEF-GG 2020 will also feature plenary and breakout sessions like the contribution of Mathematical Sciences in supporting robust disease prevention, how to tap into the virtual workforce and COVID-19 innovations from Africa.

    Meet some of the speakers

    Hon Dr Valentine Uwamariya, Minister of Education, Rwanda, will be speaking on disruptive thinking for resilient educational systems.

    Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali, will be speaking on innovative partnerships and economic resilience amid health crises.

    Prof Caucher Birkar, a Fields Medalist, will be speaking on mathematics for a better world.

    Prof Loyiso Nyongxa, Vice-President, International Mathematical Union, will equally be moderating the panel on mathematics for a better world.

    Dr Dunstan Matekenya, Data Scientist, World Bank will be speaking on Big Data Innovations for COVID-19 in Africa.

    Dr Kommy Weldemariam, Chief Scientist, IBM Research Africa Labs (NEF Fellow) will be sharing an overview on the state of Africa on digitization, skills development and infrastructure.

    Hennie Bester, Insight 2 Impact Lead/CENFR, will be moderating the conversation on digitization, skills development and infrastructure.

    Dr Eliane Ubalijoro, Deputy Executive Director, Global Open Data in Agriculture and Nutrition, will be speaking on digitization, as well as innovative partnerships and economic resilience amid health crises.

    The biennial NEF Global Gatherings are the NEF’s marquee event. Far from an ordinary science forum, the NEF Global Gatherings position science at the centre of global development efforts. In the presence of scientists (Nobel Prize and Field Medal laureates), political and industry leaders, civil society and media, and with a strong focus on youth and women, the voices of global science leaders have the opportunity to be heard and to have a significant impact on Africa’s scientific future. 

    About AIMS

    Founded in 2003, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for post-graduate training in mathematical sciences, research and public engagement in STEM. With centres in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon and Rwanda, AIMS is leading Africa’s socio-economic transformation through innovative scientific training, cutting-edge research, and public engagement. With expertly tailored academic and non-academic programs spanning through Centres of Excellence, Research Centres, the AIMS Industry Initiative and Gender-Responsive Teacher Training, AIMS equally created two critical initiatives: Quantum Leap Africa, which aspires to do leading-edge research in quantum science, and the Next Einstein Forum, which is positioning Africa to become an important player in global science. For more information, visit www.nexteinstein.org.

    More at nef.org

    Twitter: @NextEinsteinFor 

    Facebook: NextEinsteinForum

    Media Contact

    Dr Layih Butake

    Senior Outreach Manager & Acting Director of Communications, AIMS

    Lbutake@nexteinstein.org