AIMS-NEI
NEWS BRIEFS
September 2010
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences-Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI)
News Briefs is a production of the Global Outreach initiative at Perimeter Institute
A Step Change In Our Fortunes
What an amazing few months!
In late May, I was part of an AIMS-NEI team which met
with President Wade of Sénégal to present the plans for
AIMS-Sénégal. After the President formally committed
€1M to the project, a member of our delegation, Dr.
Philippe Mawoko, head of the African Science and
Technology Indicators Program of the African Union,
remarked that he had never before witnessed such
decisive action to promote science in Africa. President
Wade’s pledge signals the growing interest in and
commitment to building science and technology capacity
among Africa’s leaders.
A few weeks later, on 18 June, AIMS-South Africa held
its seventh graduation, bringing our total alumni to 305.
Think of it: three hundred African scientific leaders of
tomorrow. At the ceremony, the South African Minister
of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, began his address
by saying, “WOW, I didn’t know a place like this existed!”
My father Ben, who attended the ceremony, was moved
beyond words.
Across the world in Canada, at the Perimeter Institute,
we were equally thrilled when, on 6 July, Prime Minister
Stephen Harper personally announced $20 million
CDN from the Government of Canada to support the
development of a network of five AIMS centres by 2013.
This visionary investment takes our shared dream - of
an Africa whose potential for science and innovation is
realised - one big step closer to reality.
Momentum continued to build when Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki,
CEO of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development
(NEPAD), formally endorsed AIMS-NEI on 13 July (see
www.nepad.org), and offered his advocacy on our
behalf with other African leaders.
Professor Stephen Hawking, a Patron of AIMS who
was present at the Perimeter Institute event stated, “I
believe that connecting Africans to each other and to
the world through science is one of the best investments
one can make in Africa’s future.”
It is hugely encouraging that African and international
leaders are now publicly endorsing our conviction that
AIMS and AIMS-NEI can play a key role in Africa’s future,
and the future of science.
—Neil Turok, AIMS Founder and
Director, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
AIMS-NEI
Canada Announces $20M for AIMS-NEI
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announcing support for
AIMS-NEI
During a special visit to the Perimeter Institute for
Theoretical Physics and a meeting with Prof. Stephen
Hawking, the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper
announced funding of $20 million to support AIMS-NEI
over a five-year period. The money will be used to build
on the success of AIMS based in Cape Town, South
Africa, specifically supporting the creation of three new
centres in Ethiopia, Ghana and Sénégal.
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One for Many Scholarship Program
A key element of the AIMS-NEI vision is the “One for
Many Scholarship Program” designed to support AIMS
students with the full costs of attending an AIMS
centre. Universities across North America and Europe
are being invited to become partners and contribute the
equivalent cost of one graduate student per year on
their own campus to an AIMS centre in Africa, where it
will support many African students. Several universities
have already made the commitment to participate in
the program by supporting the students at AIMS-South
Africa and contributing to student scholarships for each
new AIMS centre as it opens.
Incorporation of the AIMS-NEI Foundation (UK)
On 26 May 2010, the AIMS-NEI Foundation UK was
formally incorporated, a major step toward obtaining
charitable status in the UK. Governed by a board of
directors, the Foundation will facilitate fundraising
activities with international partners in Europe, North
America and Africa. For information on how to process
your donation with tax-free status, please contact
[email protected].
AIMS-NEI Business Plan
AIMS is revising its Business Plan to reflect the Next
Einstein Initiative, which calls for the establishment and
operation of 15 AIMS Centres throughout Africa over
the next 10 years. Once complete, the Plan will serve
as a roadmap guiding the development of the AIMS
pan-African network, and will provide directors and
management with measurable targets and milestones.
It will also help in raising awareness of the strategic
value of AIMS, and attracting financial contributions to
AIMS-NEI. The plan is being developed by AIMS-NEI
staff with input from the AIMS-NEI Board, and should
be completed within the next two months.
The 2009-10 AIMS-South Africa graduating class
Vice-Rector of Stellenbosch University and the ViceChancellor of the University of the Western Cape. South
African Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande
delivered an inspiring speech on promoting the growth
of mathematics across Africa and emphasized the
importance of keeping up to date with the progress of
AIMS alumni. He further stressed the point that AIMS
is a model institution which should be replicated in
different disciplines throughout the continent.
New Students 2010-11
The class of AIMS-South Africa 2010-11 has arrived –
there are 57 students from 22 African countries; of those
students, 16 are women. Over 300 students applied
for places this year, making for another very difficult
selection process. Students arrived in late August to start
their 10-month Post Graduate Diploma in Mathematical
Sciences. The new students follow in the footsteps of
the 305 students from all over Africa who have studied
at AIMS-South Africa.
Meeting with The Elders
AIMS-South Africa
Graduation 2010
Once again AIMS-South Africa graduates were awarded
their diplomas at a memorable occasion held on 18 June
2010. Encouraging addresses were made by the ViceChancellor of the University of Cape Town, the Deputy
Prof. Barry Green and 10 AIMS students meet with The Elders
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Ten students from AIMS-South Africa were among 70
African students invited to join a meeting held by The
Elders in Johannesburg on 29 May 2010. Originally
created by Nelson Mandela in 2007, The Elders consists
of eminent global leaders who no longer hold public
office (www.theelders.org).
The meeting, entitled “A Game Plan for A Winning
Continent”, involved listening to ‘Africa’s youth
champions’ and was held during the build-up to the FIFA
World Cup. It was a perfect time to harness some of the
immense energy and excitement felt on the continent
during the football tournament.
The topics discussed included Africa’s heritage, culture
and self-image, environment and climate change,
democracy, good governance and corruption, education,
gender equality, poverty and development, and avoiding
conflicts in Africa.
The students shared their views and returned from the
event inspired. Ludovic
Tangpi Ndounkeu from
Cameroon said, “It
was great. We really
enjoyed
discussing
ideas with The Elders.
The very fact that they
wanted to hear from us
made us feel kind of
important and capable.
I came away with such
humility. It makes one
realize that these are
just ordinary people
who make us feel we
are capable of achieving
great things. I was very
Ludovic Tangpi Ndounkeu from
inspired.”
Cameroon
With their local colleagues from AIMS-Sénégal, Mamadou
Sanghare and Jean-Pierre N’Guessan, and three guests,
Maxim Kontsevitch (IHES, France), Philippe Mawoko
(NEPAD, South Africa) and Pierre Schapira (University
of Paris 6, France), the team had an audience with
the President of Sénégal and met with staff at several
embassies.
President Wade was impressed by the significant amount
of progress that has been made, including the registration
of the AIMS-Sénégal Foundation, the confirmation of the
site at MBour, and the approaching completion of the
building plans, all of which have the Institute on track to
open for the 2011-12 academic year.
To support the Institute’s creation, President Wade
committed €1 million of government funding for AIMSSénégal. The President also honoured Professors Turok,
Rivasseau and Kontsevich with the Médaille de l’ordre
national du Lion, Sénégal’s highest distinction.
Further meetings were held with the Ambassadors and
cooperation councillors of Canada, France, Germany, the
United States and Russia, who conveyed enthusiasm for
AIMS-NEI and particularly for AIMS-Sénégal. In addition,
the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
renewed its commitment to support the creation of a
network of AIMS centres through the AIMS Next Einstein
Initiative.
Website
AIMS-Sénégal has launched its website. For more
information on AIMS-Sénégal and early architectural
sketches, visit www.aims-senegal.sn.
AIMS-Sénégal
Government of Sénégal announces €1M for AIMSSénégal
In May 2010, Vincent Rivasseau, Neil Turok and MariePierre Barre visited Dakar to present AIMS-Sénégal’s
progress to the Sénégalese authorities as well as to
diplomatic representatives of G8 countries in Sénégal.
www.nexteinstein.org
Architectural drawing of the AIMS-Sénégal Institute
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AIMS-Ghana
A new AIMS centre in Ghana is being planned and is
expected to open for the 2012-13 academic year.
AIMS-Ghana has been registered, and the selection
of a site for the campus is in progress. Founded by
internationally-renowned Ghanaian mathematician Prof.
Francis Allotey, the Institute will work together with the
three largest universities in Ghana at Legon, Kumasi
and Cape Coast. Negotiations with North American
and European universities are nearing completion and
international partner universities will soon be named. In
addition, the steering committee is pleased to announce
the first member of the AIMS-Ghana International
Scientific Advisory Committee, world-renowned British
mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah, who is a Fields
Medalist and Abel Prize winner.
Prof. Francis Allotey
Sir Michael Atiyah
AIMS Alumni
To date, there have been 305 graduates from AIMS
through seven graduation classes. AIMS alumni have
gone on to further studies, industry, academia and
governments all over Africa and throughout the world.
AIMS would like to reconnect with all of its alumni to
learn what they have gone on to do and to keep them
informed about happenings with each of the new AIMS
centres. All alumni who have not recently been contacted
by the representative for their year are requested to
contact [email protected].
Find AIMS online
Did you know ...
• AIMS-NEI has a Facebook group with over 800
members. Search Facebook for “AIMS Next Einstein”
to stay up-to-date with news and events and connect
with the AIMS-NEI community.
• AIMS-NEI has a YouTube channel with over 20
videos from the launch of the Next Einstein Initiative
and other AIMS events. Find them by searching for
the “NextEinsteinAIMS” channel.
• AIMS-NEI will be launching a revamped website
in September 2010 with updated content and a
quick newsletter sign-up. Keep watching www.
nexteinstein.org.
• AIMS-Sénégal has launched its website at www.
aims-senegal.sn, where you can view architectural
drawings and details of the planned Institute.
• Online donations to AIMS can be made quickly and
securely. Go to www.aims.ac.za/en/contact/
donate or contact [email protected].
AIMS-NEI reserves copyright for all the content in this newsletter. Reproduction of photos requires prior written permission.
About the AIMS-Next Einstein Initiative (www.nexteinstein.org)
AIMS was founded in 2003 in South Africa as a pan-African centre to address the impact of the critical shortage of mathematical
and scientific expertise in Africa. AIMS-NEI will create a coordinated network of centres of excellence, recruiting outstanding
graduates from all over Africa to learn math and science together. As demonstrated by AIMS–South Africa (www.aims.ac.za), their
shared passion for science will bridge cultural and national divides and build a joint commitment to an improved future for Africa.
Most will continue on to Masters and PhDs in fields relevant to African development. Some will follow academic careers, helping
to build teaching and research capabilities in African universities. Others will proceed to leadership roles in government, industry
and enterprise. AIMS-NEI News Briefs is supported by the Global Outreach initiative of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics,
promoting the emergence of centres of scientific excellence in the developing world.
About Perimeter Institute (www.perimeterinstitute.ca)
Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is an independent, non-profit, scientific research and educational outreach
organization where international scientists cluster to push the limits of our understanding of physical laws and develop new
ideas about the very essence of space, time, matter and information. The centre provides a multi-disciplinary environment to
foster scientific collaboration in research areas of cosmology, particle physics, quantum foundations, quantum gravity, quantum
information, superstring theory, and related disciplines. Located in Waterloo, Ontario, PI also provides a wide array of awardwinning outreach programs for students, teachers and the general public in order to share the joy of research, discovery and
innovation. In partnership with the Governments of Ontario and Canada, Perimeter Institute continues to be a successful example
of private and public collaboration in science research and education.