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Selected Activities in the Promotion of Mathematics in Africa by Wandera Ogana

Selected Activities in the Promotion of Mathematics in Africa by Wandera Ogana AMMSI Programme Director School of Mathematics, University of Nairobi, Kenya Presented at STEM-Africa Conference, 29 May 2012, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. OUTLINE 1. About AMMSI About MARM

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Selected Activities in the Promotion of Mathematics in Africa by Wandera Ogana

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  1. Selected Activities in the Promotion of Mathematics in Africa • by • Wandera Ogana • AMMSI Programme Director • School of Mathematics, University of Nairobi, Kenya • Presented at STEM-Africa Conference, 29 May 2012, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

  2. OUTLINE • 1. About AMMSI • About MARM • 3. Commission for Developing Countries • ICM-2014 and MENAO • 5. Africa Mathematics Project • 6. Concluding Remarks

  3. 1. ABOUT AMMSI

  4. 1.1 Definition and Mission AMMSI: African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative AMMSI’s Mission: To nurture the next generation of African mathematicians and mathematical leadership

  5. 1.2 Objectives of AMMSI To strengthen the teaching and learning of mathematics and its applications (Teaching and Education). To support research in mathematics and mathematics education, including interdisciplinary research in areas involving application of mathematics (Research). To enhance capacity in mathematics and its applications through linkages, networks and regional/international collaboration (Linkages and Networking). To raise general awareness in mathematics and articulate publicly the importance of mathematics to modern nations (Outreach and Public Education). To enhance the use of information and communications technology in the teaching, learning and applications of mathematics (Information and communications Technology [ICT]).

  6. 1.3 AMMSI Network • Distributed network with 5 regional offices, each run by a Regional Coordinator: • Central Africa: • Regional Office at University of Yaounde I, Cameroon • Eastern Africa: • Regional Office (and also Programme Office) at University of Nairobi, Kenya • Southern Africa: • Regional Office at University of Botswana, Botswana • Western Africa (Zone 1): • Regional Office at University of Ilorin, Nigeria • Western Africa (Zone 2): • Regional Office at University of Ougadougou, Burkina Faso

  7. 1.4 AMMSI Programme Office • Programme Office has overall coordination of AMMSI activities and is required to be located at obe of the Regional Offices • Programme Office is currently located in Nairobi, at the Eastern Africa regional office • Director - Prof. Wandera Ogana • Financial Services – African Academy of Sciences

  8. 1.5 Programme Committee • The current AMMSI Programme Committee members are: • Professor Wandera Ogana (Chairman) • School of Mathematics, University of Nairobi, Kenya • Professor Bijtong Ndombol • Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon • Professor Professor Edward Lungu • Department of Mathematics, University Botswana, Botswana • Professor Samuel Ilori • Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria • Professor Hamidou Toure • LAME, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

  9. 1.7 Activities to Date • Visiting/Research Fellowships • Maximum USD 5,000 • 23 Awards to date • Suspended when Mellon Foundation grant ended • Postgraduate Scholarships • Partial grants (USD 500 – USD 2,000) • 210 Awards to Date • Continued at reduced scale through IMU, since 2008 • Awards to Institutions, commenced in 2011 • Deadline for 2012 applications is 30th May 2012

  10. 1.7 Activities to Date ….2/ • AMMSI Regional Conferences (4 since 2005) • African Scientific Meetings (2 since 2005) • Support to postgraduate students to attend conferences • Funded by The London Mathematical Society • Maximum of GBP 2,000 for every event • Supports only travel by postgraduate students • Application by conference organizers • AMMSI-LMS Grant Application form on request • More than 15conferences supported from 2005

  11. 2. ABOUT MARM

  12. 2.1 Introductory Remarks • MARM – Mentoring African Research in Mathematics • Arose from awareness of IMU and AMMSI on state of postgraduate mathematics in Africa • Small classes • Lack of expertise in certain areas • Limited research activities • Parent organizations: • AMMSI • IMU (International Mathematical Union) • LMS (London Mathematical Society) • Funding organizations: • The Nuffield Foundation (from 2005) • The Leverhulme Trust (from 2006) • Funding ends in December 2012

  13. 2.2 Objectives of MARM • To establish longer-term mentoring relations between individual mathematicians and students • To create joint research partnerships between mathematicians working in established research centres, their colleagues in sub-Saharan Africa, and doctoral students of those colleagues. • To promote general collaboration in mathematics and mathematics education

  14. 2.3 Selection Procedure • Call for expressions of interest by African departments, indicating areas in which they most need collaboration • Call for expressions of interest by individual mathematicians outside Africa, indicating their areas of expertise • Shortlisting and ranking of African institutions • MARM Board finally matches selected institutions with potential mentors • Contact between selected departments and mentors to work out their own plan and schedule of activities • Limited funding availed for 2 years

  15. 2.4 MARM Board • Sir John Ball • Mathematical Research Institute, Oxford, UK • Prof. Herb Clemens • The Ohio State University and Secretary CDC • Prof. Wandera Ogana • University of Nairobi and Programme Director, AMMSI • Prof. John Toland • University of Bath, UK • Dr. Stephen Huggett • University of Plymouth and Secretary, LMS • Dr. Frank Neumann • University of Lancaster, UK • Fiona Nixon • Executive Secretary, LMS

  16. 2.5 Existing MARM Projects ….1/ • University: University of Buea, Cameroon • Contact Person: Dr. Boniface Nkemzi • UK/European Partner: Prof. Sergey Foss • Partner’s University: Heriot-Watt University, UK • Subject Area(s): Mathematical Probability • African University: Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia • Contact Person: Dr Tsegaye Gedif Ayele • UK/European Partner: Prof. Prof. SergeyMikhailov • Partner’s University: Brunel university, UK • Subject Area(s): Analysis

  17. 2.5 Existing MARM Projects ….2/ • 3 University: Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia • Contact Person: Dr. Habtu Zegeya • UK/European Partner: Prof. Nigel Cutland • Partner’s University: University of York, UK • Subject Area(s): Functional Analysis • 4 African University: KNUST, Ghana • Contact Person: Prof. Isaac K. Dontwi • UK/European Partner: Dr. Frank Neumann • Partner’s University: University of Leicester, UK • Subject Area(s): Algebra, Geometry, Topology

  18. 2.5 Existing MARM Projects ….3/ • 5 African University: University of Ghana, Ghana • Contact Person: Dr. Margaret Mcintyre • UK/European Partner: Prof. Maciej Dunajski • Partner’s University: Cambridge University, UK • Subject Area(s): Mathematical Physics • 6 University: University of Cocody, Ivory Coast • Contact Person: Prof. Modeste N’zi • UK/European Partner: Prof. Mikael Passare • Partner’s University: Stockholm University, Sweden • Subject Area(s): Mathematical Statistics, Geometry

  19. 2.5 Existing MARM Projects ….4/ • 7 African University: Kenyatta University, Kenya • Contact Persons: Dr. David Malonza/Dr. Leo Odongo • UK/European Partner: Prof. Enrico Rogora • Partner’s University: University of Rome “La Sapienza” • Subject Area(s): Data Analysis • 8 University: Maseno University, Kenya • Contact Person: Dr. David Stern • UK/European Partner: Prof. Balazs Szenderoi • Partner’s University: Oxford University, UK • Subject Area(s): Algebra, Geometry, Applied Maths

  20. 2.5 Existing MARM Projects ….5/ • 9 African University: University of Nairobi, Kenya • Contact Person: Dr. Jamen Were/Prof. Richard Simwa • UK/European Partner: Dr. Anotida Madzvamuse • Partner’s University: University of Sussex, UK • Subject Area(s): Mathematical Modelling • 10 University: Fed. Univ. of Technology, Akure, Nigeria • Contact Person: Prof. A. Ajiboye • UK/European Partner: Prof. Paul Hewson • Partner’s University: University of Plymouth, UK • Subject Area(s): Applied Statistics

  21. 2.5 Existing MARM Projects ….6/ • 11 University: University of Ilorin, Nigeria • Contact Person: Prof. Mathias Bamigbola • UK/European Partner: Prof. Brent Everitt • Partner’s University: University of York, UK • Subject Area(s): Geometric Group theory, Semigroups • 12 African University: National University of Rwanda • Contact Person: Prof. Verdiana Masanja • UK/European Partner: Prof. Sanju Velani • Partner’s University: University of York, UK • Subject Area(s): Algebra, Functional Analy, Comp

  22. 2.5 Existing MARM Projects ….7/ • 13 University: University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania • Contact Person: Dr. E. S. Massawe • UK/European Partner: Prof. Ben Adams • Partner’s University: University of Bath, UK • Subject Area(s): Mathematical Biology • 14 African University: Makerere University • Contact Person: Dr. Juma Kasozi • UK/European Partner: Prof. Gregory Sankaran • Partner’s University: University of Bath, UK • Subject Area(s): Algebra

  23. 2.6 MARM Roundtables • Held at on 8th June 2011 during international mathematics conference at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya • Review MARM projects and discuss future of MARM • MARM grants ending in December 2012 • Prof. John Elgin, of Imperial College, appointed by MARM Board to spearhead writing of new proposal • Another MARM Roundtable is being planned to follow SAMSA Conference in Malawi, November 2012

  24. 3. COMMISSION FOR DEVELPING COUNTRIES (CDC)

  25. 3. CDC • CDC – Commission for Developing Countries • Committee of International Mathematical Union (IMU) • Promotes mathematics in the Developing Countries • Support to organize mathematics conferences/workshops • Usually USD 2 – 3k per conference • Applications at least 2 months before event • Application forms available online • Volunteer Lecturer Programme (VLP) • Application online by Department of Mathematics in developing country • CDC matches application with a potential Volunteer Lecturer • Lectures for 6 – 10 weeks • Utilized mostly by Asian countries • Little interest shown by African institutions to date

  26. 4. ICM-2014 and MENAO

  27. 4 ICM-2014 and MENAO • ICM-2014: • August 2014 • Seoul, South Korea • Support for 1000 mathematicians from Developing Countries • MENAO • Mathematics in Emerging Nations: Achievements and Opportunities • One-day event before ICM-2014 • Highlight mathematical activities in developing countries • Attract potential funders to support mathematics activities in developing countries • Meeting in Seoul next week to discuss strategy

  28. 5. AFRICA MATHEMATICS PROJECT (AMP)

  29. 5.Africa Mathematics Project • Announced by The Simons Foundation, USA, in 2011 • Enhance development of mathematics and its applications in Africa • To fund 5 projects for USD 80,000 per year for 5 years • (2012 – 2017) • Extend funding for another 5 years and/or get new proposals • Major components: Research and Postgraduate Training • Call for Concept Proposals: deadline, early this year • Over 35 applications received • 10 applications selected to submit full proposals – deadline is 2nd June 2012 • Scientific Committee to select the 5 proposals to be funded

  30. 6. CONCLUDING REMARKS

  31. 6. Concluding Remarks • Postgraduate (Graduate) Scholarships • Visiting/Research Fellowships • Multidisciplinary research activities • Outreach activities to create awareness of mathematics • in schools and at undergraduate level • Mentoring activities, particularly involving mathematicians in the Diaspora

  32. For more information visit:http://www.ammsi.org http:///www.lms.ac.uk/content/mentoring-african-research-mathematics

  33. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!

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