AIMS African Institute for Mathematical Sciences

For Science in AfricaBuilding a Bright Future

www.aims.ac.zaPresentation to the Science and Technology Portfolio Committee 25th November 2003

AIMS Maths and Science

• Underpin global society • Essential to development

• Provide a common language

• Will set the parameters of our future

AIMS Why Now?

• The New South Africa and NEPAD• Tremendous demand across Africa • Global goodwill and interest in the

science community espec. diaspora• Internet and free software

- A Window of Opportunity

AIMS A Beacon• An African Institute for Mathematical

Sciences Founding principles: - Cost Effective - High Quality - Relevant - Innovative• Latest pedagogy – hyper-interactive• Outstanding lecturers

AIMS Supporters

• Nelson Mandela• Ben Ngubane• Rob Adam• Kader Asmal• Mosibudi Mangena• Patricia Whitelock• Sir David King• Prof. David Gross• Prof. James Gates

• Philip W. Anderson (Nobel physics 1977)

• Joseph Taylor (Nobel physics 1997)• Sir Michael Berry• Stephen Hawking • Sir Martin Rees• Sir John Sulston

(Nobel medicine 2002)

AIMS Funders

DST VodafoneVodacom PetroSA Gatsby SeardelFord ICSU CUP SUNLMS PotterCCETSA USAID

AIMS

• Stellenbosch• UCT• UWC• Cambridge• Oxford• Orsay• Pan-African, International involvement

Partners

AIMS AIMS exists!

• First intake: 30 students (85 applied)• 7 women, 9 Muslims, from 14 countries• Will build to 50 by 2005• Students and lecturers live in• Nine-month postgraduate diploma• Special courses in high priority areas – e.g. 23 people for epidemiology next week

AIMSThe future is here ……

AIMS The AIMS Institute

AIMS Future Plans• Cross-Africa Network - Internet plus satellite links - Email, Bulletin Boards - Software, teaching & research materials• Visiting Fellowships/Professorships• International Conferences • In-Service Teacher Training Courses

AIMSAfrica is getting connected …

AIMS

Thank you