Inside this issue: AIMS is enabling Africas youth to become

agents of change on the continent

AIMS South Africa 1
Graduation

Visiting delegation 1

Cosmology Group 2
updates

MMED 2016 2

Masters Defence 2

PhD student visit 2 Africa has an exciting journey
US ahead of it and so do you. We
are determined to transform the
CIMPA Council African continent by hiring the
2
best talent to tackle the challenges
of our time. But our success
Tutor farewell depends on you and talented,
4
motivated graduates like yourself.
You have the power to change
AIMSSECs first 4 the world, so go out and change
resource book the world, change the African
continent and make a difference,
Seminar 4
said Dr Solomon Assefa,
Director IBM Research Africa.
He was speaking at the AIMS South
Africa Graduation which took
place at the Muizenberg Pavilion
on 21 June 2016, where 54
students (including 21 women)
from 24 African countries
received Master's Degrees in
Mathematical Sciences.
This graduation brings the total
number of AIMS South Africa
graduates to 646 and to 1 210
across the network once all
centres have held their gradua-
tion ceremonies. As Prof. Barry
Green, Director noted, This
year we saw the graduation of
our 1000th AIMS student and it
is wonderful to see so many tal-
ented young people in Africa
who want to make a difference.
Continued on page 3.

Network 4 Visiting delegation from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Graduations

A delegation from the Alexander

von Humboldt Foundation, and a
representative from the German
Federal Ministry for Education
and Research, the German
Embassy and DAAD visited AIMS
South Africa from 13 to 17 June
2016 to participate in the selec-
tion process for the German
Research Chair in Mathematics
with a Specialisation in Data
Science, who will be based at
AIMS South Africa.
From left: (Front row): Dr Barnard, Ms Ziegert, Dr Bah, Dr Diop,
Ms Mager , Ms Kreilos. (2nd row): Prof. Bassett, Prof. Reddy,
Continued on page 3. Prof. Rewitsky, Dr Heil, Dr Utete (3rd row): Dr Ndifon, Prof. Gritzmann,
Dr Yocgo, Prof. Green, Dr Pflug (Back row): Prof. Sanders, Dr Binder,
Prof. Groetschel, Dr Vollmer, Prof. Becker, Ms Wittka

www.aims.ac.za info@aims.ac.za
 Research Centre updates
Cosmology Group updates
Python JEDI hack day events
Participants at the Hack Day
These hack day events, organ-
ised by the Cosmology Group
at AIMS South Africa, are
scheduled to take place every
two weeks at the AIMS South
Africa Research Centre. The
objectives of these days are to local institutions. The first of
develop participant skills in
data related computer sciences; 10 June 2016.
facilitate skills transfer between
participants; create or reinforce
collaboration and to create a
strong core of proficient data
scientists able to tackle various
problems. The hack days will
alternate with brainstorming
sessions, intense coding times
and short lectures. The range
of topics to be covered include
Masters Defence
PhD student visits US
Ms Dinna Ranirina, a PhD
student in the AIMS South
Africa Research Centre, was a
visiting student at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville Tennes-
see in the Department of
Mathematics from 1 January to
31 May 2016. Within this time,
she worked with her host su-
pervisor Prof. Mike Neamtu on
a paper mainly focused on Ra-
tional B-splines which is still in
progress. In parallel to this
project, she also had discus-
sions with with Prof. Doug
www.aims.ac.za
different types of prob-
lems (classification/
regression problems,
outliers detection and
patterns recognition;
and similarity detec-
tion); preprocessing
and dimensional
reduction; real time vs.
static analysis and front and
back-end related issues. Partic-
ipants range from postgraduate
students to senior scientists
with an interest in data science
and machine learning from
these hack days was held on
Ms Manolya
Altan, a
student from
MIT is
visiting the
Cosmology
Group from
22 May until
3 July 2016
On 20 June 2016, Mr Elia
Namundjebo a Research
Masters student in the AIMS
South Africa Research Centre,
did his Masters Thesis Defence
which was titled: The Double
Heston Model via the Kalman
Filter. He was supervised by
Prof. Ronnie Becker.
Hardin, also from Vanderbilt
University, about her PhD
topic. This exchange was more
focused on the theoretical
part of the method from her
research at AIMS South Africa
which is being supervised by
Prof. Johan de Villiers.
She also attended the 15th
international conference in
Approximation theory which
was held in San Antonio, Texas
from 22-25 May 2016.
MMED 2016: Clinic on the Meaningful
Modelling of Epidemiological Data
Workshop participants
The South African Centre
for Epidemiological Modelling
(SACEMA) held its7th annual
Clinic on the Meaningful Model-
ling of Epidemiological Data
(MMED). This two-week model-
ling clinic, done in collaboration
with the International Clinics on
Infectious Disease Dynamics
and Data (ICI3D) Programme
and AIMS South Africa brought
together graduate students,
postdoctoral scholars, and
other researchers from North
America and Africa, with the
goal of engaging the participants
in epidemiological modelling
projects that use real data to
grapple with practical questions
Visiting researchers
AIMS South Africa welcomed
two visiting researchers: Prof
Alan Beardon (Cambridge and
AIMS) who is visiting until 21
July 2016; and Prof Mamadou
CIMPA Administrative Council
On Friday 3 June, Prof Barry
Green, was one of seven
selected to become members
of the Administrative Council
for CIMPA (Centre Interna-
tional de Mathmatiques
Pures et Appliques/
International Center for Pure
and Applied Mathematics).
The council will assume its
functions in January 2017.
CIMPA is an international
organisation working for the
development of mathematics
research in developing coun-
tries. It was founded in France
in 1978, is based in Nice and
in a meaningful way. The
Clinic consisted of a series of
lectures, discussions, and tuto-
rials that guided participants
through the process of devel-
oping data-based, dynamical
models of disease spread and
using models to answer public
health questions.
There were 63 participants
which included 20 AIMS South
Africa Masters and Biomath
Honours students, 27 North
America and African partici-
pants and 16 faculty members
and mentors.
Sango (University of Pretoria)
who is an AIMS Associate
Research Fellow and will be
visiting until 17 July 2016.
is a UNESCO category 2
centre. Its role is to promote
research and higher education
in pure or applied mathematics
and interactions between the
two as well as related disci-
plines. CIMPAs main task is
the organisation of research
schools. This is the bulk of its
activities and is focussed on
areas where there is a real
drive to shine a spotlight on,
or develop, mathematics or
where there is scope for a
research project. For more
information please visit http://
www.cimpa-icpam.org/
info@aims.ac.za
 Graduation continued ...
The students themselves had
a lot to say about their expe-
riences at AIMS, expressing
their appreciation for the
support and motivation they
received being part of the
AIMS family and their plans
for the future. Ms Karimatou
Djenabou, from Cameroon,
noted that when the students
were not talking about math-
ematics they talked about
their home cultures, "I feel
like I have explored more
than half of the African conti-
nent with the talks I have had
with my fellow students who
were from 24 different
African countries. Mr Nelson
Kyakutwika, from Uganda
said, In the future I visualise
myself being a member of
the core team deciding the
destiny of Africa. At AIMS I
got more that just a degree,
AIMS is preparing Africas
greatest minds for their future
careers. Mr Robin Msiska,
from Zambia shared a poem
he had written which con-
tained the phrase, Our role
is to be agents of change.
The ceremony was officiated
by Prof. Eugene Cloete, Vice-
Rector Research, Innovation
and Postgraduate studies,
Stellenbosch University,
Prof. Danie Visser, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor, University
of Cape Town and Prof.
Front row: Dr Alan Stroebel (NRF), Mr Jean Bernoulli Ravelomanana,
Ms Frether Getachew Kebede, Prof. Thandi Mgwebi, Mr Sogo Pierre
Sanon Back row: Prof. Jeff Sanders, Mr Robin Msiska, Mr Lamin
Juwara, Prof. Barry Green
www.aims.ac.za
Dr Solomon Assefa
Vivienne Lawack Deputy
Vice-Chancellor, Academic,
University of the Western
Cape.
Prof. Thandi Mgwebi, Director
of Research at the University
of the Western Cape and an
AIMS Advisory Board mem-
ber presented a number of
AIMS Scholarships Awards to
those students who had per-
formed exceptionally during
their year of study.
The Stephen Hawking
Scholarship, named in hon-
our of the world-renowned
physicist went to Mr Robin
Msiska, from Zambia.
The Martin Rees Scholarship,
named in honour of Lord
Martin Rees, who is widely
acknowledged as one of the
world's leading astronomers
and cosmologists, was
awarded to Mr Lamin
Juwara, from Gambia.
The Paul G. Allen Scholar-
ship, endowed by the
Microsoft co-founder and
philanthropist, was awarded
to Ms Frether Getachew
Kebede, from Ethiopia.
And two Dr Victor Roth-
schild Scholarships, went to
Delegation visit continued ...
Members of the delegation
included: Prof. Peter Gritz-
mann; Prof. Martin Groetschel;
Dr Andrea Binder; Dr Anne
Pflug; Dr Simone Heil; Ms
Michaela Kreilos and Ms
Daniela Mager. The delega-
tion was joined by Ms Phillina
Wittka (DAAD) and Ms Eva
Ziegert from the German
Embassy.
The selection committee Prof. Groetschel
was comprised of Prof. Peter
Gritzmann (TU Mnchen),
Prof. Martin Groetschel
(President Berlin-Brandenburg
Academy of Sciences and
Humanities, Prof. Barry
Green (Director AIMS South
Africa); Prof. Daya Reddy
(South African Research
Chair in Computational
Mechanics, UCT and Chair
of the AIMS Council) and
Prof. Ingrid Rewitsky
(Executive Head: Department
of Mathematical Sciences, Prof. Gritzmann
Vice-Dean (Teaching): Faculty
of Science, SU). On 14 June, the four candi-
dates for the Research Chair
The meetings commenced presented public lectures:
with an introduction by Dr "Machine Learning and Big
Andrea Binder, Head of the Data: from Astronomy to
Alexander von Humboldt Society" by Prof. Bruce
Selection Department, on the Bassett, UCT and AIMS
work that the Foundation South Africa
does. This was followed by "Compressed Sensing:
presentations about AIMS Exploiting Redundancy in
from Prof. Barry Green, Prof. Data" by Dr Bubacarr Bah,
Jeff Sanders (Academic Direc- Mathematical Sciences,
tor, AIMS South Africa), Dr University of Texas at Aus-
Wilfred Ndifon (IDRC Junior tin, Texas, USA
Research Chair, AIMS South "Mathematical Models for
Africa/Ghana), Dr Simukai Signal and Image Analysis"
Utete (Senior Researcher, by Dr El Hadji Samba Diop,
AIMS South Africa) and Dr University of Thies, Senegal
Barrie Barnard (Academic "Statistical Physics, Large
Manager, AIMSSEC). Deviation Theory, and Data
Science" by Dr Jrgen
Special events planned for the Vollmer, Department of
week included the following: Mathematics, University of
On 13 June, a public lecture Goettingen, Germany
titled: "Is mathematics use-
ful?" by Prof Martin Grotschel, On Friday 17 June, a public
President Berlin-Brandenburg lecture titled: Identifying
Academy of Sciences and homogenous risks Theory
Humanities, held at Stellen- and practical issues by Prof.
bosch University. Peter Gritzmann, Munich TU
Mnchen, was held at AIMS
South Africa.
info@aims.ac.za
 Tutors farewell
On 20 June 2016, a special
thank you ceremony was held
for all the tutors at AIMS
South Africa. The tutors for
the year were Martha
Kamkuemah (head tutor),
Alberto Cazzaniga, Yae Gaba,
Grace Mwakyoma, Carine
Umulisa, Mebratu Wakeni,
Pascal Wild, Mahmoud
Hashim, Gael Mboussa-Anga,
Michal Morzywolek, Elbasher
Mohamed and Mahmoud
Hashim.
AIMSSECs first teacher
resource book published
In April, Cambridge University
Press (CUP) published the
first book in AIMSSECs
Mathematical Thinking series.
The book, written for senior
phase mathematics teachers,
is the culmination of many
years of work and the combine
efforts of many people. The
book is based on activities
used at AIMSSECs profes-
sional development courses
and gives guidance for mathe-
matics teachers (particularly
in developing countries) to
enable them to run profes-
sional development work-
shops without the need for
an expert to lead them. The
book also offers ideas for
learning activities and low
cost resources designed to
encourage learners to think
for themselves and to devel-
op problem solving and
communication skills.
The book has 20 chapters
covering topics in number,
www.aims.ac.za
Seminar
On 20 June 2016 Prof. Alan
Beardon gave a seminar to
students titled: A problem
on magic squares. In this talk
he discussed a little of the
history and a few old and new
results on magic squares.
Network Graduations
algebra, geometry and
measures, and data handling
and probability. Each chapter
covers one mathematical con-
cept and addresses one of six
teaching strategies. The book
also has a chapter on forma- 41 students (including 9 women) graduated from
tive assessment; a chapter on AIMS Sngal on 21 June 2016
teaching and learning mathe-
matics with technology (with
a glossary) and an appendix
with more than 10 photo-
copiable resources.
AIMSSEC would like to thank
everyone who contributed to
the book: all the international
lecturers who wrote chap-
ters, the editors who brought
everything together and, most
importantly, all the teachers
who attended AIMSSEC
courses and who trialled the
materials in their schools and 48 students (including 18 women) graduated from
classrooms, providing invalua- AIMS Ghana on 25 June 2016
ble feedback.
For more information about
the book download the flyer
at
https://aimssec.aims.ac.za/
assets/files/MT/AIMSSEC-MT-
BOOK.pdf
To buy a copy of the book
place an order online through
CUP at http://www.cup.co.za/
products/mathematical-
thinking-in-the-lower-
secondary-classroom (free 47 students (including 17 women) graduated from
delivery in South Africa) or AIMS Cameroon on 29 June 2016
visit the AIMSSEC offices at
65 Main Road, Muizenberg
info@aims.ac.za