This past May the AIMS Research Center opened in Cape Town.  A focus on research is a key part of higher education, and a foundation to a strong science sector in any country.  Unfortunately the research capacity of many institutions of higher learning throughout the developing world is declining due to financial and political true.  Particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

[...] few or none of the features of modern science system apply to many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Many of the scientific institutions in these countries are fragile and susceptible to the vagaries of political and military events, are severely under-resourced, and suffer because of a lack of clarity and articulation of science governance issues (demonstrated by constant shifts in ministerial responsibility for science). In fact, one could even refer to some of these science systems and the associated institutions as operating in a subsistence mode where they struggle to even reproduce themselves. A “subsistence mode” refers to a system that basically produces knowledge for its own use only and does not export knowledge. In fact, it does not make a significant contribution in the global game of knowledge production. It is even debatable whether one can talk of a science system in many of these countries as they do not exhibit typical “systemic” characteristics. Institutions are not typically aligned through input, process, and output flows, and there is no typical systemic behavior in response to external changes and demands. Rather, the image of an assemblage of fragile, somewhat disconnected and constantly under-resourced institutions, is perhaps a more apt metaphor to describe the science arrangements in some of these countries.

This excerpt comes from Johann Mouton, in the fall 2008 issue of Global Education.  In it he reviews the factors that shape and affect the de-institutionalization of science in this area.  “Four major historical influences on the nature of scientific institutions in sub-Saharan Africa are discussed: first, the continuing legacy of colonial science in many countries; second, the destabilizing influence of political events and civil wars; third, the role of international agencies in shaping African sciences; fourth, the gradual erosion of human capital through the brain drain.

The recent AIMS newsletter has a slew of opportunities for students, lecturers, and industry researchers.

AIMS POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME 2009/10

Applications for the AIMS Postgraduate Diploma in the Mathematical Sciences starting in September 2009 are now open. Applicants must be African and should hold (or anticipate completing by the start date of the AIMS course), a 4-year university degree in mathematics, or any science or engineering subject with a significant mathematics component. An applicant’s record should demonstrate a strong mathematical aptitude.

For more information and to apply see http://www.aims.ac.za/english/apply.php.

AIMS PGD ESSAY TOPIC PROPOSALS 2008/9

The AIMS postgraduate diploma programme includes an essay phase. Lecturers and industry researchers are invited to propose essay topics on which they will supervise a student. The closing date for submission is 1 February.

For more information, please see http://www.aims.ac.za/english/essay.php.

AIMS PGD COURSE PROPOSALS 2009/10

AIMS is soliciting proposals for courses during its 2009/10 postgraduate diploma programme.

Please view the guidelines and deadlines at http://www.aims.ac.za/english/courseguidelines.php.

INVITATION TO SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS

AIMS is inviting South African students with a completed degree in the mathematical sciences to apply to attend a 3 week programme to be held at AIMS in January 2009. Students will work on mathematical problem solving and modelling projects under the supervision of AIMS staff.

The programme dates are as follows: 7 January to 23 January 2009.  AIMS will cover the costs of transport, provide accommodation, meals and a small allowance.

For more information, please write to info@aims.ac.za.

IM magazine out of Portugal just launched with an article about Neil Turok, calling him an innovation maker. It gives a good overview of the Next Einstein campaign, AIMS and the students.  It is great to see how people all around the world are connecting so deeply with this wish.  If you want to support AIMS and help find the next Einstein, go to www.nexteinstein.org.

Last night in the UK, BBC 2 had an episode of its Horizon series titled “Do You Know What Time It Is?”. (HT Gia’s Blog) In this episode, particle physicist (and TED speaker) Brian Cox asks, ‘What time is it?’. In the episode, Brian interviews Neil Turok about the idea that the Universe did not begin with the Big Bang and has been in existence ‘forever’.  Unfortunately, only people in the UK can watch the episode on the BBC player.   However the director of the episode has posted a lot of clips on his YouTube page.  Definitely worth watching.

For those of you with a couple of hours on your hands, check out these two video interviews with Neil Turok from February 2008 (HT The Pen and The Spindle) The interview, conducted by Alan Macfarlane of King’s College Cambridge, is an amazing tale of Neil’s family and childhood, academic studies, scientific work, and the development of AIMS.

From ZAMP Bionews…

Leaders of several African science academies are meeting next week at the Royal Society, the national science academy of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, to discuss how the independent, expert advice of science academies can be applied to policy and development issues in Africa. The gathering is the fourth annual conference of the African Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI), a multiyear effort administered by the U.S. National Academies to strengthen the capacity of African academies to deliver such advice.

Here is the conference agenda for those interested in more detail.

Definitely an initiative to watch.

I just became aware of the Google Zawadi Africa Scholarship, a program established to encourage African women to pursue careers in computer science and technology.  (HT Advance-Africa.com)

Google is partnering with the Zawadi Africa Educational Fund to grant five Kenyan women full scholarships to complete degrees in computer science, computer engineering and/or ICT. The Google Zawadi Scholars will pursue studies at top universities in Kenya and South Africa, and they’ll each have the support of a Google engineering mentor. Selection criteria include excellent academics, extracurricular involvement, leadership potential and financial need.

Contact Information and Application are available here.

Yesterday South Africa’s International Science, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition (INSITE 08) kicked off in Johannesburg.  This three-day event (Sept. 15 -17) is meant to showcase the role of science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of economic growth and development and for the enhancement of the quality of life.

While the exhibitions are global, the benefits of the event are local.  Exhibitors display “progressive solutions for the world’s critical problems, demonstrating the practical application of innovation, science and technology…[They] help to create a vision of what the future may hold and highlight ways to help solve global crises by focusing on issues such as renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions…This meeting of minds is essential if South Africa is to develop a competitive, sustainable, fast-growing economy. Knowledge, innovation and productivity are key to building a firm competitive industrial base in South Africa.” (via Mail & Guardian Online)

CHARGED Southern Africa posted a guide to the tech-centered world travel today.  It captures the places around the world any technology junkie should visit including Bangalore, Tokyo, and London.  Given their base in South Africa, they also highlight the many science centers and technology museums to visit in their home country.  Of particular note is MTN’s ScienCentre at Canal Walk Century City in Cape Town.

[It has been] dubbed the country’s ”first world-class interactive science centre”, with over 280 displays as well as an auditorium, camera obscura, computer rooms, laboratories, and exhibition hall.

The MTN ScienCentre’s Winter Holiday Programme is — or so we’re told — ”packed and everyone, from Chocolicious Play Dough to Forensics, Science Shows, Bath Goo and a three-day Digi-Photo course”. For these and other events, see www.mtnsciencentre.org.za.

From the TED Blog…

Each year, untold numbers of bright young Africans — doctors and nurses, scientists and programmers — leave their home countries to live and work abroad. This continental “brain drain” has the predictable effect:

Many experts believe the flight of health workers, scientists, and teachers hinder the continent’s development. “It will be impossible to achieve an African renaissance without the contributions of the talented Africans residing outside Africa,” writes Ravinder Rena of the Eritrea Institute of Technology. ….

But a new report from the Council on Foreign Relations, titled “Is Brain Drain Good for Africa?”, suggests two upsides. First, it points out that remittances — the money that expatriate workers send home to their families — have become a meaningful part of some African economies:

A March 2008 paper by economists William Easterly and Yaw Nyarko says remittances to Africa are likely undercounted, but on average they are equivalent to 81 percent of the foreign aid (PDF) received by an individual country.

And second, the report suggests that a significant number of expatriates eventually return home to work, envigorated by exposure to global markets and ideas, and often charged with a mission to improve the lives of their compatriots. (Sociologist Rubin Patterson calls this phenomenon “brain circulation.”) Several TEDTalks speakers are examples of this — like Patrick Awuah, pictured above, who left Seattle (and a career at Microsoft) to found the first liberal arts university in his native Ghana. Watch Patrick Awuah’s TEDTalk >>

Ideally, the efforts of these returning expatriates will help African states to, eventually, nurture and keep homegrown talent. Earlier this year, 2008 TED Prize winner Neil Turok spoke with CFR’s writer on one way to stop the brain drain: by promoting math and science education throughout Africa. Listen to the podcast interview >>