Canada funds African math scientists for climate change

The Honourable Marie Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced Canada will contribute CA$22.6 million over five years to the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Next Einstein Initiative, to train African mathematical scientists to develop climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions.

With the funding, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences will expand its successful model of training African post graduate students in advanced mathematical sciences to incorporate a greater focus on climate change. The funding will be delivered via Global Affairs Canada and the International Development Research Centre. IDRC will manage the funding on behalf of the Government of Canada.

With this Government of Canada funding, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences will develop a specialised programme in climate change at African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Rwanda and a climate change course option will be offered at all African Institute for Mathematical Sciences centres. African Institute for Mathematical Sciences will also support up to three research chairs to lead some 50 African researchers to build a specialised body of knowledge in addressing the impacts of climate change in Africa.

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences will create a climate change internship programme for its students and alumni, as well as research fellowships for outstanding African women mathematical scientists to conduct climate change research. An additional African Institute for Mathematical Sciences centre will be opened in Francophone Africa. This initiative demonstrates Canada’s commitment to Africa’s youth and their ability to find lasting solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences is building a critical mass of mathematical scientists in Africa who can address the continent’s complex economic, health, agriculture, and environmental challenges. Every year, some 50 of Africa’s top students enroll in each of African Institute for Mathematical Sciences six centres to take a ten-month graduate-level course, leading to a Master’s degree in mathematical science.

Already, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences alumni have demonstrated their impact on climate change research. For instance, alumni have developed crop models to estimate the future of food security in the face of a changing climate, used mathematical modelling to help industry convert waste to energy, and developed models to understand the diffusion patterns of infectious diseases as warming climates lengthen transmission seasons.

“We are thrilled to receive this investment from the Government of Canada at a time when the world and Africa’s efforts are focused on the sustainable development of the continent and its most valuable human resource—its youth,” said Thierry Zomahoun, President and CEO, AIMS.

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences has six centres, located in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Rwanda. African Institute for Mathematical Sciences has produced 1,211 graduates, 32% of whom are women.

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