AIMS South Africa Newsletter August 2025

[Linda Camara]

August Workshops: Computational Thinking and New Horizons    August has been an exciting and busy month at AIMSSEC, as we hosted computational thinking workshops involving six schools. This time, the workshops were held at Cape Academy in Tokai, giving both primary and high school learners the opportunity to visit a school outside of their township communities.    The workshops took place on the following dates:     •    2 August: Masibambane High School and Molo Mhlaba School •     9 August: Lavender Hill High School and Levana Primary School  •    30 August: Crestway Secondary School and Lourier Primary School Read more    AIMS Students & Africa Scientifique 2022-2025 Alumni Showcase Science    On 2 August 2025, a group of AIMS Master’s Students and Alumni joined over 100 exhibitors from universities, research councils, science centres, government departments and industry partners at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to celebrate the launch of this year’s National Science Week (NSW).      NSW is an annual flagship initiative of the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, designed to bridge the gap between science and society and foster innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across South Africa. The NSW 2025 theme was “Science, technology and innovation are for everyone”.     Representing AIMS were current students and Africa Scientifique programme 2023 & 2025 Alumni Ms Sophy Kgoahla, Ms Morongwa Ralefeta, Ms Tsiry Meva Sisih Rakotondratoetra, Ms Marry Thekhwe, alongside alumni Mr Ndivhuwo Mphephu and Ms Promise Mathebula (both now working at Standard Bank). The AIMS exhibition was unique, as it was the sole stand dedicated to mathematics.       Read more    Spotlight on AI Leadership    In August, MyBroadband profiled Prof. Ulrich Paquet, Director of AIMS South Africa, as one of the country’s leading AI researchers. With a career spanning Microsoft, Apple, and Google, and current work at DeepMind, Prof. Paquet combines global expertise with a strong commitment to advancing AI across Africa. Read more    Machine Learning for Ecology Group Updates          In August, two MSc students from the Machine Learning for Ecology Research Group successfully defended their research master’s theses.   •       Matthew Shane Van den Berg (pictured far left) applied computer vision techniques to automatically identify the postures of African penguins from video recordings.  •       Milanto Ferdinand Rasolofohery (pictured second from the right) investigated compressed sensing methods to efficiently compress acoustic data, enabling real-time monitoring.      Both projects applied innovative artificial intelligence approaches to support the conservation of critically endangered species while also advancing new scientific methods. Congratulations to Matthew and Milanto on this remarkable achievement! QML for Africa    On 22 August, Dr Ryan Sweke, head of the Quantum@AIMS research group, gave a talk titled “Potential and Limitations of Quantum Machine Learning” at the Quantum Machine Learning for Africa workshop, held as part of the Deep Learning Indaba in Kigali from 17 to 22 August. Research Visitors    We are delighted to welcome three visitors to AIMS South Africa          Florian Hirsch (Heidelberg University), visiting for two months as part of the Heidelberg University/AIMS collaboration supported by the Baden-Württemberg-Stipendium. Florian, currently pursuing his PhD on quantum simulation of semiconductor physics with ultracold atoms, will collaborate with Dr Ryan Sweke on property learning methods for state certification in quantum few-body experiments.    Pablo Rodriguez (University of Barcelona/Bilbao), also visiting for two months. Pablo’s doctoral research focuses on quantum machine learning, and during his stay he will work closely with Dr Sweke.This is his first visit to Africa, and he is eager to contribute to the vibrant AIMS research environment.          Xinyue Cheng, a Master’s student in Data Science, is serving as a research assistant at AIMSSEC. She joined us on 30 July 2025 for a two-month stay, and we are very pleased with her contributions thus far as she enters her second month with us.          Experiencing University Life: Secondary School Learners Step into the Future       From 6 to 12 July 2025, AIMSSEC welcomed 10 learners from grades 11 and 12, representing Crestway, Lavender Hill, Masibambane, and Intlanganiso Secondary Schools, for a unique opportunity to experience university life firsthand.     During the week, learners stayed with the AIMSSEC team and teachers at the University of the Western Cape’s student hostel, shared meals with staff, and fully immersed themselves in campus life.          Read more    Rural Teachers Make History          From 6-16 July 2025, the AIMSSEC family marked a historic milestone. The first half of our course was integrated into a national event dedicated to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning mathematics, known as the Mega Maths Festival.    Ninety-two teachers, all from rural communities across four provinces, travelled to the University of the Western Cape (UWC).    The university, together with the Department of Higher Education and Training and AIMS South Africa, opened its doors to host this remarkable gathering. For our teachers, it was more than a course—it was a chance to sit side by side with the broader mathematics and mathematical sciences community, to listen, to share, and to feel part of something bigger than themselves.    Read more    Sharing AIMSSEC’s Work on Air    In July, Sinobia Kenny shared the vision and impact of AIMSSEC’s work with wide audiences across Cape Town. She was featured in UWC’s Go Figure article during the Mega Maths Festival, reflecting on how the programme is helping to shift perceptions of mathematics.    Later that month, Sinobia joined two major radio stations to highlight AIMSSEC’s mission:  •       Voice of the Cape – 40-minute    interview, Sunday 13 July 2025  •    Radio 786 – one-hour interview, Tuesday 15 July 2025    Read more    Teamwork in the Making: Creativity for Our Wellbeing    On 8 August 2025, the AIMSSEC team stepped away from the office to focus on something just as important as work deadlines—our mental health. We gathered at the Pottery Centre in Hout Bay for an afternoon of relaxation, creativity, and connection.      Some explored freely with clay, while others approached the activity more pragmatically, but what united us all was     the laughter, the lively conversations, and the joy of sharing time together outside the work environment. The session was a reminder that wellbeing is strengthened not only through rest but also through shared experiences.      The afternoon left us recharged, inspired, and more connected as a team—a reminder that caring for our mental health is a collective effort.    Alumni News       Image Source: Maryam Shittu/Big Cabal Media    Read more    We are proud to celebrate AIMS South Africa alumna, Dr Chika Yinka-Banjo, who is shaping the future of artificial intelligence in Africa.     As the founder of the AI & Robotics Lab (AIRLAB) at the University of Lagos, she is pioneering research and empowering young Africans with skills in AI, robotics, and data science. Her journey from AIMS scholar to AI leader is a shining example of the impact of AIMS graduates across the continent.    In Memory of Virgenia Davidson    In August, we said goodbye to our dearest colleague and friend, Virginia Davidson. For more than a decade, Virgenia served as AIMSSEC’s office manager, and she did so with quiet strength, deep generosity, and unwavering kindness.     After a long and courageous battle with illness, she passed away peacefully on 4 August 2025, leaving behind a legacy of service, humility, and care.     Virgenia was soft-spoken yet firm in her dedication to others. She came from a family of givers, and in every season of her life she lived to serve — humbly, consistently, and with grace.        She poured her love into those around her and devoted herself wholeheartedly to caring for her late mother, a testament to her loyalty and heart.       Teaching tip for lecturers!       On The Spot Generalization    Here learners are invited to generate from a single example. These are generic in the sense that they stand in for all other examples: the general can be seen through the single particular. Once ‘spotted,’ students can be asked to give other examples and explain why the conjectured generalization is valid.          ANNOUNCEMENTS    We are hiring!    Research and Academic Program Manager      Status: Full-time permanent Direct report to: Academic Director Start date: 1 October 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.       Summary AIMS South Africa is seeking a highly organized and motivated Research and Academic Program Manager. This role is crucial for the effective operation of our department, supporting both our research initiatives and academic programs.        The role requires a keen interest in scientific discovery. The ideal candidate will be a proactive problem-solver with excellent communication skills and an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. The Research and Academic Program Manager will support efficient administrative operations, reporting, managing complex scheduling and serve as a key liaison with internal and external stakeholders.    Read more             Imperial College London and AIMS South Africa invite applications for an  Artificial Intelligence in Science postdoctoral  fellowship. A one-year appointment at AIMS South Africa is linked to a one year Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College, London, which commences on 1 September 2026. The AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at AIMS follows immediately after the Fellowship at Imperial College.       Candidates are required to apply for both appointments, and the application for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship can be found on Imperial College’s website at: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ix-ai-in-science/apply/    Read more          The Quantum@AIMS research group, led by Dr Ryan Sweke, is inviting applications for a two year postdoctoral fellowship (start date 1 January 2026). Research in this group is focused on foundational mathematical questions at the intersection of quantum computing, theory of machine learning and cryptography, and applicants should ideally have both a background in related topics and strong motivation to perform research in these directions.     Read more             The Quantum@AIMS research group, led by Dr Ryan Sweke, is offering two three-year PhD positions in quantum computing and quantum information, with the possibility of an additional one year extension (start date 1 January 2026).  The scope for both positions is broad, but it is envisaged that successful applicants will work on foundational mathematical questions at the intersection of quantum computing, theory of machine learning and cryptography.    Read more