AIMS South Africa Newsletter October 2025

[African Institute for Mathematical Sciences]

AIMS Hosts First Workshop and School on the Theory of Quantum Learning Algorithms    AIMS South Africa recently hosted the 1st AIMS Workshop and School on the Theory of Quantum Learning Algorithms, a landmark event that brought together leading researchers and students from around the world to explore the intersection of quantum computing and machine learning.    Held from 26 to 31 October 2025, the workshop welcomed around 80 external participants, including: • 16 international invited speakers, • 12 co-organisers from Freie Universität Berlin (Germany), • 14 students from other AIMS Centres across Africa, • 30 students from South African universities, and • 10 additional international participants.       Participants described the event as inspiring and transformative, praising its blend of intellectual depth, international collaboration, and accessible learning.       Read more    WAFIRA 3-day Workshop:  Advancing African Early-Career Women in Mathematical Sciences       The third WAFIRA Workshop was held from 30 October to 1 November 2025 at AIMS South Africa in Muizenberg, convening 40 young and emerging women researchers and academics in the mathematical sciences.     Held under the theme “Advancing African Women in Mathematical Sciences”, the workshop included Honours, Master’s, PhD and Postdoctoral participants from AIMS South Africa (18), the University of the Western Cape (1), UNISA/iThemba     LABS (6), and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (15), joined by the Head of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.    There were also contributions from WAFIRA alumni from the 2023 and 2025 cohorts, and experts in gender equity in STEM, who served as role models and mentors for an inspiring capacity-building experience.    Read more    AIMS South Africa Contribution to QYF Future Skills Forum    On 3 October 2025, AIMS South Africa participated in the 2025 Future Skills Forum, a biennial event organised by Quantify Your Future – a project of the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA). The forum brought together leaders from academia, banking, professional services, and partner organisations to address a shared challenge: how to nurture and prepare the next generation of quantitative professionals in South Africa and beyond.    Through keynote speeches, panel debates, group discussions, and networking events, the forum explored how universities and industry can collaborate to develop talent pipelines and innovative solutions for a rapidly evolving economy.    Read more       Alumni attend 2025 Baobab Summit       From 17 to 19 October, six alumni from the 2024/2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at AIMS South Africa participated in the 2025 Baobab Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya. Organised by the Mastercard Foundation, the summit convened Scholars, alumni, and partners from across Africa and beyond to engage in meaningful dialogue on leadership, innovation, and social impact. Guided by the theme “Baobab Rising: Nurturing the Future through Africa’s Youth”, the event highlighted the vital role of young African leaders in driving transformation through resilience, creativity, and collaboration.    The three-day program explored the subthemes “Rooted to Rise”, “Rising to the Challenge”, and “Power in Partnership”. Each day featured dynamic sessions that emphasized personal growth, ethical and transformative leadership, and collective action. Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, opened the summit with an inspiring address urging participants to lead with purpose and courage, while Ann Cotton OBE, Founder of CAMFED, delivered a compelling message on the power of empathy and kindness in leadership. Machine Learning for Ecology Group Updates    On 16 October, Dr Lorène Jeantet delivered a talk for SANParks at the Cape Research Centre (Tokai, Cape Town) as part of their seminar series. The hybrid event attracted more than 50 online participants, including many professionals working in wildlife conservation. In her presentation, Dr Jeantet highlighted how artificial intelligence can be applied to improve wildlife monitoring, showcasing examples from the ML for Ecology research group’s ongoing work. Students updates In October students on the Mathematical Sciences and AI for Science streams completed the following course: Quantum Machine Learning and Foundations of Theoretical Computer Science (Ryan Sweke, AIMS South Africa).  Ryan Sweke    Students on the Mathematical Sciences stream also completed Mathematical Problem-Solving (Dimbinaina (Naina) Ralaivaosaona, Stellenbosch University).  Naina Ralaivaosaona    Students on the AI for Science stream were lectured in Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) by the Ishango.ai team — Oliver Angelil, Vincent Frimpong, Cyrille Feudjio, and Jan Ravnik. Oliver Angelil, Vincent Frimpong, Cyrille Feudjio, and Jan Ravnik.    Industry Immersion Seminar Series       The first talk of this series for the academic year took place on 16 October 2025, featuring Jillian Reilly, author, founder, and international keynote speaker.   In her presentation, “Agency, Adaptability, and Authority: Straight A’s for Life in the 21st Century,” Jillian encouraged students to reflect on navigating uncertainty and building purposeful, adaptable careers. Drawing from her forthcoming book The Ten Permissions, she highlighted the importance of self-awareness, authenticity, and resilience.      The session sparked lively discussion and reflection among students. AIMS South Africa thanks Jillian Reilly for her inspiring contribution to the Industry Immersion Seminar Series.    Machine Learning and Mentorship       Prof. Claire David recently taught Introduction to Machine Learning at AIMS Cameroon to 108 students from 18 African countries. Despite the large class size, she kept sessions interactive through discussion, teamwork, and a lively debate on the ethical risks of AI.      Students also presented short team projects exploring key aspects of machine learning, demonstrating impressive depth and collaboration in just two days. Prof. David complemented the course with a session on Time and Project Management and an evening talk on her particle physics research with the ATLAS detector at CERN and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment at Fermilab.      She also led the year’s first Women in STEM Discussion Session, praising the “resilience and care” of AIMS women. Outside class, she joined staff and teaching assistants in a memorable climb of Mount Cameroon (4090 m).         Inspired by her visit, Prof. David plans to bring new ideas from Limbé—such as more spaces for social connection and student-led clubs—back to AIMS South Africa.       AIMS House of Science Manager Elected AWMA Vice-President Southern Africa Region    On 24 October 2025, Dr Rejoyce Gavhi-Molefe, Manager of the AIMS South Africa House of Science, was elected Vice-President for the Southern Africa Region of the African Women in Mathematics Association (AWMA).    The AWMA held the inaugural meeting of its new Executive Board for the 2025–2029 term on September 29, 2025, marking a new chapter in strengthening women’s participation in mathematics across Africa. Outgoing President Prof. Marie Françoise Ouedraogo congratulated the incoming team and encouraged them to build on the association’s achievements while addressing persistent gender disparities in STEM.    Read more    Teaching tip for lecturers!       Always, Sometimes, Never True    This type of prompt focuses attention on whether a statement of general rule is always true, never true, or sometimes true. Students can construct instances to illustrate when it is or isn’t true, and more generally, construct explanations under which it is, and isn’t true.