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| September 2009 |
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Big dreams for AIMS:
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 Neil Turok. Photo credit: IDRC Photos: Tecklesphoto.com
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Africa’s shortage of skilled scientists and mathematicians is limiting the continent’s potential to lift itself out of poverty, suggests Neil Turok, Director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
It’s not that Africa does not produce gifted students, he stated during a public presentation at IDRC on June 26, but that these students often don’t have the ways and means to further their education and their skills.
“Africa is a continent with enormous potential,” said Turok. “[It’s tragic] that people with incredible capabilities and potential are denied the opportunity to develop themselves and to develop their own countries.”
To address the need to build advanced math and science skills, Turok helped found the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in 2003. Since its founding, more than 200 students, men and women from 30 African countries, have participated in the institute’s programs; many have gone on to successful scientific and technical careers in Africa or are pursuing master's or doctoral programs.
AIMS is now launching the Next Einstein Initiative to nurture scientific
talent in Africa. The goal is to establish 15 AIMS centres across the continent
in the next decade. - IDRC
More information:
Article courtesy IDRC: www.idrc.ca
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