Mentoring African Research in Mathematics

The Mentoring African Research in Mathematics (MARM) scheme is supporting mathematics and its teaching in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa between mathematicians in the UK and African colleagues, together with their students. It focuses on cultivating longer-term mentoring relations between individual mathematicians and students.

The programme is designed to counter the mathematics "brain-drain" from sub-Saharan Africa by supporting qualified mathematics professionals in situ. Rather than simply supporting mathematics conferences and workshops in countries in which mathematicians from the UK participate, the scheme concentrates on the creation of joint research partnerships between UK mathematicians, their colleagues in sub-Saharan Africa, and doctoral students of those colleagues. Continuing professional links to a centre in the developed world, professional mentoring, and the opportunity for periodic research travel will contribute to the possibility and relative attractiveness of contributing one’s mathematical expertise at home rather than moving permanently to the developed world.

The scheme is supported by grants awarded by the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust jointly to the London Mathematical Society, International Mathematical Union (IMU), the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS) and the African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative (AMMSI). The scheme is overseen by the MARM Board.

AMMSI focuses on building infrastructure and networking in mathematics in sub-Saharan Africa. It offers postgraduate scholarships, visiting lectureships, and conference support for the benefit of advanced students and young researchers in the mathematical sciences.

The scheme has now been in operation for three years. Three rounds of proposals have been considered, and nine mentoring partnerships have been set up. New mentors are still being sought.

A meeting of mentors was held at De Morgan House in January 2009, and a further meeting, which will also involve their partners, is scheduled to take place as part of the ICM at Hyderabad in August 2010.

Inquiries should be directed to the MARM facilitator, Dave.Johnson@nottingham.ac.uk.

Details of the existing projects and reports on their achievements
Information for those interested in getting involved in setting up a partnership
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