The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences is currently hosting its first-ever virtual edition of the Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering, Africa’s largest scientific gathering.
Organised against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s three-day event is a shift from the norm as it is taking place through the Airmeet video conferencing platform.
During the opening ceremony, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije, emphasised the need to stay ahead of the pandemic as he announced the collaboration between AIMS and Rwanda to provide adequate software for COVID-19 testing.
“The Ministry of Health in Rwanda has closely worked with scientists including Prof. Wilfred Ndifon from AIMS and Prof. Leon Mutesa from the University of Rwanda to pioneer new methods of screening COVID-19 infections recently published in the International Scientific Journal,” he said.
The highly anticipated plenary discussion on ‘Finding the next Einstein, preparing Africa to lead in scientific discovery,’ moderated by AIMS Founder and Board Chair, Prof. Neil Turok, with top scientists including three Nobel Prize laureates and one ‘Field Medalist’ focused on the prospects of a generation that could change the face of science.
Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 1993, Richard J. Roberts, said, “Work isn’t work anymore, it’s a hobby! You also need to remember that it can take a long time before basic research can have practical consequences. So, once you’ve found something you want to do, talk to mentors and teachers, but most importantly, read up on other research.”
The last session for the day centred on ‘Leadership during COVID-19: Best practices and recommendations for futuristic policies.’
Chief Academic Officer, AIMS Global Network, Dr. Mama Foupouagnigni, set the tone with a case study of what the academic year entailed for most institutions.
“With much effort, we were able to combine both online and face to face interaction. That way, learning didn’t have to stop,” he said.
