CO-CREATING THE SOUTHERN AFRICA PHYSICS NETWORK (SAPHYSNET)

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Farai Julius Mhlanga

SAMSA President

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BRIEF HISTORY OF SAMSA

• The Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association (SAMSA) started in 1981.
• SAMSA was founded by a group of mathematicians in the Southern African countries who were concerned with furtherance of mathematical sciences in the region.
• The nucleus member countries included those from the conglomeration then called the Southern African Development Coordination Council (SADCC) with the provision that countries outside this region may apply to join.
• The nucleus member countries include Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Today, the association boasts of membership from countries beyond Southern Africa, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Norway, United Kingdom (UK) in Europe, and USA.
• The first ever SAMSA conference was held in Botswana in 1981. Since then annual conferences have taken place without fail, rotating in the member countries.

BRIEF HISTORY OF SAMSA

• The SAMSA conferences have over the years- since 1981 when the first such conference was held- served as an avenue for the exchange of knowledge, information and provoking new ideas in problem solving among seasoned researchers, upcoming mathematicians as well as students from the Southern Africa’s academic, industrial and commercial sectors, and beyond.
• The conferences have also provided opportunities for networking and learning.
• SAMSA conferences since 2011: 2011: Livingstone, Zambia; 2012: Lilongwe, Malawi; 2013: Stellenbosch, South Africa; 2014: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; 2015: Windhoek, Namibia; 2016: Pretoria, South Africa; 2017: Arusha, Tanzania; 2018: Palapye, Botswana; 2019: Blantyre, Malawi; 2020 & 2021: Held virtually via Zoom; 2022: Maputo, Mozambique; 2023: Pretoria South Africa; 2024: Windhoek, Namibia.

OBJECTIVES OF SAMSA

• The main objective is to further research and teaching of mathematical sciences in the Southern African countries and beyond.
• The Vision of the association is to be the leading mathematical sciences organization in promoting mathematical sciences and their applications through research and training, attracting publications and membership from world class researchers and students.

Specific Objectives includes:

• Promote cooperation and exchange of ideas in mathematical sciences research and teaching of mathematical sciences and to stimulate communication between mathematical scientists in the region; Organize research seminars and colloquia in mathematical sciences;
• Arrange visits to the region of eminent mathematical scientists and organize inter-departmental visits and exchange visits;
• Seek and maintain contacts with other mathematical sciences associations within and outside the region, provided that the objectives and purposes of such other associations are consistent with the objectives and purposes of the association;

CAPACITY BUILDING

• SAMSA has been involved in capacity building programs for the region through various projects and programmes.
• For instance, SAMSA was instrumental in the establishment of the regional Southern African master’s student programme called Mathematical Modelling that was successfully hosted at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) from 1996 – 2007 initiated by Professor Bernt Øksendal of the University of Oslo, and supported by the Norwegian government through the Norwegian Universities Aid Programme, NUFU.
• The program trained well over 60 Masters’ students, most if not all of whom went on to do their PhDs mostly in Europe, Botswana and South Africa. Beneficiaries of this program, together with those trained through various other programmes, are now contributing tremendously to the advancements of mathematical sciences in the region, with South Africa tipping the balance.

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CAPACITY BUILDING

• The program at UZ was succeeded by the Southern African masters programme in Mathematical Modelling (2008 – 2013) hosted by the University of Dar es Salaam which was also supported by the Norwegian government under NORAD’s programme for Master Studies (NOMA).
• In 2010, SAMSA established the Masamu Program with financial support from the US National Science Foundation (NSF, USA). This is led by Professor Overtoun Jenda of Auburn University.
• A key component of the Masamu Program is the Masamu Advanced Study Institute (MASI) and Workshop Series in mathematical sciences and related areas that provides a platform for collaboration between researchers in the USA and Africa in training postgraduate students and publishing high impact research.
• MASI workshops are held each year since 2011 alongside the SAMSA annual conferences. In order to effectively use MASI workshops, the Masamu Program has created a Collaborative Research Network consisting of over 80 senior research mathematicians and scientists from around the world grouped into research teams in pure and applied mathematics that attend the annual MASI workshops and SAMSA Conferences.

STEM WORKSHOP PROGRAM

• During the SAMSA Conference, STEM Workshops for Mathematics Teachers and students in Pre-University schools is organised in the hosting country. The purpose of the workshop is to enhance pre-university mathematics teachers’ skills in teaching mathematics.
• The objectives of the workshop are to:

Improve mathematics teaching strategy and delivery skills

Improve mathematical learning and teaching skills

Contribute towards the Education & Training Sector Strategic Plan goals

Improve awareness of the role of mathematics in national building

• The long term goal is to achieve improved students’ results in secondary school mathematics and to prepare them for STEM courses at the university.

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ONE HEALTH WORKSHOP PROGRAM

• An International Research Symposium on One Health symposium was launched at the Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association (SAMSA) conference held in Maputo, Mozambique in 2022.
• This symposium was held a day before the SAMSA conference commences.
• The symposium focuses on the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health. By using mathematical and statistical tools and research teams from different disciplines and geographical areas, as well as utilizing policymakers and practitioners, the symposium aims to inform policy and practices to improve the health of all.
• The target participants include Allied Health organizations, agencies, government, industry, non-profit organisations, and academia, and participation is limited to 80 individuals

SAMSA JOURNAL & SAMSA NEWSLETTER

• To share and disseminate research findings, SAMSA has established an electronic journal, the Southern Africa Journal of Pure and Applicable Mathematics.
• Acceptance of all papers is normally on the basis of two positive reports from two independent referees.
• Knowing that a lot happens in SAMSA institutions in-between annual conferences that members need to be updated on, and to complement the listserv, which until now was hosted by the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, SAMSA established in 2013 a quarterly newsletter used as a medium for communication, providing information about upcoming events and conferences, for instance.

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SAMSA MEMBERSHIP

Membership

• Student membership: This type of membership is reserved for individuals pursuing their undergraduate and graduate levels at any University or College upon payment of an annual subscription determined by the general membership from time to time.
• Faculty/Individual membership: Individuals working and/or interested in advancing mathematical knowledge in the Southern African Region become members upon payment of an annual subscription determined by the general membership from time to time.

MEMBERSHIP

• Honorary membership: This is reserved for distinguished individuals who have contributed enormously to the promotion and advancement of mathematical knowledge in the region. They include previous SAMSA Presidents and they are generally exempted from payment of annual subscriptions.
• Institutional membership: Organizations, Institutions, Universities, Colleges, or groups of individuals with a collective interest in promoting, extending, and applying mathematical knowledge in the region can assume this type of membership upon payment of an annual subscription determined from time to time by the general membership.

SAMSA EXECUTIVE

The current SAMSA Executive is as follows:

1. SAMSA President: Professor Farai Julius Mhlanga, South Africa

2. SAMSA Vice President: Professor Faraimunashe Chirove, South Africa

3. Secretary General: Dr Hatson John Boscoh Njagarah, Botswana

4. Treasurer General: Dr Samuel Nuugulu, Namibia

5. Committee Members

i. Dr Khomotso Morupisi, Botswana

ii. Ms Paulina Nangolo, Namibia

iii. Professor Pedro Agostinho Sansao, Mozambique