APPLICATIONS OF MATHEMATICS
IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
A fully funded one-week introductory course for
South African students in the mathematical sciences
9-13 July 2007
hosted by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences
(AIMS), Muizenberg, Cape Town
ARE YOU
 A final-year or Honours student in a mathematical subject?
 Looking for funding opportunities in applied research?
 Interested in applying your expertise in biological or medical research,
but unsure how these sciences use mathematics?
 Keen to use your skills to address pressing health problems in Africa?
THEN READ ON
The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), in
association with AIMS and the Centre for Actuarial Research (CARe), invites
applications from suitably qualified candidates to attend the above course. Its
purpose is to introduce South African students on mathematical science courses to
the wide range of applications of mathematical and statistical techniques in various
areas of biology (especially human biology) and medicine.
The course will be led by
 experts in epidemiological modelling, population dynamics and demography,
bio-informatics and biochemistry.
The intended audience are
 third-year and Honours students in mathematics, physics, engineering,
statistics or related subjects with a strong mathematical content
Course content will assume a good background in the techniques of linear algebra,
calculus, differential equations and elementary probability. No prior background in
biological sciences will be assumed.
Interactive lectures and computer tutorials will illustrate how these tools are currently
being applied to address research problems in biology, the health sciences and
demography, with particular emphasis on current questions relevant to combating
major diseases afflicting the African continent.
Information will be provided on
 opportunities for funded postgraduate study and research positions within
South Africa, incl. research opportunities offered by SACEMA and CARe,
 advice on careers for mathematicians in biological and medical research.
Up to 50 FULLY FUNDED places are available for suitably qualified students.
Accommodation and full board, and a social programme, will be provided.
Applications forms are available from: Fazia du Plessis, fduplessis@sun.ac.za
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Monday, 30 April 2007
WHO ARE WE?
SACEMA is the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Epidemiological
Modelling and Analysis, established in the grounds of the Stellenbosch Institute for
Advanced Study and hosted by Stellenbosch University. One of seven national
Centres of Excellence established by the Department of Science and Technology
and administered by grant from the National Research Foundation, SACEMA was
formally opened on 18 May 2006 by the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology,
Mr Derek Hanekom. Its first Director, Professor John Hargrove, has a chair in
Mathematics at Stellenbosch University and is a biomathematician, an expert in
tsetse fly research who has been involved for the past seven years in the field of
HIV/AIDS..
SACEMA is providing the funding for the course, and offers funding and research
opportunities at MSc and PhD level, as well as postdoctoral positions in research into
many aspects of epidemiological modelling.
For details of SACEMA’s research activities visit www.sacema.ac.za
CARe, the Centre for Actuarial Research, is a
research centre at the University of Cape Town, led by Professor Rob Dorrington,
which somewhat uniquely also offers a teaching programme, which is fast becoming
the premier programme in technical or formal demography on the continent. The
Centre’s research efforts are focussed in two main areas – demographic estimation
using incomplete data such as one finds in Africa, and modelling the impact,
particularly demographic impact, of HIV/AIDS. For some years now the Centre has
been responsible, inter alia, for maintaining and developing the influential ASSA suite
of models for projecting the extent and impact of HIV and AIDS in Southern Africa.
Apart from projecting the demographic impact of HIV/AIDS these models have been
used to estimate the need for antiretroviral therapy, cost the National Strategic Plan
on HIV and AIDS, estimate the macroeconomic impact of the epidemic, and assess
the likely impact of various prevention strategies including possible vaccines in
future.
CARe offers a limited number of partial scholarships to honours students who
complete our Basic Demography course as well as a research project on a
demographic topic as part of their degree, full masters scholarships to students
accepted for the MPhil in Demography at UCT, and PhD scholarships.
For details of the activities of CARe visit
http://www.uct.ac.za/faculties/research/care
AIMS, the African Institute for Mathematical
Sciences, was established in 2003 as a joint initiative of the universities of Cape
Town, Stellenbosch and the Western Cape, together with colleagues at the
universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Paris-Sud 11. Up to 50 students (currently
from over 20 African countries) annually complete an intensive postgraduate diploma
course under the tuition of staff from the overseas and several South African
universities, and are housed together with visiting staff in a converted hotel in
Muizenberg, from September to June. Many AIMS students continue their studies at
MSC or PhD level at South African universities.
AIMS, directed by Prof Fritz Hahne, will be hosting the course at its well-appointed
premises, which boast modern lecture facilities and a computer lab with more than 50
terminals. For details of the activities of AIMS visit www.aims.ac.za.