World-class research
Mathematics to shape the futureAt the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Ghana, Mathematics professor Olivier Pamen shows how probability calculus and statistics can benefit the people of the country.
A cross-media story by Dirk Gilson
World-class research made in AfricaFlying into the Ghanaian capital, Accra. The city of two million in West Africa is an important economic centre and popular tourist destination. And for the last seven years it has been home to an international institute for world-class research in Mathematics made in Africa.
AIMS GhanaThe African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, or AIMS for short, is located in the northeast of Accra. The institute is part of a pan-African network of centres of excellence in postgraduate education, research and consultancy in Mathematics and related disciplines.
Fit for the futureAIMS Ghana is one of six such centres on the African continent. In addition to Mathematics, the institute offers a course in Machine Intelligence. Teachers with international experience prepare the 79 students for tomorrow’s professions. One of these teachers is the mathematician, Dr Olivier Pamen, from Cameroon.
Great potentialSince 2016, Olivier Pamen has held the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s German Research Chair in Mathematics and its Applications at AIMS Ghana. This is one of the ways in which the Foundation reinforces education and research in Mathematics at the AIMS centres in Africa. The chair is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Pamen thinks the continent holds great potential for research in Mathematics.
Microfinance market
Goto first page Goto first page Goto first pagePredicting defaultBut things do not always run as smoothly as they have for Thomas Amoako. The problem is the default rate, whereby a large number of people do not repay their credits, or not on time. One major reason for this are interest rates which are often extremely high. Olivier Pamen and his team want to change that – with the help of Mathematics. They have developed a model that enables the lender to predict their clients’ risk potential and default probability more realistically. In doing so, they want to help both parties:
Science meets businessOlivier Pamen and his doctoral student, Cedric Abekah, present their concept to Sheela Azuntaba, the head of the microcredit company, Innovative Microfinance Ghana.
German research chair
Goto first page Goto first page Goto first pageAIMS Ghana -- studying
Application-focused trainingOlivier Pamen currently has five doctoral students and one postdoc. They come from Ghana, Senegal, Burkina Faso and the Congo and are all working on stochastic differential equations. This deals with the mathematical description of dynamic, irregular processes – such as share price developments, the spread of epidemics and crop yield predictions in times of climate change. It is the focus on applications that Pamen’s team values above all in their training at AIMS.
Experienced teachersThis is partly because the centres always manage to recruit successful researchers and teachers with international experience like Olivier Pamen. AIMS can thus be sure to offer its students optimum training.
AIMS Ghana - living
Goto first page Goto first page Goto first pageGreat community… and sometimes round off the day with a visit to the campus bar. In addition to the training they receive, the prospective mathematicians value the community spirit at AIMS, which is one reason why the concept is so successful. The pan-African network of AIMS centres currently has 1,600 Master’s graduates, of whom 500 have embarked on a PhD.
More to comeBy 2023, a total of 15 African Institutes for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) are planned as centres of excellence. On the strength of funding from the BMBF, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation will continue to appoint academics to the German Research Chairs in Mathematics and its Applications. For additional information and details of the award procedure, visit
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Mathematics to shape the future
World-class research made in Africa
AIMS Ghana
Fit for the future
Great potential
Olivier Pamen
Using mathematics to support small business owners
Recovering business with microcredit
Thomas Amoako
Predicting default
Olivier Pamen
Science meets business
Sheela Azuntaba
German research chair
Olivier Pamen
Opportunities
Application-focused training
Some Ganet
Elizabeth Dadzie
Experienced teachers
Olivier Pamen
Draw strength
Olivier Pamen
Living on campus
Great community
Olivier Pamen
More to come