Science Communication & Public Engagement

Current Programmes

Through the Africa Scientifique Programme, we support and equip students, alumni, academics, and researchers with the leadership, knowledge, and skills needed for impactful science communication, thereby building capacity across the continent. This annual programme is jointly delivered in partnership with African Gong.

Our bi-monthly AIMS Public Lecture Series provides scientists with an engaging platform to share their discoveries and ideas with the wider Muizenberg community and beyond. These lectures cover important topics in science, technology, innovation, and the environment, while also highlighting the practical applications of mathematics in everyday life and its wider societal impact.

Our students, alumni, researchers participate and contribute to South Africa’s National Science Week (NSW) activities every year. NSW offers us a platform to showcase the work of AIMS to the wider South African community. This allows us to foster excitement about mathematics and inspire more young people to pursue studies and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Africa Scientifique Flagship Programme

Building the Capacity of Africa's Mathematical Sciences Communicators

The Africa Scientifique: Leadership, Knowledge & Skills for Science Communication is a 3-phased Afrocentric Capacity-building programme designed to support young and emerging African scientists and researchers (Hons’, Masters’ and PhD’s students) to advance research expertise and capacity on the continent. Most importantly, it aims to develop advanced skills, expertise, and practice in science communication and research dissemination with the public in South Africa and across the continent, in accordance with the DSTI Science Engagement Strategy, the STI Decadal Plan, and continental STI frameworks.

Since 2020, Africa Scientifique has been delivered to students, tutors, and researchers at AIMS South Africa. In 2024, the programme expanded to include postgraduate students in the mathematical sciences, including Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Computer Science and Lecturers from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs), supporting the South African government’s national transformation agenda.

The first beneficiaries of this expanded rollout were:

University of Venda (UNIVEN)
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
University of Zululand (UNIZULU)

In 2026, the Africa Scientifique Programme will further expand to benefit AIMS students and postgraduate students and Lectures from Sol Plaatje University (SPU), the University of Fort Hare (UFH), and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

The programme is delivered in three phases jointly by AIMS House of Science in partnership with African Gong.

Programme Structure

Africa Scientifique (AS) is delivered in three integrated phases, designed to build knowledge, skills, and sustained practice:

01

Phase 1: Short Introduction to the AS Programme

Background, transformational pan-African contexts, and the envisioned outcomes for participants.

02

Phase 2: A 3-day AS Workshop

Explore the realm of science communication in greater depth and its potential on participants’ career advancement, through the enhancement of critical ‘soft’ skills and leadership drive.

03

Phase 3: Six-months AS Post Workshop Support

Facilitated, peer-to-peer, team mentoring and support to participants in the planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of their practical public engagement activities in local communities, and in local languages.