Applying Mathematical Sciences to Real-World Innovation

The Integrative Think Tank (ITT) at AIMS South Africa was a five-day challenge workshop and hackathon, bringing together students to tackle real-world research and development problems presented by industry partner Laduma Analytics. Working in teams, participants engaged deeply with applied challenges, culminating in final pitches to a panel of experts, with cash prizes awarded to the top teams.

Programme Highlights

Day 1

The week opened with two interactive sessions led by Claire David:

• How I Became a Scientist: The Backstory Not Written in My CV – a candid reflection on the realities of graduate studies, highlighting moments of doubt, growth, and the importance of recognising and pursuing opportunities.
• Employability for Life – a guided session encouraging students to reflect on the skills, mindset, and values needed to become adaptable professionals and effective collaborators.

In the afternoon, students participated in a LinkedIn Bootcamp, refining their professional profiles with practical guidance. The day concluded with an Alumni in Industry Fireside Chat, where graduates shared insights into their career journeys, the transition from academia to industry, and the application of mathematical sciences in diverse professional contexts.

Day 2

The programme welcomed Lee Lindelwe Moyo, co-founder of Laduma Analytics, who introduced students to the football analytics industry and presented three real-world R&D challenges. Teams then began refining their approaches and developing initial solution strategies.

Days 3–4

Students received expert pitch training from James Njong, focusing on how to:

• Structure a compelling scientific pitch
• Clearly articulate problem–solution alignment
• Demonstrate novelty and significance
• Quantify real-world impact

Teams worked intensively during these two days, presenting interim progress at the end of Day 3 and refining their solutions and presentations ahead of the final pitches.

Day 5

The week concluded with final presentations, where teams pitched their solutions and prototypes to a panel of experts, including Laduma Analytics co-founder Alex Rathke. Following deliberation, winners and runners-up were announced, with cash prizes awarded in recognition of outstanding innovation and impact.

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere thanks to:

• Lee Lindelwe Moyo and Alex Rathke (Laduma Analytics) for their collaboration and industry insights
• Claire David for her invaluable guidance on career development and personal growth
• James Njong for delivering impactful pitch training
• Our alumni for sharing their professional journeys and perspectives
• Jacques Rabie for programme design and management
• Gina Fourie for essential operational and logistical support

Congratulations to the winning team and runners-up. The ITT was a powerful demonstration of how mathematical sciences can be applied to address pressing real-world challenges, and a celebration of the creativity, collaboration, and talent of our students.