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On June 31 and July 01, the STRUCTURES Cluster of Excellence had the pleasure of welcoming YAM fellows and organizers from various German clusters of excellence to this year's YAM network meeting in Heidelberg. During the meeting, which took place at the STRUCTURES “Oberstübchen”, the YAM fellows presented and discussed their research, shared experiences from their stays in Germany, and engaged in dialogue with peers and coordinators. In addition, the second day featured two talks on career opportunities for mathematicians in Germany by invited guests Dr. Helke Hillebrand (Graduate Academy Heidelberg) and Dr. Patrick Wagner (heiSKILLS Competence and Language Centre). The programme was complemented by a campus tour, a guided walk through Heidelberg's Old Town, a group dinner and several informal opportunities for networking and exchange.
The two-day meeting fostered lively discussion, providing valuable insights and new connections for both fellows and coordinators of YAM. During the final feedback session, participants shared their impressions and feedback directly with the YAM coordination team, contributing to the continuous development of the programme.
The YAM (Young African Mathematicians) Programme is a collaborative initiative between the five centres of the African Institute for Mathematical Science (AIMS – Cameroon, Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana and South Africa) and four German clusters of excellence (HCM Bonn, Mathematics Münster, MATH+ Berlin, STRUCTURES Heidelberg) that cover mathematical research. Its mission is to encourage young, talented and highly motivated graduates of the AIMS master's programme to conduct a research stay at an excellent mathematical institution in Germany. Supervised by a professor (and supported by mentors), the fellows pursue independent research and participate in a structured curriculum of courses and lectures.
More than a visiting fellowship, YAM seeks to build a strong and lasting network among young African researchers and the German mathematics community. Regular network meetings, such as the one held in Heidelberg, play a key role in fostering exchange and collaboration across institutions and continents.
STRUCTURES is proud to have been an official partner of the YAM Programme since 2023. Through its contribution to the YAM Programme, STRUCTURES aims to promote international cooperation, diversity and equal opportunities. In the first year of its contribution, STRUCTURES has hosted the YAM fellows Richarlotte Razafindravola and Olivette Tchouangnou Chuagua. In the 2024/25 period, we were happy to welcome Mina Chavelle Tchoua Tchoua, Mickaya Aimé Razanaparany, and Eunisse Nzetchuen Mangaptche. The local YAM coordination team in Heidelberg consists of Prof. Hans Knüpfer, Dr. May-Britt Becker and the STRUCTURES Office team.
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