Deadline: 2 June 2024, 23:59 (BST)
The MARM Partnership Scheme, run by the London Mathematical Society (LMS), awards grants of £4,000 to support partnerships between UK/European and African mathematics departments. Four grants are awarded in total. These will be for a one-year partnership initially, with the possibility of extension for a further year. The project aims to foster sustainable, long-term collaborations between UK/European and African mathematics researchers.
Applications are now invited from prospective partners based in the UK/Europe. See further details, including on how to apply, below.
About the scheme
The MARM project is designed to support qualified mathematics professionals in situ. Sustained professional links to a centre in UK/Europe, professional collaborations and opportunities for periodic research travel all contribute to the possibility and relative attractiveness of using one’s mathematical expertise at home rather than moving permanently abroad.
The focus of MARM is on building infrastructure and networking in mathematics in Africa, as well as supporting collaboration between mathematicians in non-African countries with a strong mathematical infrastructure and their African colleagues and students. Its wider aim is to foster long-term collaborative relationships between colleagues in UK/Europe and Africa.
Since 2005, 25 relationships have previously been supported through a MARM project, in Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. This further initiative aims to build on these successes and to continue to support mathematics in Africa.
Who can apply
We are looking for mathematicians based in the UK and Europe who are interested in developing collaborative partnerships with mathematicians in Africa. We welcome applications from those with no prior experience of collaborating with research workers in Africa, as well as from those with existing links with African research.
What is expected
We will expect a willingness to make at least one short visit to the Africa partner and to host a short visit from African colleagues. Applicants should how a commitment to developing sustainable, long-term collaborations which will continue beyond the grant period.
Reporting
A report will be requested at the end of each year of the project. Partners will be expected to detail the following:
- any visits made during the year; the aims of the visits; activities undertaken as part of the visits; and objectives achieved by the visits, and
- any other activities undertaken during the year; the purpose of these activities; and the objectives achieved by these activities.
Partners will be asked for the following to indicate the success of the collaborations:
- Evidence of postgraduate supervision;
- Demonstration of research collaborations between the institutions;
- Evidence of establishing formal inter-institutional agreements such as crafting of memorandum of understanding;
- Evidence of any other activities such as joint grant applications, pedagogical training in mathematical sciences.
Partners will also need to give a financial report with a breakdown of how the grant was spent during the year.
Download an application form here.
The deadline for submitting applications is 23:59 (BST) on 2 June 2024.
Completed application forms should be sent to Katherine Wright, MARM Board Secretary: marm@lms.ac.uk.
A list of frequently asked questions is available here.
Read case studies of previous MARM partnerships here.
To discuss potential partnerships please contact:
Professor Frank Neumann, MARM Board Chair
Email: frank.neumann@unipv.it