Mentoring African Research in Mathematics (MARM) is a cooperative programme designed to support mathematics research and advanced teaching in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.  The programme, which sponsors research partnerships between mathematicians in the more developed countries and African colleagues and their students, emerged from the work of the IMU's Developing Countries Strategy Group. Its goal is to counter the mathematics "brain-drain" from sub-Saharan Africa by supporting the work of qualified mathematics professionals in situ. Working in consultation with all parties, MARM establishes longer-term mentoring relations between individual mathematicians and students, creating joint research partnerships between mathematicians working in established research centres, their colleagues in sub-Saharan Africa, and doctoral students of those colleagues.

MARM is jointly run by the IMU, the London Mathematical Society (LMS), the African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative (AMMSI) and the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS) in Edinburgh. It is supported by grants awarded by the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.

The scheme has now been in operation for three years; three rounds of proposals have been considered, and nine mentoring partnerships have been set up. Details of the Scheme and the existing projects can be found at www.lms.ac.uk/grants/MARM.html.

New partnerships are still being sought.  Mathematicians from the more developed countries who may wish to become mentors should contact the Scheme Facilitator, Dave Johnson (Dave.Johnson@nottingham.ac.uk); African universities and mathematicians interested in taking part should contact the AMMSI Programme Director, Wandera Ogana (wogana@uonbi.ac.ke).  The third call has just closed but the Board managing MARM is keen to establish more partnerships and is leaving the call open, without a defined closing date.  Those interested should make contact as soon as possible.

Peter Cooper
Executive Secretary
London Mathematical Society
57-58 Russell Square
London WC1B 4HS
Tel: 020 7637 3686
Web: www.lms.ac.uk
Charity no: 252660