The Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association (SAMSA) established the Masamu (masamu means mathematics in Southern Africa) Program in 2010 with the support of US National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with US research mathematicians in order to enhance research in mathematical sciences and related areas within Southern Africa and beyond through international research collaboration. A key component of the Masamu Program is the Masamu Advanced Study Institute (MASI) that provides a platform for such collaboration. MASI has held in-person convenings in conjunction with SAMSA Conferences each year since 2011, except for 2020, 2021, and 2025.
The institute programs include the US-Africa Collaborative Research Network (CRN), MASI Convenings, Masamu CRN Virtual Colloquia Series, and Workshops. Previous Masamu Advanced Study Institute (MASI) Convenings can be found here.
News & Events
- 2026 Masamu Advanced Study Institute (MASI) Convening Interest Form
- 2026 SAMSA Annual Conference Information
- Spring 2026 CRN Virtual Colloqial Series Schedule
- Masamu Program Informational Flyer
- American Mathematical Society’s February 2021 Notices Magazine features Dr. Overtoun Jenda and the SAMSA-Masamu Program
- Dr. Katherine Perry, Masamu Program Graph Theory participant, featured in Soka University Faculty Spotlight
- Dr. Michael Washington, CDC scientist and Masamu Program participant, featured in October 2020 ISE Magazine (Industrial and Systems Engineering at Work)
- Dr. Overtoun Jenda receives the prestigious PAESMEM presidential mentoring award
- Masamu Program featured in University World News
About SAMSA: The Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association (SAMSA) was established in 1981 to further the mathematical sciences in the Southern African region (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) and beyond.
About the NSF: The US National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent US federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing for America’s colleges and universities.