Our project, Mathematics for Sustainable Development (MATH4SDG), was well presented during the recent NORHED week at the Makerere University, Uganda at the end of April 2022. Our local PI at Makerere University, professor John Mango, had the overall responsibility for arranging the week, which kept him quite busy prior to and during the week.
In addition to the high level addresses by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in Uganda, from the Norwegian Embassy, the Vice Chancellor at Makerere University, and the Norad delegation leader, we learned about the 18 other NORHED projects at Makerere. Our project was presented by professor John Mango. We visited selected project’s research labs/sites, including the Department of Mathematics, and we learned more about Makerere University. We also uncovered our MATH4SDG logo during one of the plenary meetings, the logo is designed by Lines by Linley. The number 4 in the logo reflects that SDG 4 “Quality education” one of our main goals.
The week was a great opportunity for networking, including during the gathering hosted by the Norwegian Embassy. It was good to discuss and get to know colleagues with long experience in collaboration between Norwegian and African universities, and meet with the Norad team in person. This will benefit us in the future.
For our project, the most important outcome of the week was to meet colleagues from the collaborating universities for the first time. Four colleagues took the trip from Dar es Salaam and two team members from the University of Bergen attended. During our visits to the Department of Mathematics we met with the staff, and most importantly the five MATH4SDG PhD students at Makerere University. The students presented their projects and progress so far, and we managed to arrange a supervision meeting with the two PhD students in Mathematic Education.
During the week we also learned a lot about the local conditions in Uganda and Kampala. We got to see some of this large city (the traffic is “interesting”) and we even managed to do a little sightseeing to e.g. the Tombs of Buganda Kings and sailing on the source of the Nile. Although we learned that this is disputed by Rwanda, claiming that they have the source of the Nile. We won’t engage in that dispute.
We would like to thank NORAD for arranging this week, and from us visiting from UDSM and UiB we are grateful for the hospitality shown to us from our colleagues and friends at Makerere University.
