On Computational Mathematics in Central Africa by Jacques

On Computational Mathematics in Central Africa by Jacques Tagoudjeu Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon

Outline n n n What is Computational Mathematics? Goal and Requirement Interest for Central Africa Resources of Computational Mathematics Situation in Central Africa What Solution?

What is Computational Mathematics n n n Computational mathematics involves mathematical research in areas of science where computing plays a central and essential role, emphasizing algorithms, numerical methods, and symbolic methods (wikipedia). It combines core studies in mathematics, computer sciences and their applications in several other scientific disciplines It is a combination of mathematics and science and involves a lot of computing.

Some Areas of Applications n n n Physics and engineering; Biology; Medicine; Actuarial science and finance; Search engine; etc…

Major Fields: n n n n Numerical Linear Algebra; Numerical Solution of Differential and Integro. Differential Equations; Optimization and Optimal Control; Computational Statistics; Statistical Applications; Imaging; Large Scale Scientific Computing.

Goal and Requirement Goal: n Develop and Analyze Algorithms that solve problems computationally (using computer).

Goal and Requirement (continue) Requirement for algorithms: n Accuracy: Able to return a result that is numerically very close to the analytical result; n Efficiency: Able to quickly solve the problem using reasonable computational resources n Robustness: work for a wide variety of inputs n Stability: not sensitive to small changes in the inputs

Resources of Computational Mathematics n Computational Mathematicians n Robust computing facilities

Interest for Central Africa n n n Simulating climate change and the impact on environment; Traffic modeling and simulation; Reservoir simulation for petroleum and gas resources; Weather forecasting and impact on hydrologic energy production; Optimization of electrical and water supply

Interest for Central Africa n n n Strategic planning for financial institutions; Epidemic diseases spreading and effect of immunization Reservoir simulation of ground water; Water sources detection by remote sensing; Monitoring agricultural farm using hyperspectral imaging; Etc…

What about Central Africa? n n Universities offering Graduate courses in Computational Math: 1 (University of Yaoundé I: UYI) Number of Ph. D in the last 20 years: < 10 n n Registered Ph. D student for the ongoing academic year: <5 Number of Specialists: <15

What about Central Africa? (continue) n n UYI hosts an international laboratory of computer science and applied mathematics (LIRIMA), but Computational Math is not enough representative therein. Lack of computational facilities. Number of private and institutional contracts from here and abroad: 0 Scientific events on Computational Mathematics and related: 0

Worst Situation !!!

Some solutions n n Creation of Computational Mathematics centers to strengthen postgraduate training and research; Acquirement of computational facilities; Mutualisation of computational facilities; Creation of sub-regional and regional Networks of excellence in computational math;

Some solutions (continue) n n n Involving the Diaspora in teaching and train the trainer programs; Development of exchange programs; Communicate on the usefulness of the computational mathematics;

Some Good News n Master program in Applied Statistic at ENSP since 2003 (54 Master’s and 5 Ph. D Graduated); n Coming soon at ENSP: An international Master program in Mechanical Structure Analysis including computational mechanic ; n A computational engineering program ; n Center of Computational Science n

THANK YOU !!!