Draft:African Society for Biomathematics

• Comment: Please ensure any WP:COI is addressed. Greenman (talk) 21:43, 28 May 2025 (UTC)

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African Society for Biomathematics

The African Society for Biomathematics (ASB) is a non-profit professional association that supports interdisciplinary research and education in biomathematics, mathematical epidemiology, and mathematical biosciences across Africa.

Mission and vision

The African Society for Biomathematics (ASB) seeks to promote scientific development in Africa through interdisciplinary collaboration and stronger connections between academia, industry, and research institutions in health and related fields. ASB supports the use of data-driven approaches to inform public health policy and aims to enhance disease modeling, forecasting, and pandemic preparedness. It also works to translate scientific insights into practical applications for health systems and advocates for the professional development of its members while engaging in scientific research and innovation across the continent.

History

The African Society of Biomathematics (ASB) was initiated at the first Pan African Biomathematics Conference held in Kampala, Uganda, in December 2003. Prof. Livingstone Luboobi served as the interim President. The society became inactive until 2006, when renewed efforts were made during events organized by the African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative(AMMSI): the Eastern African Mathematics Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya from December 4-6 2006 and the Mathematical Biology Workshop held from December 7-10 2006, coordinated by Prof. Wandera Ogana.

These events were followed by two additional biomathematics meetings: one in Cape Town, South Africa (January 2007), and the Marrakech Biomathematics conference held at Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco (January 3 - 8, 2008), organized by Prof. Hassan Hbid of Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco and Prof. JYT Mugisha of Makerere University, Uganda. A special session was held during the Marrakech conference to review the draft constitution of ASB, and establish the Steering and Liaison committees. The Steering Committee was charged with developing the structure of ASB (officers, membership, etc.) and the Liaison Committee was to help ASB with connections and support from the international community, including other societies of mathematical biology.

In November 2009, the African Society for Biomathematics (ASB) held its inaugural conference at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, where a new executive committee was elected.

In 2010, ASB sought affiliation with the African Mathematical Union (AMU) to function as a continental body under its framework; however, this effort was not finalized. To support research cooperation, the society began co-organizing conferences with regional mathematical associations to enhance research collaboration and knowledge sharing. The first of these joint events took place in November 2010 in Botswana in partnership with the Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association (SAMSA).

Following the conference in 2012 at the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, the society once again became inactive. In 2023, discussions to restart ASB’s activities were held during the “Ghana School of Mathematical Modeling: Where Ecology and infectious diseases intersect (GSMM2023) organized by Dr. Folashade Agusto (University of Kansas, Kansas) and hosted by Dr. Kenneth Dadedzi (University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana), with organizational support from Dr. Stephen Moore, Dr. Ousmane Seydi, Prof. Emmanuel Bakare, and Prof. Farai Nyabadza.

In 2025, ASB resumes its operations, with a focus on supporting biomathematics as a field relevant to addressing challenges in public health, epidemiology, ecology, and various biological sciences across Africa.

References

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