Prof Vitalis Onyango-Otieno - Strathmore University

Speech by Professor Onyango-Otieno, the Director of Centre for Applied
Research in Mathematical Sciences (CARMS) at its launch on 18 th August 2011
Introduction
The Honorable Guest of Honour, Prof Crispus Kiamba; the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Higher Education.
Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University, the host University, Prof John Odhiambo
Vice Chancellor of Kabarak University Prof Dankit Nassiuma
Leading Mathematics Academics,
Members of the Advisory Board of CARMS,
• Prof. John Agure, Maseno University, Kenya
• Prof. D. O. Makinde, Cape-Peninsula University, South Africa
• Prof. Verdiana Masanja, University of Rwanda
• Prof. Michael Ingleby University of Huddersfield, UK
All protocol observed:
Today we are gathered here for the opening of Strathmore University’s 1 st
International Mathematics Conference. This opening also coincides with the launch
of Strathmore’s Centre for Applied Research in Mathematical Sciences (CARMS).
The conference was preceded by the very successful workshops which started on
Monday, and many of the participants in the conference have been part of.
As we come together to celebrate these two twin babies, allow me to share with you
the background of Strathmore’s Centre for Applied Research in Mathematical
(CARMS), a centre that has just been born and is hosting this conference.
I would like to state briefly that CARMS was formed in 2010 with one focus: to be a
major International Mathematical Institute that is comparable to other leading
institutes globally.

How did CARMS start Mathematicians under the leadership of Mathematics
professor Vice Chancellor Prof John Odhiambo realized that Strathmore is now
marked with a larger concentration of people teaching Mathematics in its various
programmes. This climaxed with the introduction of the Actuarial Science
programme in Strathmore’s School of Finance and Applied Economics last year.
The Mathematicians at Strathmore thought of starting a Department of Mathematics
so that mathematicians here could get a home for development and formation. They
however concluded that instead, they should form the Centre for Applied Research in
Mathematical Sciences.
Why form a centre for applied research in Mathematics
What is the Mission of the Centre And What is our Vision
The why is answered in the mission of the Centre which is: to ‘Conduct first-class
research in applied mathematical sciences. It will be a collaborative, 'outward facing'
Centre that brings together the research expertise existing in Strathmore University in
the area of applied mathematical sciences, and other collaborators within the region
and internationally. Translation of applied research results into practice will be the
key priority of the Centre.’
CARMs is already housing a bio-modeling laboratory for CREATES, that is the
Centre of Research Excellence in Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit for Clinical
Trials and Therapeutics. The bio-modeling lab will undertake all the data analysis,
data management and modeling aspects of the research in CREATES.
CARMs vision is to:
Be a centre for excellence in applied research and innovation in mathematical
sciences, and in mathematics and statistics education.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Centre will work to achieve the following Objectives:
a) Build a coherent and focused team of international standing to perform research in
the well-defined and interrelated areas of mathematical sciences and complex
stochastic systems.
b) Exploit both commercially and industrially the applied research activities, such as
generation of intellectual property.

c) Vitalization of applied research in mathematical sciences and scholarly activities
through conferencing and workshops
d) Attract and host for SU highly active and internationally esteemed research staff
who can provide Research Leadership as well as procure grants and consultancy
income
e) Serve as learning support centre for students in SU especially those with interest
in applied mathematics
f) Lead and guide research in the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Statistics
in the University, and at regional and international levels.
g) To serve as a Resource Centre for various technologies related to mathematical
sciences.
h) Promotion of dissemination and exchange of research results through publication
of newsletters, journal articles, books, preprint series, and lecture note series.
As CARMS focus on Objectives, its Activities shall include:
a) Short courses at doctoral and master levels in collaboration with other faculties
and academic institutions.
b) Continuing education courses for mathematics/statistics lecturers
c) Conferences, workshops, research seminars, and weekly colloquia.
d) Teaching mathematics and statistics courses to undergraduate and graduate
students enrolled in schools and faculties of the University.
e) Master’s degree programmes
f) Supervision of masters and PhD research students.
g) Mentoring of young staff.
h) Applied research in mathematical sciences and mathematics/statistics education.
i) Commercial research and generation of intellectual property.
j) Providing consultancy to industry
The activities of CARMS shall require a suitable Structure and Organization:
In this Regard, the Centre is headed by a Director who is assisted by two programme
Directors and guided by an International Advisory Board. Other members of the
Centre will include:
• Full and Contract Academic Staff
• Visiting Research Fellows
• Post Graduate Research Students
• Administrative or Support Staff
The Centre’s operation is guided by a Comprehensive Business Plan
AS I CONCLUDE

I would like to sincerely extend my gratitude to a number of institutions and
individuals who have helped us to make the 1 st SU International Mathematics
Conference come to be.
a) The Scientific Committee
b) The Chair of MACNETT
c) The Ground Conference Committee at SU
And MOST OF ALL
Sponsors of the conference:
a) Kenya’s National Council for Science and Technology (NCST)
b) Mentoring African Research in Mathematics (MARM)
c) Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa
(CEMASTEA)
d) Insurance Company of East Africa (ICEA)
e) The African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI) in
affiliation with UNESCO
f) Maseno University and MACKNET (Kenya Inter University Council for
Mathematics and Computer Science Institutions)
g) Strathmore University
I would like to thank you again and hope that you will not tire to continue working
with us in making the vision of CARMS a reality.
Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen!
Prof. Vitalis Onyango-Otieno
Centre for Applied Research in Mathematical Sciences
Strathmore University, Nairobi