NextEinstein
Encyclopedia
The NextEinstein initiative intends to make it possible for an Africa
n to emerge as the next boundary-breaking scientist; the spiritual successor to Albert Einstein
. It was created by Neil Turok
in 2008 as his "wish to change the world" using the $100 000 TED
prize.
(AIMS) located in Muizenberg
, South Africa
. Fifteen other centres are to be established over the next decade, including the existing centres in South Africa and Senegal.
The intention is to raise an endowment sufficient to fund 50 annual bursaries at an eventual 15 AIMS centers; $10 million per center for a total of $150 million. Matching funding from governments, educational institutions and philanthropic sources is to cover the running costs of each center.
in May 2008 with a programme of events including lectures by Stephen Hawking
, David Gross
and George Smoot
. Support has also been pledged by Paul Kagame
, Mark Shuttleworth
, Forest Whitaker
and Bob Geldof
.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n to emerge as the next boundary-breaking scientist; the spiritual successor to Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
. It was created by Neil Turok
Neil Turok
Neil Geoffrey Turok is the Director of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He is the son of Mary and Ben Turok, activists in the anti-apartheid movement and the African National Congress.-Career:...
in 2008 as his "wish to change the world" using the $100 000 TED
TED (conference)
TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
prize.
The initiative
NextEinstein serves as a fund raising mechanism to create offshoots of the African Institute for Mathematical SciencesAfrican Institute for Mathematical Sciences
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences is a tertiary education and research institute in Muizenberg, South Africa, established in September 2003...
(AIMS) located in Muizenberg
Muizenberg
Muizenberg is a beach-side suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated where the shore of the Cape Peninsula curves round to the east on the False Bay coast...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Fifteen other centres are to be established over the next decade, including the existing centres in South Africa and Senegal.
The intention is to raise an endowment sufficient to fund 50 annual bursaries at an eventual 15 AIMS centers; $10 million per center for a total of $150 million. Matching funding from governments, educational institutions and philanthropic sources is to cover the running costs of each center.
Support
The project was launched in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in May 2008 with a programme of events including lectures by Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
, David Gross
David Gross
David Jonathan Gross is an American particle physicist and string theorist. Along with Frank Wilczek and David Politzer, he was awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of asymptotic freedom. He is currently the director and holder of the Frederick W...
and George Smoot
George Smoot
George Fitzgerald Smoot III is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, Nobel laureate, and $1 million TV quiz show prize winner . He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for his work on COBE with John C...
. Support has also been pledged by Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front , whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide...
, Mark Shuttleworth
Mark Shuttleworth
Mark Richard Shuttleworth is a South African entrepreneur who was the second self-funded space tourist. Shuttleworth founded Canonical Ltd. and as of 2010, provides leadership for the Ubuntu operating system...
, Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television...
and Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
.