Muizenberg, known for its colourful beach huts and surfing community, is turning into a tech hub. And one turquoise building in Melrose Road, just back from the beach, has become an architectural inspiration to those visiting the coastal town – the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS). Further down the road, two of historic Muizenberg’s Italianate villas are also part of AIMS, home to the institute’s research centre. With visiting lecturers from Cambridge, Tokyo, Leeds, Hawaii, Ghana and Rwanda, among other places, AIMS is a hub of global expertise where, over the course of one year, 90 full-time, full-residential students work towards a Master’s in mathematical science.

There are two streams – one for mathematical sciences, which is classical math, the other, AI for science, explains Professor Ulrich Paquet, AIMS’ director. “AI for science is more focused on artificial intelligence as it’s applied in scientific discovery.” Paquet, who is employed by Google DeepMind but contracted to lead AIMS, is also co-founder of the Deep Learning Indaba, which aims to strengthen AI in Africa. He moved to Cape Town in 2023 to be the director of AIMS, starting the programme for Master’s students with $4.5 million in scholarship funding from Google DeepMind.