NPR: On the Search for Africa's Einstein

On the Search for Africa's Einstein

Physicist Stephen Hawking poses at the CalTech library in 2000.

As discussed in yesterday's "Africa Update", world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking is once again on the search for intelligent life. This time on Earth!

Joining forces with Hawking are Neil Turok, founder of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), and other luminaries -- including two Nobel laureates in physics, David Gross and George Smoot, and Michael Griffin, the head of NASA.

Their goal is to construct Africa's first 15 postgraduate centers for advanced math and physics. According to the Times:

"The world of science needs Africa's brilliant talents and I look forward to meeting prospective young Einsteins from Africa," said Hawking.
Neil Turok, founder of the project and professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge University, where he is a close colleague of Hawking, said the aim of the centres was to "unlock and nurture scientific talent" across Africa. "Apart from an African Einstein, we want to find the African Bill Gates and the Sergey Brins and Larry Pages of the future," said Turok, referring to the founders of Microsoft and Google.

The group got together after the British government refused to fund the endeavor, choosing instead to focus resources on poverty-related issues.

"The Department for International Development spends 1.5 billion of taxpayers' money on aid to Africa every year but there is precious little to show for it. The people who will make Africa rich are the brightest people because they will generate wealth," Turok said.

Is the key to humanity's survival locked away in the mind of a brilliant African student?

Geoffrey Gardner

2:44 PM ET | 05-21-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

That is so very cool. I wanna know more

Sent by Natalie Tucker | 5:16 PM ET | 05-22-2008

I always thought more should be invested in higher education in Africa - than solely on poverty and aid - education develops strong nations. bravo!

Sent by andrina | 12:57 PM ET | 07-13-2008

ooh dear...a key to AIDS drug is locked in the mind of one street kid or villager living in this poor Africa that always fail to make it in life because of financial problems..!! If you argue, am a victim of the cirmustance...from street to smart computer application developer...!!

Sent by Nsereko Moses Busulwa | 12:14 PM ET | 07-23-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

About 'News & Views'

News & Views is the companion blog of NPR's news magazine show, News & Notes. It extends News & Notes' ongoing conversation about the diversity of the African-American experience. For more information, read our Frequently Asked Questions guide and our Discussion Rules.