Author: Francois Schulz

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SAMS members at the 7th BRICS Conference in Mathematics 2026

SAMS members Dr. Ronalda Benjamin, Prof. Mapundi Banda, Prof. Eunice Mphako-Banda, Prof. Karin-Therese Howell, and Prof. Michael Henning participated in the 7th BRICS Conference in Mathematics 2026, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 18 to 21 August 2026. Professors Banda, Mphako-Banda and Henning were plenary speakers, while Dr. Benjamin delivered a contributed lecture and Prof. Howell an invited lecture. Prof. Howell also represented the SAMS Council at the conference.

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Ronalda Benjamin, Prof. Mapundi Banda, Prof. Eunice Mphako-Banda, Prof. Karin-Therese Howell and Prof. Michael Henning.

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job-ads

Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer position at the University of the Witwatersrand

The School of Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand is advertising a vacancy at Senior Lecturer or Associate Professor level. The closing date for applications is 21 September 2026.

For more details, please see the official advertisement:
SENIOR LECTURER – ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR -MATHS 2026 – IRC106763

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Uncategorized

SAMS–EMS Collaboration and Reciprocity Agreements

We are pleased to announce that the South African Mathematical Society (SAMS) has formalized its relationship with the European Mathematical Society (EMS) through a Collaboration Agreement and a Reciprocity Agreement.

These agreements provide a framework for strengthening collaboration between the two societies, including through joint conferences and workshops, academic and student exchanges, and opportunities for joint research and other activities.

An important benefit for SAMS members is that current SAMS members affiliated with a South African university or higher educational institute are eligible for Reciprocal Membership of the EMS. The current annual fee for reciprocal EMS membership is €60. Reciprocal members receive the privileges of normal individual EMS membership, except for receiving hard copies of the EMS Magazine.

On the other hand, current EMS members can also join SAMS as Reciprocal Members, at an annual fee of 70% of the current special SAMS membership rate and receive the privileges of a normal individual SAMS member.

We hope that these agreements will provide new opportunities for collaboration and professional development for members of both societies.

For more information on EMS membership, please visit the EMS Individual Membership page.

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Call

Invitation for Input to the Third SAMS Council Meeting

The SAMS Council would like to invite SAMS members to submit suggestions for topics or issues that they would like the Council to consider at its upcoming Third SAMS Council Meeting, which will take place on Monday, 14 September 2026, from 14:00 to 17:00. This is an effort of the SAMS Council to encourage SAMS members to actively take part of forming South African mathematics.

Members who would like to raise a particular matter for discussion are encouraged to send their suggestions to the SAMS General Secretary. In addition, please indicate if you are interested in joining the SAMS Council meeting in order to personally bring this to the attention of the SAMS Council. The SAMS Council will consider every submission and might invite a few SAMS members to the meeting.

Please send your suggestions to secretary@sams.ac.za by Friday, 4 September 2026 at 17:00.

We encourage SAMS members to take this opportunity to share matters that they feel would be valuable for the Council to consider.

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Call

SACNASP Professional Advisory Committee nominations

The South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) request nominations to serve on the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) for the Mathematical Science field of practice. This committee contributes to the assessment of registration applications within the Mathematical Science field of practice by providing expert oversight and upholding the integrity, credibility, and efficiency of the registration process.

In accordance with Section 17 of the Natural Scientific Professions Act (Act No. 27 of 2003), the Council is empowered to establish committees and appoint competent people to assist in the execution of its functions. Remuneration for PAC appointments will be communicated during the appointment process, in line with approved SACNASP policies.

It is critical that the eligible nominees meet the following criteria:

  1. Registered with SACNASP as a Professional Natural Scientist and in good standing.
  2. Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the Mathematical Science field of practice.
  3. Willingness to participate in the assessment process on an ongoing basis.
  4. Recognised professional standing and leadership within the field.
  5. Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to SACNASP’s NSP Act and code of conduct.
  6. Commitment to fair, objective, and timely assessments.

If you or the person you want to nominate meets the criteria, please send the following to the General Secretary, secretary@sams.ac.za by Friday 28 August 17:00.

Documents required for each nominee:

  • Full name and contact details
  • Proof of SACNASP professional registration
  • A brief CV
  • A statement confirming the nominee’s willingness and availability to serve
  • Any additional information required to support the nomination.

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Workshop

3MC-PIMS-SIMONS Summer School: Mathematical Modelling and Emerging Tools

Applications are now open to attend the 3MC-PIMS-SIMONS Summer School: Mathematical Modelling and Emerging Tools, which will be held at Arba Minch University, Ethiopia, from 14–24 December 2026.

Registration deadline: 31 August 2026.

For further information and to register, please visit:
https://natural-sciences.nwu.ac.za/paa/3MC-PIMS-SIMONS-Summer-School-2026

Additional details can also be found in the attached poster:
poster_3MC-PIMS-SIMONS-school-2026

Kindly share the information with anyone who may be interested in this event.

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Conference

First Announcement: Banach Algebras and Applications 2026

First Announcement

27th International Conference on Banach Algebras and Applications

We are pleased to announce the 27th International Conference on Banach Algebras and Applications, to be held at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, from 14 to 18 December 2026.

Since the inaugural event in Los Angeles in 1974, the conference has brought together researchers from around the world to present recent advances in Banach algebras, operator algebras, harmonic analysis, operator theory, and related areas. The 2026 meeting marks the first occasion on which this conference series will be hosted in Africa.

The scientific programme will feature plenary lectures by internationally renowned experts, contributed talks, and opportunities for discussion and collaboration.

Confirmed Plenary Speakers
International Speakers:

  • Osamu Hatori (Niigata University, Japan)
  • Niels Laustsen (Lancaster University, United Kingdom)
  • Martin Mathieu (Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom)
  • Antonio Peralta (University of Granada, Spain)
  • Nico Spronk (University of Waterloo, Canada)
  • Snežana Živković-Zlatanović (University of Niš, Serbia)

South African Speakers:

  • Rudi Brits (University of Johannesburg)
  • Sanne ter Horst (North-West University)
  • Sonja Mouton (Stellenbosch University)

Important Dates

  • Registration opens: 27 July 2026
  • Abstract submission opens: 27 July 2026
  • Deadline for registration and payment: 30 September 2026
  • Deadline for abstract submission: 30 September 2026

Researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and postgraduate students working in Banach algebras, operator algebras, harmonic analysis, operator theory, and related areas are warmly invited to participate.

Further information, including registration, accommodation, and updates, is available on the conference website: 

https://sites.google.com/view/banach-algebras-2026/home

Any queries may be directed to Francois Schulz at francoiss@uj.ac.za.

We look forward to welcoming you to Stellenbosch in December 2026.

Organizing Committee
Ronalda Benjamin – University of Johannesburg
Rudi Brits – University of Johannesburg
Muhammad Hassen – University of Johannesburg
Sonja Mouton – Stellenbosch University
Nicholas Sander – Stellenbosch University
Francois Schulz – University of Johannesburg

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Conference

South African-Japanese Discrete Homotopy Meeting 2026

The organizers invite members of the mathematical community to participate in the Second South Africa–Japan Meeting on Topological Data Analysis using A-Homotopy Theory. This is the second edition of the meeting, following a successful inaugural event held in Cape Town in 2025, which fostered several collaborative research projects between South African and Japanese researchers in A-homotopy theory and topological data analysis.

The meeting aims to strengthen these collaborations while bringing together researchers and students interested in algebraic topology, homotopy theory, topological data analysis, and related areas. 

Both in-person and remote participation are possible. Please note that priority for in-person attendance will be given to members of the IRGTADS project and their collaborators.

Further information about the meeting, including the programme, scientific motivations, and registration details, can be found on the conference website and the links below.

Conference website:

 https://sites.google.com/site/topolalgeb/home/conferences/sajdhm2026

Scientific motivations:

 https://sites.google.com/site/topolalgeb/home/conferences/sajdhm2026/motivations-sajdhm2026

Registration and abstract submission: 

https://sites.google.com/site/topolalgeb/home/conferences/sajdhm2026/abstract-registration-talks-sajdhm2026

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Conference

Positivity XIII – Malta (21 to 25 June 2027)

SAMS members are invited to attend Positivity XIII, which will be held in Malta from 21–25 June 2027.

The list of invited speakers includes a number of mathematicians who work in areas adjacent to Positivity, or who use methods from Positivity, such as Tanya Eisner (ergodic theory), Tamás Titkos (optimal transport in quantum structures, Lipschitz-free spaces), Shiho Oi (operator algebras, Jordan algebras) and Felix-Benedict Liebrich (Mathematics of finance). The meeting is therefore expected to be of interest not only to researchers working directly in positivity, but also to mathematicians in related fields.

Further information is available on the conference website:
https://positivitymt2027.com/

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job-ads

Advertisement of PhD position at the University of the Free State

The Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications for a PhD position under the supervision of Prof. Christian Budde. 

We are seeking a talented, motivated and research-driven individual to join our vibrant academic community and contribute to research in modern functional analysis. The successful candidate will conduct advanced research within the broad domain of functional analysis, with specific focus on the operator-theoretic approach to evolution equations. 

The project will investigate either bi-continuous cosine families and their underlying structural, analytic and topological properties or advance the theory of (higher-order) non-autonomous abstract Cauchy problems. 

To be considered for this position, the applicant must meet the following criteria: A completed masters degree in mathematics with strong academic standing, a robust foundational background in functional analysis and, if possible, prior exposure to operator theory, operator semigroups or differential equations. Moreover, the candidate is supposed to have strong analytic skills, a passion for abstract mathematical research and to the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an international research framework.

Interested candidates should submit their applications with supporting documents directly to Prof. Christian Budde (BuddeCJ@ufs.ac.za) and the Head of Department Dr. Christiaan Venter (VenterC@ufs.ac.za) by e-mail not later than the 31st of August 2026.