The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) on September 1, 2025, officially opened its annual short course in statistics, bringing together young scientists from across the region to strengthen their skills in designing cost-effective experiments and probabilistic modeling”.

 The course was officially opened by the Dean of the School of LiSBE, Dr. Francis Moyo, who emphasized the importance of full participation and encouraged students to carefully follow the instructions provided for the benefit of their education, the institution, and the community at large.

Running from September 1–5, 2025, the program aims to equip early-career researchers with essential tools for conducting high-quality, data-driven scientific work.

Jointly organized by the School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering (LiSBE) and the Centre for Research, Agricultural Advancement, Teaching Excellence and Sustainability in Food and Nutritional Security (CREATES-FNS), this year’s course has attracted participants from NM-AIST and other universities. Sessions are being facilitated by world-renowned Biologist Dr. Arjun Potter and statistician Dr. Shira Mitchell, who are guiding participants on how to design cost-effective experiments and apply statistical models to real research problems.

One of the highlights of the course is The Acacia Project, a hands-on field experiment based on the NM-AIST campus. Led by Dr. Potter and his team, the project investigates the effects of drought, fire, and herbivory on acacia trees, providing participants with authentic datasets to apply the concepts learned in class.

The statistics short course is held annually and forms part of NM-AIST’s ongoing commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of scientists. Through initiatives like this Acacia Project short course the institution continues to foster innovation, research excellence, and sustainable solutions for the continent’s most pressing challenges.