Top honours for campus PhD student at Mathematics Society Conference
Hope Sabao, a 27-year-old PhD second-year student in mathematics at North-West University Mafikeng Campus, scooped top honours at the 59th SAMS Conference, at Ratanga Junction, in the category of best presentation, having presented his PhD thesis in the field of mathematics called topology: "The quasi-uniform box product and infinite games". The conference was held in Cape Town from 2 to 4 November 2016.
The South African Mathematical Society (SAMS) was founded in 1957 with the objective of advancing mathematics in the country. The organisation promotes the discipline of mathematics in all facets: locally, regionally and internationally. One way in which the society does this is through organising annual conferences, and the publication of the journal: "Questionnaire Mathematicae".
During the conference, the different fields in mathematics had special sessions, where mathematicians from different universities in South Africa and other countries presented their areas of research. Among them were masters and PhD students registered in South African universities.
As students gave their presentations, experts in their fields assessed and graded the work presented. At the end of the conference, there was an awards ceremony, where students who performed exceptionally well were awarded for their performance. The awards were only awarded to the top three students in each category, that is, top three students pursuing masters and top three students pursuing a PhD. In the PhD category, the first award was given to a student from the University of Cape Town, the second award was given to Hope Sabao from North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), and the third award was given to a student from the University of Limpopo.
"This a great achievement for our student and the profession of mathematics itself. It is encouraging to have students dedicated to their professions receive awards for their hard work and representing our campus as well," says Campus Rector, Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselele said.