{"id":125,"date":"2023-07-05T09:53:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T09:53:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/?page_id=125"},"modified":"2023-11-23T16:32:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T16:32:40","slug":"plenary-speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/plenary-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Plenary Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"125\" class=\"elementor elementor-125\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1935f04 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1935f04\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4c255ad\" data-id=\"4c255ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32c675b elementor--h-position-center elementor--v-position-middle elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-inside elementor-widget elementor-widget-slides\" data-id=\"32c675b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;transition_speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"slides.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-bg{background-size:cover;background-position:50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;min-width:100%;min-height:100%}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner{background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:50%;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;padding:50px;margin:auto}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner,.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner:hover{color:#fff;display:flex}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-background-overlay{position:absolute;z-index:0;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-content{position:relative;z-index:1;width:100%}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-heading{font-size:35px;font-weight:700;line-height:1}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-description{font-size:17px;line-height:1.4}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-description:not(:last-child),.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-heading:not(:last-child){margin-bottom:30px}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-button{border:2px solid #fff;color:#fff;background:transparent;display:inline-block}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-button,.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-button:hover{background:transparent;color:inherit;text-decoration:none}.elementor--v-position-top .swiper-slide-inner{align-items:flex-start}.elementor--v-position-bottom .swiper-slide-inner{align-items:flex-end}.elementor--v-position-middle .swiper-slide-inner{align-items:center}.elementor--h-position-left .swiper-slide-inner{justify-content:flex-start}.elementor--h-position-right .swiper-slide-inner{justify-content:flex-end}.elementor--h-position-center .swiper-slide-inner{justify-content:center}body.rtl .elementor-widget-slides .elementor-swiper-button-next{left:10px;right:auto}body.rtl .elementor-widget-slides .elementor-swiper-button-prev{right:10px;left:auto}.elementor-slides-wrapper div:not(.swiper-slide)>.swiper-slide-inner{display:none}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner{padding:30px}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-heading{font-size:23px;line-height:1;margin-bottom:15px}.elementor-slides .swiper-slide-inner .elementor-slide-description{font-size:13px;line-height:1.4;margin-bottom:15px}}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-slides-wrapper elementor-main-swiper swiper\" dir=\"ltr\" data-animation=\"fadeInUp\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper elementor-slides\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-repeater-item-578df60 swiper-slide\"><div class=\"swiper-slide-bg\" role=\"img\"><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide-inner\" ><div class=\"swiper-slide-contents\"><div class=\"elementor-slide-heading\">Plenary Speakers<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-813f7fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"813f7fd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4e3e378\" data-id=\"4e3e378\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b4b91c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2b4b91c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f6a967a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f6a967a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e6591f6\" data-id=\"e6591f6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d579f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3d579f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"p1\">Invited Plenary speakers:<\/h5>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Professor Bernardo Rodrigues, University of Pretoria<\/li>\n \t<li>Professor Farai Nyabadza, University of Johannesburg<\/li>\n \t<li>Professor Kerstin Jordaan, University of South Africa<\/li>\n \t<li>Prof Craig Pournara, University of the Witwatersrand<\/li>\n \t<li>Prof Moosa Gabeleh. Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, Iran<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-497f2e4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"497f2e4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a79c1fe\" data-id=\"a79c1fe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c687ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c687ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Professor Bernardo Rodrigues<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2eaaceb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2eaaceb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9dd9ba2\" data-id=\"9dd9ba2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a35bee6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a35bee6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7499fa4\" data-id=\"7499fa4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d73a8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3d73a8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"996\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BernardoNew2-996x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-450\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BernardoNew2-996x1024.jpg 996w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BernardoNew2-292x300.jpg 292w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BernardoNew2-768x790.jpg 768w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BernardoNew2-1494x1536.jpg 1494w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BernardoNew2-1992x2048.jpg 1992w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 996px) 100vw, 996px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a4c5f95\" data-id=\"a4c5f95\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49f520d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49f520d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Biography<\/h5>\nBernardo Rodrigues is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pretoria (UP). Bernardo studied at the Pedagogic University Enrique Jos\u00c8 Varona in La Habana, Cuba where he earned a Licenciatura in Mathematics and Education (equivalent to an MSc) and moved to the former University of Natal, in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa where he obtained a BSc Honours (1998), MSc in 2000 and a PhD in Mathematics in 2003.\n\nAlthough his early work concerned the theory of finite groups, in particular the study of the extension problem, his current research interests concern with the interplay between Algebraic Coding Theory, Finite Groups, Modular Representation Theory of Finite Groups and Combinatorial Design Theory as well as Computatational Group Theory and Axial Algebras, including both the concrete and the abstract aspects of these subjects.\n\nHis recent papers involve modular representation of finite simple groups, as well as the application of this to the realization of finite simple groups as permutation groups of automorphisms of linear codes. He is the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar Award (2017) and during the period 2016 &#8211; 2023 he participated in three Erasmus Mundus Plus Academic Exchange Programmes at Ghent University (Belgium) and University of Rijeka (Croatia).\n\nHe has held several visiting positions in several African countries, at universities in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom, most frequently at the University of Birmingham in the UK.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d98b73 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d98b73\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fb1b018\" data-id=\"fb1b018\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-40f1fd5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"40f1fd5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8322d50\" data-id=\"8322d50\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fb8914 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4fb8914\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Abstract<\/h5><p><strong>On two-weight codes invariant under finite simple groups<\/strong><\/p><p>A linear [n, k, d]-code C is called projective if no two columns of a generator matrix\u00a0are linearly dependent, i.e. the columns represent pairwise distinct points in a projective\u00a0(k \u2212 1)-dimensional space or equivalently, if d(C\u22a5) \u2265 3.\u00a0A code C is called a two-weight code if all nonzero codewords have weight w1 or\u00a0w2 (w1 &lt; w2), for some w1,w2. The dual of a two-weight code belongs to the family\u00a0of uniformly packed codes, i.e., codes in which the number of codewords at distance\u00a03 from a word x which is at distance 2 from the code is constant, and the number of\u00a0codewords at distance 3 from a word x which is at distance greater than 2 from the\u00a0code is also constant.<\/p><p>Projective two-weight are associated with strongly regular graphs and uniformly\u00a0packed codes. The class of 2-(v, k, \u03bb) designs with symmetric difference property\u00a0(SDP) gives rise to self-complementary codes meeting the Grey\u2013Rankin bound. The\u00a0set of codewords of minimum weight in a binary linear self-complementary code of\u00a0even length, meeting the Grey\u2013Rankin bound, constitutes the set of blocks of a quasisymmetric\u00a0design with the symmetric difference property. Two-weight codes have\u00a0connection with bent functions and with bent vectorial functions, with divisible codes,\u00a0self-orthogonal codes and with secret sharing schemes. The study of two-weight codes\u00a0remains of great interest in coding theory, for although several infinite families of two-weight\u00a0codes are known, the problem of their complete classification remains open.<\/p><p>This talk will give an introduction to this fascinating interplay by focusing on a\u00a0small set of examples, chosen mostly for their instructional value. I will illustrate\u00a0the connections described above with examples of construction of some q-ary two-weight\u00a0codes and in particular, some binary projective two-weight codes on which\u00a0finite almost quasisimple groups of sporadic type act transitively as permutation groups\u00a0of automorphisms. Employing a known construction of strongly regular graphs from\u00a0projective two-weight codes we will give examples of new strongly regular graphs\u00a0invariant under the said groups.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3619951 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3619951\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d4dfc4\" data-id=\"0d4dfc4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e9f842 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e9f842\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Professor Farai Nyabadza<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-70999ba elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"70999ba\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c5b8b93\" data-id=\"c5b8b93\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a538e0b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a538e0b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3fb1ae4\" data-id=\"3fb1ae4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78390be elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"78390be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"731\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Professor-Farai-Nyabadza-731x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-312\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Professor-Farai-Nyabadza-731x1024.jpeg 731w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Professor-Farai-Nyabadza-214x300.jpeg 214w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Professor-Farai-Nyabadza-768x1075.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Professor-Farai-Nyabadza-1097x1536.jpeg 1097w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Professor-Farai-Nyabadza-1463x2048.jpeg 1463w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Professor-Farai-Nyabadza.jpeg 1493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f395b7b\" data-id=\"f395b7b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e8620f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e8620f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Biography<\/h5>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farai Nyabadza graduated with an undergraduate degree from the University of Zimbabwe and majored in Geology and Mathematics in 1993. He then did a Master of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Zimbabwe in 1998 and completed his Ph.D. in mathematical modelling of infectious diseases in 2003 from the University of Botswana. He proceeded to do a Post-Doc at the South African Center for Epidemiological Analysis (SACEMA), from where he joined Stellenbosch University. He is currently a Professor of  Applied Mathematics at the University of Johannesburg,  and his research involves the applications of dynamical systems to infectious disease dynamics, substance abuse, and other biological systems. Professor Nyabadza is the current Head of Department of the  Department and Mathematics Applied Mathematics at UJ. He has successfully supervised 15 Ph.D. and 59 MSc students throughout his career. He has also written three academic books and has many collaborations globally. He is an editor of four Biomathematics journals and reviews a number of journal articles for national and international journals. He is the former President of the Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association, a regional body that thrives on developing Mathematical Sciences in the Southern African region. He is also passionate about motivational speaking and has written a  book entitled titled, \u201cOrdering your life for success: Lessons from the number line\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-39ea927 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"39ea927\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39fd034\" data-id=\"39fd034\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b3ff0b1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b3ff0b1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9537b12\" data-id=\"9537b12\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1367be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c1367be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Abstract<\/h5><p>The management of infectious diseases has evolved in the past few decades. It is now clear that policies can evolve as a disease progresses in a population, with a good example being the COVID-19 pandemic, where policies were dynamic and at times erratic. In this talk, we consider a number of mathematical models fitted to data and how the fitting is impacted by policy changes. We track the changes in policies using piece-wise systems of differential equations. The focus will be on how such models are formulated, analysed and interpreted. Thresholds that define disease persistence will be established and discussed. The implications of the policy changes are easily seen, and a discussion on how these changes impacted the epidemic is articulated. The results presented have crucial impact on how policy changes affected and continue to influence the trajectory of infectious diseases.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eabfdfd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eabfdfd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bc9a45a\" data-id=\"bc9a45a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ce021f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ce021f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Professor Kerstin Jordaan<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ba6e32 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7ba6e32\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e7ee773\" data-id=\"e7ee773\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a38434 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a38434\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6a9f7c7\" data-id=\"6a9f7c7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb4f36c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bb4f36c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"732\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Kerstin-Jordaan-732x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-406\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Kerstin-Jordaan-732x1024.jpg 732w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Kerstin-Jordaan-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Kerstin-Jordaan-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Kerstin-Jordaan-1098x1536.jpg 1098w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Kerstin-Jordaan-1463x2048.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Kerstin-Jordaan.jpg 1702w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7db5149\" data-id=\"7db5149\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e08cb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e08cb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Biography<\/h5>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kerstin Jordaan was a high school mathematics teacher before graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand with a PhD in Mathematics in 2002. She occupied positions at Vista University, University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Pretoria before joining the University of South Africa in 2017 as a full professor in the Department of Decision Sciences. Kerstin has been the part-time executive director of the South African Mathematics Foundation since 2018 and served the academic community as the elected president of the South African Mathematical Society from 2016 to 2019. She is a nominated member of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa and the recipient of a prestigious Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellowship for her research in Special Functions and Orthogonal Polynomials.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e2f45d9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e2f45d9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a49f32e\" data-id=\"a49f32e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ba9a6e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ba9a6e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-70f69a0\" data-id=\"70f69a0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e5d669 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e5d669\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Abstract<\/h5><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Orthogonal Polynomials and Symmetric Freud weights<\/strong><\/p><p>In this talk, I will present some recent results on polynomials orthogonal\u00a0with respect to exponential weights on the real line, in particular symmetric\u00a0Freud weights. I will show that the sequence of generalised higher order Freud\u00a0weights forms a hierarchy of weights. The associated first moment can be written as a finite partition sum of generalised hypergeometric functions. I will\u00a0describe properties of the recurrence coefficients in the three-term recurrence\u00a0relation associated with these orthogonal polynomials. Connection formulae\u00a0between corresponding sequences of generalised higher order Freud orthogonal\u00a0polynomials in the framework of Christoffel transformations, where the weight\u00a0is modified by \u00a0multiplying with a polynomial, are useful in studying properties\u00a0of the zeros.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e29345a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e29345a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43abc68\" data-id=\"43abc68\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cd5a9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0cd5a9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Professor Craig Pournara<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5df64d8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5df64d8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8efc150\" data-id=\"8efc150\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4d541c0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4d541c0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c6988c7\" data-id=\"c6988c7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0411283 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0411283\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"797\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Professor-Craig-Pournara-797x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-305\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Professor-Craig-Pournara-797x1024.jpg 797w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Professor-Craig-Pournara-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Professor-Craig-Pournara-768x987.jpg 768w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Professor-Craig-Pournara.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6509dc0\" data-id=\"6509dc0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6af34ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6af34ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Biography<\/h5><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Craig Pournara began his career as a high school teacher of Mathematics and Computer Science. He holds a PhD in Mathematics Education and has worked in pre-service and in-service maths teacher education for more than 25 years. He has served as Director of the Marang Centre for Maths and Science Education at Wits, and was a member of the Ministerial Task Team that developed the <em>Teaching Mathematics for Understanding Framework<\/em>. He is currently Director of the Wits Maths Connect Secondary Project where much of his work has focused on designing professional development and on researching the impact of that professional development on learners\u2019 attainment.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Craig is passionate about improving the teaching and learning of mathematics in South Africa. He longs for the day when more teachers teach mathematics with understanding, and more learners enjoy learning mathematics because it makes sense to them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-97b4df4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"97b4df4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0869235\" data-id=\"0869235\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c7ad87 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1c7ad87\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-def8e72\" data-id=\"def8e72\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25f13a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"25f13a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Abstract<\/h5><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Title:\u00a0<\/strong>Senior Phase Mathematics : Do we mind the gap?<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is well-known that learner performance in Senior Phase mathematics is poor. While more attention has been directed towards the Senior Phase in recent years, there is little convincing evidence of its impact at the level of the learner. What does it take to shift the needle in this phase? What changes in policy, in curriculum, in teaching and learning, and in assessment? In this talk I will argue that Senior Phase mathematics comes with challenges in all these areas. But, of equal importance, are the mathematical shifts that have to be navigated in the move to greater abstraction. Drawing from findings of several recent studies, I will challenge us to decide whether and how we mind this gap.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a47890 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a47890\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cdb2d49\" data-id=\"cdb2d49\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae9846 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ae9846\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Professor Moosa Gabeleh<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d605708 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d605708\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9b08801\" data-id=\"9b08801\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-84d0d1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"84d0d1a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee8d606\" data-id=\"ee8d606\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-264503d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"264503d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Moosa-Gabeleh.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-380\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Moosa-Gabeleh.jpg 640w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Moosa-Gabeleh-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Moosa-Gabeleh-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-741d561\" data-id=\"741d561\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e518955 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e518955\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Biography<\/h5><p>Moosa Gabeleh is an Iranian Mathematician, working in the field of Nonlinear Functional Analysis and more especially Best Proximity Point theory. He defended his PhD at Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU) in 2012 under the supervision of Professor Ali Abkar on best proximity points for cyclic mappings. He did a post-doctoral internship at North-west University (NWU). He is currently a Full Professor in Department of Mathematics at Ayatollah Boroujerdi Unversity. He is the author of more than 100 scientific papers. He was awarded in 2012 for the best paper in Iranian Functional Analysis Award from the Tusi Mathematical Research Group (TMRG).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-70a2e42 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"70a2e42\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ddc4a34\" data-id=\"ddc4a34\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a76b42a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a76b42a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1cbc26d\" data-id=\"1cbc26d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d42f257 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d42f257\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Abstract<\/h5><p><strong>Extensions of Ky Fan&#8217;s best approximation theorem using some geometric properties of Banach spaces<br \/><br \/><\/strong>Let X be a normed linear space and Y be a nonempty subset of X. A point x\u2208Y is said to be a fixed point for a mapping T: Y \u2192 X if Tx=x. In the case that Y\u2229 T(Y)=\u2205, the fixed point equation Tx=x does not possess a solution. In this case it is interesting to ask whether there exists a point p\u2208Y for which p is closest to Tp. Such a point is said to be a best approximant point.<\/p><p>In 1969, Ky Fan presented some sufficient conditions to ensure the existence of a best approximant point. Fan&#8217;s best approximation theorem states that if Y is a nonempty, compact and convex subset of a normed linear space X and T:Y\u2192 X is a continuous mapping, then there is an element p\u2208Y such that\u00a0||p-Tp||= dist(Tp,Y):=inf\u2061\u3016 {||Tp-y||\u2236 y\u2208 Y}\u3017.<br \/><br \/>Now assume that Y and Z are two nonempty subsets of a normed linear space X and let T: Y\u2192 Z be a non-self mapping. In this situation, a point p^*\u2208Y is called a best proximity point of the mapping T provided that<br \/>|(|p^*-Tp^* |)|=dist(Y,Z)\u2254inf\u2061\u3016 {||y-z||\u2236 (y,z)\u2208 Y\u00d7 Z}\u3017.<br \/><br \/>It is worth noticing that if Y\u2229 Z\u2260\u2205, then the set of all best proximity points of T coincidences to the set of all fixed points of T. So, in order to obtain an extension of Fan&#8217;s best approximation theorem, we need to assume that Y\u2229Z=\u2205.<br \/><br \/>In this talk we will present some existence results of best proximity points for various classes of non-self mappings by using some appropriate geometric properties of Banach spaces and then we apply such existence results to survey the existence of optimum solutions to systems of differential and intergrodifferential equations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3292ccd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3292ccd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e49ada\" data-id=\"7e49ada\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c344ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7c344ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Invited Speaker for NITheCS Plenary Session<\/strong><\/span><\/h4><h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Professor Nancy Ann Neudauer<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0dfb43c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0dfb43c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3c2fd7c\" data-id=\"3c2fd7c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-28a0d8e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"28a0d8e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d3ffd5f\" data-id=\"d3ffd5f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0d62c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d0d62c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"746\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Nancy-Ann-Neudauer-746x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-758\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Nancy-Ann-Neudauer-746x1024.jpg 746w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Nancy-Ann-Neudauer-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Nancy-Ann-Neudauer-768x1055.jpg 768w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Nancy-Ann-Neudauer-1118x1536.jpg 1118w, https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Nancy-Ann-Neudauer.jpg 1363w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 746px) 100vw, 746px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-93e58f2\" data-id=\"93e58f2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74c9eff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74c9eff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Biography<\/h5><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nancy Ann Neudauer is the Thomas and Joyce Holce Professor of Science and Professor of Mathematics at Pacific University, Associate Secretary (responsible for the scientific program of national conferences) of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), and Co-Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (CURM). She received her MA and PhD in Mathematics, with a minor in Business and Law, and her BBA in Actuarial Science and Risk Management, all from the University of Wisconsin.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nancy\u2019s research in matroid theory, graph theory, and combinatorics has been supported by grants from the Simons Foundation, the Fulbright Program, the National Science Foundation, and an endowed Research Chair, amongst others. She is Program Chair for the Cascadia Combinatorial Feast since 2001, was Visiting Mathematician to the national offices of the MAA, Director of the MAA Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant Program for 13 years, a PI on the NSF-funded META Math (the Mathematical Education of Teachers as an Application of Mathematics) project, Associate Director for PNW Section NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) for 19 years, and recipient of a Distinguished Teaching Award and a Meritorious Service Award. As a Fulbright Specialist, her outreach extends to African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Centres in South Africa, Tanzania, Ghana, Cameroon, and Rwanda and she is the recipient of a Fulbright Global Scholars Award.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6facf99 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6facf99\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6235e3e\" data-id=\"6235e3e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-be0683d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"be0683d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2489085\" data-id=\"2489085\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3686d8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3686d8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Abstract<\/h5><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Title:\u00a0<\/strong>Models of Undergraduate Research in Mathematics\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A well-mentored undergraduate research experience has been shown to be a high-impact practice, with particularly strong effects for students from minoritized groups. While common for decades amongst the lab sciences, undergraduate research has more recently been adopted and institutionalized in mathematics. I will present a few different models, and in particular, discuss the academic-year research and faculty professional development funded through the Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (CURM). CURM has just been awarded its fourth NSF (National Science Foundation) grant, a $1.6 million five-year grant to support faculty and students with minigrants at universities and 2-year colleges throughout the United States.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CURM promotes academic-year undergraduate research in mathematics and statistics based upon a model consisting of (a) training faculty members to mentor students in research, (b) engaging students and a faculty mentor in research during the academic year at their own institution, (c) preparing students to succeed in graduate studies, and (d) advising faculty members on how to maintain consistent undergraduate research including finding resources for other funding sources.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-00db1f0 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"00db1f0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;background_motion_fx_motion_fx_scrolling&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_motion_fx_translateY_effect&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_motion_fx_translateY_speed&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:5.29999999999999982236431605997495353221893310546875,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;background_motion_fx_translateY_affectedRange&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:{&quot;start&quot;:0,&quot;end&quot;:100}},&quot;background_motion_fx_devices&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-33e16cc\" data-id=\"33e16cc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8739023 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8739023\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-788a903\" data-id=\"788a903\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-701b93b\" data-id=\"701b93b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plenary Speakers Invited Plenary speakers: Professor Bernardo Rodrigues, University of Pretoria Professor Farai Nyabadza, University of Johannesburg Professor Kerstin Jordaan, University of South Africa Prof Craig Pournara, University of the Witwatersrand Prof Moosa Gabeleh. Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, Iran Professor Bernardo Rodrigues Biography Bernardo Rodrigues is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pretoria (UP). Bernardo &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/plenary-speakers\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Plenary Speakers<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-125","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":863,"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125\/revisions\/863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/conferences.uj.ac.za\/sams2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}