Hawking Searching For Africa's Einsteins

nuke-alwin writes "Stephen Hawking has traveled to South Africa in search of Africa's Einsteins. The project will create Africa's first post-graduate center for math and physics. The British government has unfortunately decided not to back the project, which is hoping to fight poverty by identifying the kind of talent that can create wealth." Neil Turok is deeply involved as well; he was recently named to head the Perimeter Institute in Canada, whose server we brought to its knees this morning.

Comments

Re:Brain drain, ver 0.1

[Tablizer]

So, if these math geniuses get a degree there, whats to keep them from just moving out of country? Nothing? Honestly, if I were born in an absolutely impoverished country, and ended up being a genius and getting a graduate degree in mathematics, I'm sure I'd hop on the first chance at a big corporate job in some other country.

I have an urge to make a comment about H-1B's, but I'll resist this time.

Re:Einstein is over-rated

[Anonymous Coward]

If race is irrelevant how do you explain the obvious widespread advanced technological achievements of certain races vs others who, if left untouched, would most likely still be living as primitives for the next thousand centuries? You can't blame the natural evolution of the people of any continent on "social conditions". The greatest determining factor in the course of any civilization/society is the intellect of its inhabitants.

Re:The purpose?

[Anonymous Coward]

Interesting that you use Johannesburg as an example of great place in Africa. It just so happens to be in South Africa, which until the mid '90s, was run by whites.

Fast-forward to present day, where things are not so rosy. From the Wikipedia link above:

Thousands of poor, mostly black, people, who had been forbidden to live in the city proper, moved into the city from surrounding black townships like Soweto. Many immigrants from economically beleaguered and war torn African nations flooded into South Africa, with Johannesburg the most Northerly major city and therein a logical choice. Crime levels rose, and especially the rate of violent crime. Many buildings were abandoned by landlords, especially in high-density areas, such as Hillbrow. Many corporations and institutions, including the stock exchange, moved their headquarters away from the city centre, to suburbs like Sandton. By the late 1990s, Johannesburg was rated as one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

I leave the obvious conclusion as an exercise for the reader.