Our fellowship has two complementary goals. The first is to develop and investigate concrete ways in which recent technological advances in proof assistants, automated assessment, and generative AI can support mathematics education in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, we will study the scalability of Waterproof, a student-friendly proof-writing environment developed at Eindhoven University of Technology, and its potential integration with the System for Teaching and Assessment using a Computer algebra Kernel (STACK), an online mathematical assessment system already implemented in several African universities for formative assessment. Waterproof’s structured approach to proof development complements STACK’s automated assessment and feedback capabilities, while emerging AI systems offer further opportunities for personalized mathematical support. We will investigate how these technologies can be integrated into modular, stand-alone learning environments that function as AI-assisted mathematics tutors, supporting student learning while reducing the workload of lecturers facing large classes and heavy teaching demands. The second, broader goal is to understand how the emergence of AI and related technologies may affect mathematical communities in Sub-Saharan Africa: what opportunities they create for education, research, and collaboration, what challenges they pose in contexts with different infrastructures and resources, and how their development and adoption can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable mathematical communities. 

In this talk, we will introduce the project and our perspectives from mathematics, mathematics education, and the African higher-education context. We will discuss how proof assistants, automated assessment, and generative AI might be combined to support mathematics education at scale, and the opportunities and challenges this raises for institutions in the Global South. 

We are excited to pursue this project at IAS and to benefit from its interdisciplinary network and expertise across different fields. We hope that this event will provide an opportunity to introduce our work, exchange ideas, and begin engaging with others at IAS who are interested in these questions.