Claude-Michel Nzotungicimpaye

Transforming Africa through climate science

Claude-Michel is a budding climate scientist who grew up in Bujumbura, Burundi not far from the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Despite living in a war-torn country, he was able to pursue his formal education despite the chaos around him.

Claude-Michel began his university education at the National University of Rwanda in Butare, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics. Then he moved to Cape Town, South Africa for postgraduate education at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences for his Postgraduate Diploma. At the University of Cape Town, Claude-Michel achieved his Master of Science in Environmental and Geographical Sciences. It was there that he applied mathematical methods and computing skills to address real-world problems with a focus on the environment.

After the University of Cape Town, Claude-Michel returned to Burundi where was hired to teach at a newly established polytechnic university. Since the fall of 2015, Claude-Michel has been working on his PhD at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

"At the beginning of my Master’s studies, I taught myself how to install, set up and run an atmospheric chemistry-transport model that I needed to use for air quality simulations," says Claude-Michel. "So far, my research projects towards my degree are tackling local questions in Africa. It gives me a sense of community service through science."

At AIMS our students and alumni are our greatest indicators of success. We are proud to have produced 1,512 graduates, one-third of whom are women. Our alumni hail from 43 African nations, and are fast becoming leaders in academia and industry across Africa and around the globe.

Our remarkable success rate will continue with the support of donors like you. There are thousands of deserving students with incredible drive to solve challenges who have some of the most remarkable stories, but they need you to help them realize their dreams.