TReND-CaMinA

Overview

TReND-CaMinA is a residential summer school that empowers early-career African researchers to explore computational neuroscience and machine learning — two transformative and cost-effective fields shaping the future of science.

With successful editions in Ghana (2023), Rwanda (2024), and Zambia (2025), the program is delivered in partnership with TReND in Africa, a non-profit organization advancing sustainable scientific development across the continent.

Our approach is simple but powerful:

• The course is completely free for students.

• We rotate host countries each year to seed local research hubs.

• All materials are openly available to encourage replication.

With a total cost of just $60,000 per edition, CaMinA delivers a full-scale training experience for a fraction of the cost of traditional programs. Across our first three years, we received almost 2,000 applications—a testament to the demand for accessible, high-quality neuroscience education in Africa.

Why It Matters

Despite Africa’s deep historical ties to neuroscience, the field remains heavily underrepresented on the continent. Barriers such as limited funding, lack of training, and the global brain drain hinder participation in cutting-edge research.

Experimental neuroscience is expensive — equipment and infrastructure often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In contrast, computational neuroscience and machine learning require little more than a laptop, open-source data, and expert guidance.

By training new researchers in these areas, CaMinA helps bridge the gap, enabling African scientists to contribute to — and lead — global conversations in neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

Our Mission

TReND-CaMinA was founded by a group of early-career scientists from leading research institutions, in partnership with TReND in Africa.

Together, we aim to:

1. Train a new generation of African computational neuroscientists.
2. Build a sustainable, continent-wide research network.
3. Connect African scientists with global partners and opportunities.

Each summer school brings together 20 students and 20 instructors from across the world for an immersive 2.5-week residential program, structured around:

• Teaching: Hands-on and theoretical sessions.

• Projects: Collaborative research using open datasets.

• Lectures: Talks from global experts in academia and industry.

All course materials are published openly on GitHub, and graduates join a vibrant alumni network that shares opportunities, mentorship, and collaboration.

A Sustainable Financial Model

TReND-CaMinA operates on an ultra-efficient $60,000 annual budget, covering:

• Flights for all students

• Accommodation and meals

• Teaching materials and logistics

This is achieved through a hybrid funding model:

• Grants and donations from partner institutions

• Volunteer teaching by international experts

• Free teaching spaces provided by local universities

Selecting the Next Generation

The course call is shared widely through social media and the TReND network. Each candidate undergoes:

1. Blind review by multiple independent reviewers.
2. Detailed analysis of CV / reference letters
3. Bias correction to ensure gender, background, and geographic balance.

Across three editions, we’ve maintained equal representation of students from both biological and technical disciplines, while expanding participation from across the continent.

Looking Forward

TReND-CaMinA has shown that open, community-led education can drive measurable change — even with modest resources.

Our future goals include:

• Establishing internship opportunities for alumni

• Expanding our conference and travel fund

• Building stronger institutional partnerships to sustain growth

We believe that this model can serve as a blueprint for other training initiatives worldwide — one that’s affordable, equitable, and scalable.