Saphina Biira, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer, Bustema University

Duration on the AfLS Project: Four Months.

In her own words: I can satisfy two important passions, learning and discovering new knowledge, and more importantly, the role of Science as an Engine for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development, so all can reach their full human potential in a just society. I would like to participate in and contribute to the Transformation of Society, the African Science Renaissance, the globalisation of the the Culture of Learning. In this I would like to see diversity celebrated and valued.

Simon Connell, Ph.D.

Professor, University of Johannesburg, Dept of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Duration on the AfLS Project: Twenty Years.

In his own words: I can satisfy two important passions, learning  and discovering new knowledge, and more importantly, the role of Science as an Engine for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development, so all can reach their full human potential in a just society. I would like to participate in and contribute to the Transformation of Society, the African Science Renaissance, the globalisation of the Culture of Learning. In this I would like to see diversity celebrated and valued.

Tabbetha Dobbins, Ph.D

Associate Professor and Interim VP for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Rowan University

Duration on the AfLS Project: Five Years.

In her own words: The AfLS project is important to me because as a light source user at facilities around the U.S. since 2003, I realize the importance of a light source for gaining insights into materials structures in order to understand their properties.  Additionally, student training at state-of-the-art facilities is extremely beneficial to them.  I understand the urgency of a light source on the continent of Africa.

David Dodoo-Arhin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, University of Ghana

Duration on the AfLS Project: Two Years.

In his own words: The AfLS project is important to me because I have been a light source user at facilities in Europe since 2008 for studying nanostructured materials for energy and environmental applications. Additionally, student training at state-of-the-art facilities is extremely beneficial to them; however, no such facility exists on the African continent. Hence, an urgent need of a light source on the continent of Africa.

Michel Fodje, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist-Beamline Responsible, Canadian Light Source, Inc.

Duration on the AfLS Project: Four Months.

In his own words: I've been involved with synchrotron research for over 20 years and appreciate the importance of such facilities to basic and applied research in a wide variety of subject areas.  The lack of a synchrotron facility in Africa is a deficiency that inhibits scientific productivity and technological development on the continent. The AfLS project will address this deficiency and I am proud to be a part of the effort.

 

Abram Ledbetter, Ph.D.

Research Associate, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Duration on the AfLS Project: Six Months.

In his own words: The push for synchrotrons within the continent of Africa represents as much a social justice imperative as a scientific one.  This effort is critical to bolstering technological infrastructure and scientific programming which enables greater access to research modalities and collaborative possibilities for scientists within the Continent.

Diouma Kobor, Ph.D.

Professor, University Assane Seck of Ziguinchor (Senegal)

Duration on the AfLS Project: Five Years.

In his own words: I did participate in the AfLS conference (ESRF Grenoble November 2015), the first time I heard the AfLS project and synchrotron facility techniques. Since then, thanks to the LAAAMP project carried out by AfLS, we were awarded for two stays in two synchrotrons (ESRF and APS) which allowed us to be trained and use these excellent facilities to characterize new materials. For us, African synchrotron is more than a necessity but an urgency.

Sekazi Mtingwa, Ph.D.

Principal Partner, TriSEED Consultants, LLC

Duration on the AfLS Project: Twenty Years.

In his own words: The AfLS will be a necessary infrastructure to place Africa among the leading nations in the world that are pursuing science and technology for their socioeconomic development.  I proposed a Pan-African synchrotron light source to EBASI in 2000 and after fruitful discussions decided that first building up regional laser infrastructures would be the best way to lay the groundwork for an AfLS.  Therefore, I partnered with others to found the African Laser Centre. 

 

Prosper Ngabonziza, Ph.D.

Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart GERMANY

Duration on the AfLS Project: Three Years.

In his own words: The AfLS project is important to me because as African in diaspora who has been using synchrontron light sources around Europe snce 2010, I believe in the importance of Synchrotron light sources for proper characterizations of quantum Material with potential applications in diverse current and future electronic devices. I also believe in the vision of building an African Light Source on the Africa continent that will contribute significantly to the African science renaissance, the return of the African science diaspora and the enhancement of University education on the continent.

Peter Ngene, Ph.D.

Asst. Prof., Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht Univ.

Duration on the AfLS Project: Six Months.

In his own words: As a regular user of synchrotron facilities, I can say that Synchrotrons are extremely important to the  discovery and understanding of novel materials required for sustainable economic and social development. Having a light source on the African continent will be a major boost to the scientific activities and training of future generation of African scientists.

Lawrence Norris, Ph.D.

Duration on the AfLS Project: Eight Years.

In his own words: The future looks bright for Africa in Structural Biology.  The African Light Source has the potential to address many key issues in structural biology and the rules of life.  For this reason, Africa as a continent must become a key player in the technologies of light sources.  Each African national government should incentivize its universities to build infrastructure in all the fields that support biophysics, including chemistry and biochemistry labs, computing, as well as facilities for spectroscopy, light scattering, imaging, crystallography and microscopy, i.e., advanced light source facilities.  The African Union as a body should spark policies that encourage industries to invest in the Africa's bioeconomy.

 

Bjorn von der Heyden, Ph.D.

Stellenbosch University, SA

Duration on the AfLS Project: Nine Years.

In his own words:   I see the AfLS initiative as being crucial towards enhancing the competitiveness of African scientists within the global research community. I think that it will be a great leap forward for the continent’s research prowess, and it will certainly help to accelerate the so-called “African Science Renaissance”.