Prof Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, UG Vice Chancellor
The University of Ghana (UG) has been selected to host the second edition of the African Light Source Conference.
According to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Department of the University, the conference, which is under the theme: ‘Crystallography: A Tool for sustainable development in Africa,’ would be opened on Tuesday, 29th January 2019 by President Akufo-Addo.
It stated that the second African Light Source Conference which would be held in Africa for the first time will deliberate on the future of a Pan-African synchrotron Light Source Research Facility on the African continent.
The statement revealed that the first African Light Source Conference and Workshop were held successful at the European Synchrotron Research Facility in Grenoble, France in November 2015.
During the first conference, according to the statement, the roadmap towards the ultimate establishment of the first Light Source in Africa was developed together with a Steering Committee, which had both a large African and global footprint.
It added that the roadmap relates to developing the user-base, projects, deep capacity building, promotion of networks, scientific and technical exchanges, building associated local infrastructural capacity, raising the profile of the project politically and developing the Pan African strategic plan with African leadership.
The statement explained that the second African Light Source Conference would be used to review the light source based science and the vision of an African Light Source.
“This conference will cover topics that include Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, Medical Sciences, Heritage Sciences, Energy Sciences, Nano Sciences, Materials Sciences, Mineral Sciences, Accelerator and Detector Sciences, Competitive Industry, Capacity Building and Infrastructures. There will also be sessions on the strategy and vision for an African Light Source.”
By Melvin Tarlue