Building Science Capacity in Africa via Crystallography
An IUCr-ICSU initiative
Aims and Objectives
"Building Science Capacity in Africa via Crystallography" is an initiative of the IUCr funded by the International Council for Science (ICSU) through the ICSU Grants Programme 2015. The project was prepared as a follow-up to the IYCr Pan African Summit meeting (Bloemfontein, October 2014) and the proposal submitted by the IUCr (as an ICSU member) on behalf of Andreas Roodt, President of ECA and chair of the Summit meeting, and Michele Zema, IYCr Project Manager and IUCr representative for the proposal.
The IUCr project is supported by:
- ECA
- UNESCO
- ICSU Regional Office for Africa
- INDABA Series of meetings
- SAASTA (South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement) Public Engagement with Nanotechnology
The project aims at further cementing the African Crystallographic Association (AfCA), whose Steering Committee has been established at the Summit meeting in Bloemfontein in October 2014. The programme will be conducted as part of the IUCr Crystallography in Africa initiative.
The main actions will be:
- Bring African scientists to the INDABA series of conferences in South Africa to expose them to high level International interdisciplinary science.;
- A follow-up meeting to the IYCr Summit in Northern Africa, to further work towards the formal formation of AfCA;
- A Workshop in Central Africa to offer local scientists the opportunity to interact, liaise, and strengthen basic knowledge of crystallography.
Moreover, the project includes many additional actions, which will be unertaken pending on availability of funds, infra structure and human resources.
Work plan
As indicated, this proposal deals with three principal thrusts. It involves primarily organising of three events during the period 2015-2016 by the AfCA Steering Committee. Additional actions will be undertaken but are not formally in place, pending on availability of funds, infra structure and human resources. Examples of these include, but are not limited to, the following:
- pro-actively continue with programmes to ensure that the legacy of the International Year of Crystallography and particularly the promotion of science is preserved;
- over time provide basic diffraction equipment for crystallographers in all countries in the region to allow research activity in Crystallography and balanced partnership collaboration across Africa and beyond;
- facilitate the establishment of National Committees of Crystallography in African Countries and support the activities of the existing ones;
- introduce a scientific visa to ensure mobility of researchers between African nations. Such a visa would allow for the exchange and collaboration between African countries and the sharing of scientific resources and expertise, to address common developmental targets, for the benefit of all. This scientific visa should be free of charge, be valid for at least a year, and should be issued quickly once certified by appropriate higher education and research bodies;
- support training workshops;
- encourage the mobility of researchers within the region; promote joint research projects;
- leverage national bodies, institutions and international funding agencies for financial support;
- facilitate regional conferences on the subject of Crystallography and its applications in Africa;
- assist in the promotion of Crystallography and science in education programmes;
- provide the very poor countries with minimal infra structure and materials for research such as powerful computers for data analyses and servers;
- assist in creating a database, listing African crystallographers;
- establish a public awareness and engagement programme that will create fact-based understanding of Crystallography through awareness, dialogue and education in the region.
Expected results
Significant expansion of science in Africa, and ultimately, the establishment of an African Crystallographic Association (AfCA).
Under auspices of the Steering Committee which will cement the formation of AfCA, crystallography will be expanded to eventually become a full regional affiliate of the International Union of Crystallography [i.e., similar to ACA, LaCA, ECA and AsCA; the American Crystallographic Association, the Latin American Crystallographic Association, the European Crystallographic Association and the Asian-Australasian Crystallographic Association].
Eighteen countries have already joined the Steering Committee with aim to formally establish AfCA (see figure).
In particular, it is foreseen that an African IYCr Cooperation Fund is established. The community thus commits to engage with other local academies, funding agencies and/ or governments to provide annual contributions commensurate with each country's economic status.
The overarching drive and funds will assist to support actions such as:
- increasing collaboration and cooperation among scientists in Africa;
- providing seed money for up to two projects per annum initially, involving a minimum of 2 countries in the region, of which at least one should be well established in Crystallography; this will be done in collaboration with the overarching fund, foreseen to be established as per Declaration. [3]
- funding for short term visits of up to 3 months for early career researchers; supporting training workshops at established centres of Crystallography or at emerging centres in the region;
- enabling the sharing of facilities within the region.
|
|
|
16-21 August 2015 Skukuza Kruger National Park South Africa |
| Venue | History | Invited Speakers | Programme | Call for Papers | Travel | Workshop Fees | Registration |
| Target Dates | Sponsors & Exhibitors | General | Committees |
Indaba7 Pictures | Links | Other Meetings |
The next Indaba, the eighth in a series of interdisciplinary workshops, organized by the South African Crystallographic Society in conjunction with the Structural Chemistry Commission of the International Union of Crystallography, will be held over the period:
|
|||||
|
Latest News: Award of the 3rd Jan Boeyens prize to |
|||||
|
The discovery of processes, novel molecular compounds and materials with exciting properties is often to a large extent based on serendipity but in other cases on the careful observation and interpretation of experimental data. In the latter, classical models and approaches derived from qualitative molecular orbital theory, methods based on parameters related to donor-acceptor strengths or empirical concepts based on geometric and steric effects may be employed. Following these discoveries, it is then quite general that a subsequent thorough analysis of experimental data such as state-of-the-art spectroscopy, magnetism, thermodynamic properties and/or detailed mechanistic information and electronic structure calculations is performed to 'fully' understand as many aspects thereof as possible. As a result, new models and theories may emerge, possibly leading to rules concerning how the relevant properties of the process or the new class of compounds may be predicted and be improved. There are also examples where novel types of compounds or novel mechanistic ideas have emerged from theoretical studies or from a close collaboration between theoretically oriented individuals with experimentalists. This has often led to the development of efficient models for the design and interpretation of experiments, based on some understanding of intra- and intermolecular interactions or processes. Indaba 8 is dedicated to the discussion of Serendipity vs. (first-principle) Prediction of scientific phenomena related to structure, dynamics, activity and function of molecular and other materials and processes. The scientific sessions will include invited keynote lectures, a small number contributed oral presentations as well as poster sessions spanning Theory and Molecular Modeling, Crystallography, Crystal Engineering, Materials, Supramolecular Chemistry, Organometallics, Biochemistry, Biology and other relevant fields. In the Poster sessions, a number of poster presenters will also be invited to present their work orally in 'Flash' presentations of 2-3 min each.
Participation is unrestricted except for a limitation on the numbers due to the nature of the venue which can accommodate only 120 delegates. Preference will be given to presenters of original research and to students and postdoctoral associates. A limited number of IUCr-sponsored bursaries will be available for students and other young scientists, who are invited to apply for support, preferably by e-mail, with the recommendation of a supervisor or a senior colleague, to the Secretariat (thereza@technoscene.co.za). A preliminary Registration including a presentation title and abstract must first be submitted and your invoice number should be quoted on all correspondence. Any support granted will be conditional on the acceptance by the Organising Committee of the abstract submitted by the delegate (see Submission of Abstracts). The cut-off date for applications is 30 April 2015, but early application and submission of abstracts are encouraged for those delegates seeking support. |
|
The Jan Boeyens Prize Committee has great pleasure in announcing that Professor Delia Haynes from the University of Stellenbosch has been awarded the 3rd Jan Boeyens Medal and R10,000 cash prize. "The Jan Boeyens Prize is awarded to a young South African researcher [under the age of 40 years] who has made a distinguished contribution to the utilization of crystallography and other structural methods in a holistic manner to investigate fundamental problems in nature..." Delia completed her BSc Honours (cum laude) in 1998 at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg in Molecular Genetics. She then saw the light and switched back to Chemistry, completing a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge in the UK in 2002 under the supervision of Dr Jeremy Rawson. After 3 years as a post-doctoral associate at the Pfizer Institute for Pharmaceutical Materials Science in Cambridge, Delia lectured for a year at School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal. She then joined the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University as a senior Lecturer in 2007 and has been an Associate Professor there since January 2014. Delia's research revolves around investigating factors that are important in determining the crystal structures, and thus the properties, of various molecule-based materials. Most recently, her focus has been on using multi-component crystals (salts and co-crystals) to develop novel ionic framework materials, or materials with interesting magnetic properties. She has published 36 research articles in top journals, including CrystEngComm, Crystal Growth and Design, Chemical Communications and the Journal of the American Chemical Society and has won numerous other awards. We look forward to seeing you at Indaba8! Demi Levendis (Chair of the Jan Boeyens Prize Committee, 2015). |
|
E-mail Contact Details: Organising Committee Chair : Prof. Andreas Roodt : Roodta@ufs.ac.za Programme Committee Chair : Prof. Peter Comba : Peter.Comba@aci.uni-heidelberg.de Secretariat & general enquiries : Thereza Botha : thereza@technoscene.co.za Webmaster : Dave Liles : dave.liles@up.ac.za
The Organising Committee of Indaba8 shall observe the basic policy of non-discrimination and affirms the right and freedom of scientists to associate in international scientific activity without regard to such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political stance, gender, sex or age, in accordance with the Statutes of the International Council for Science. At this workshop no barriers will exist which would prevent the participation of bona fide scientists. |
| Venue | History | Invited Speakers | Programme | Call for Papers | Travel | Workshop Fees | Registration |
| Target Dates | Sponsors & Exhibitors | General | Committees |
Indaba7 Pictures | Links | Other Meetings |
This page was last updated 15 July 2015.
Site developed by Dave Liles.
2nd North African Crystallographic Conference, NACC2
 |
Jointly Organized by:
|
![[Tunisian Crystallographic Association]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0012/111810/TCA_logo.jpg){kind=logo}
![[Moroccan Crystallographic Association]](https://www.iycr2014.org/__data/assets/image/0003/108282/LogoAMC.png)
 |
Venue: Khayem Garden Resort, Nabeul (Tunisia) |
The 2nd North African Crystallographic Conference (NACC2) was intended as a follow-up of the IYCr2014 PAN African Summit meeting and the IYCr Legacy conference, which nurtured a growing interest in developing crystallography in the African region. NACC2, as part of the IUCr-ICSU initiative "Building Science Capacity in Africa via Crystallography", was aimed at analyzing the state-of-the-art of crystallography in North Africa and revitalizing it by involving European countries from the Mediterranean area with a strong and established tradition in crystallography. NACC2 also aimed at reinforcing the collaborations among the North African countries and at continuing the process towards the foundation of the African Crystallographic Association (AfCA) by establishing the role of North African countries to facilitate this initiative, together with representatives from all parts of Africa.
Unfortunately, despite the many efforts made and various solutions offered, it proved impossible to find an agreement with the local crystallographic community about the organization of this event, which has therefore been cancelled.
the event has been cancelled
Registration fees
| Before 15 July | After 15 July | |||
| North Africa | Other countries | North Africa | Other countries | |
| Academic student | 400 DT | 400 € | 450 DT | 450 € |
| Academic senior | 450 DT | 450 € | 500 DT | 500 € |
| Non academic | 600 DT | 600 € | 700 DT | 700 € |
| Accompanying person | 250 DT | 250 € | 300 DT | 300 € |
| Conference dinner | 30 DT | 30 € | 30 DT | 30 € |
Payments can be made by bank transfer. Details will be provided soon.
We thank all sponsors and supporting institutions and we apologize for cancelling the event, due to circumstances beyond our control.
HB and MZ
Sponsors
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
With the auspices of
 |
 |
 |
 |
Invitation
Please feel free to contact the organizers at Habib.Boughzala@ipein.rnu.tn if you are interested in taking part in this conference as a sponsor.
Opportunities will include:
- a 10-minute slot in the programme for an oral contribution;
- exhibition space for the duration of the conference (size and furniture to be communicated soon);
- your company logo on all materials related to the conference;
- distribution of promotional material and giveaways in the delegate bags or common stands;
- welcome reception refreshments, lunches, conference dinner (with signage).
Prof. Habib Boughzala
Laboratory of Materials and Crystallochemistry
Faculté des Sciences, Université de Tunis El Manar
E-mail: Habib.Boughzala@ipein.rnu.tn
Dr Michele Zema
IUCr Outreach Officer
International Union of Crystallography
E-mail: mz@iucr.org
1st Pan African Conference on Crystallography
This conference aims at bringing together African crystallographers, mineralogists, solid state and structural scientists to increase the awareness for crystallography and improve the educational opportunities for African researchers and students of all levels.The variety of activities will provide opportunities to engage with (i) the scientific community, from expert crystallographers to young researchers and students of all ages, (ii) government representatives and policy-maker from most African countries.
 |
Venue: University of Dschang, Cameroon |
Click here to download the leaflet of the conference
Chairman:Prof. Roger Tsafack NANFOSSO, Rector of the University of Dschang, Cameroon
Co-chairmen: Profs. Ignas Tonle and Jean Ngoune, University of Dschang, Cameroon
Chairman of the Scientific Committee:Prof. C. Lecomte, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France, and Chair of the IUCr Committee for the Initiative in Africa
- Two plenary sessions of Profs. Gautam R. Desiraju (India) and Ron Lifshitz (Israel)
- Keynotes of eminent crystallographers
- Lectures and posters sessions
- Two round tables devoted to “Crystallography as vehicle to promote Science in Africa and beyond” and to “Equipments for African crystallography laboratories”
- Inorganic Materials and Mining Industry,
- Inorganic Materials and Industry Minerals,
- Crystal engineering and structural chemistry: function through design (2 sessions),
- Crystallography data bases,
- Crystallography for life sciences,
- Large Facilities for emerging countries.
Opening Plenary Lecture
6 October 2016; 7.00 - 8.00 PM
 |
Gautam R. Desiraju (IUCr Immediate Past President, IISc Bangalore, India) From molecule to crystal |
Abstract
How do molecules aggregate in solution, and how do these aggregates consolidate themselves in crystals? What is the relationship between the structure of a molecule and the structure of the crystal it forms? Why do some molecules give more than one crystal structure? Why do some crystal structures contain solvent? How does one design a crystal structure with a specified topology of molecules, or a specified coordination of molecules and/or ions, or even with a specified property? What are the relationships between crystal structures and properties, for molecular crystals? These are some of the questions that are being addressed today by the crystal engineering community, which is drawn from the larger communities of organic, inorganic and physical chemists, and, of crystallographers and solid state scientists. This talk will give a brief historical introduction to crystal engineering itself, and an assessment of the importance and utility of the supramolecular synthon which is one of the most important concepts in the practical use and application of the subject. It is also hoped to provide a look to the future, and indicate some directions in which the subject of crystal engineering might be moving, also in the context of crystallographic endeavors in the African continent.
G. R. Desiraju, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 46, 8342, 2007
G. R. Desiraju, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 135, 9952, 2013
G. R. Desiraju, Science, 343, 1057, 2014
Closing Plenary Lecture
10 October 2016; 11.00 - 12.00 AM
 |
Ron Lifshitz (Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics & Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Israel) What is a crystal? - New answers to an old question |
Abstract
In 1982 Dan Shechtman discovered a new kind of crystal that seemed to contradict the laws of nature. His discovery for which he was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry ignited a scientific revolution that demonstrated that, in science, what may seem impossible today might turn out to be real tomorrow. We shall review this scientific revolution and the many effects it had on crystallography, science in general, and even beyond.
Robert Mokaya, University of Nottingham, UK
Alejandro Buschiatto, Institut Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay
Colin Groom, Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, UK
Gilberto Artioli, University of Padua, Italy
Ashwini Nangia, University of Hyderabad, India
Crystal engineering and structural chemistry: function through design 1
7 October 2016, 8.30 - 13.00
Contributed talks: tbd
Inorganic Materials and Industry Minerals
7 October 2016, 15.00 - 19.30
Invited Lecturers: Michele Zema (University of Pavia, Italy and IUCr, UK), Lahcen El Ammari (University of Rabat, Morocco), Brahim Elouadi (University of la Rochelle, France), Herbert Poellmann (University of Halle, Germany), Márcia Carvalho de Abreu Fantini (University of Sao Paolo, Brazil, President of the Latin American Crystallography Association)
Contributed talks: tbd
Crystallography for Life sciences
8 October 2016, 8.30 - 13.00
Invited Lecturers: Heinrich Dirr (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg), Mino Caira (Cape Town University, South Africa), Bryan Trevor Sewell (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Richard Garratt ( University of Sào Paulo, Brazil), Nourredine Benali Cherif (Polytechnic University of Constantine, Algeria, member of the Algerian Academy of Sciences)
Contributed talks: tbd
Crystallography databases
8 October 2016, 15.00 - 19.30
Invited Lecturers: Zéphirin Yav (University of Kinshasa, Congo DR), Patrice Tsobnang Kenfack (University of Dschang, Cameroon), Matteo Leoni (University of Trento, Italy, Chair of the Boards of Directors of ICDD), Oliver Smart (PDB)
Contributed talks: tbd
Inorganic Materials and Mining Industry
9 October 2016, 8.30 - 13.00
Invited Lecturers: Shimelis Admassie (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia), Robert Kingsford-Adaboh (University of Ghana, Legon), Leslie Felicia Petrik (University of Wersterm Cape, South Africa), Nelie Mutemeri (University of Witwatersrand, South Africa)
Contributed talks: tbd
Crystal engineering and structural chemistry: function through design 2
9 October 2016, 15.00 - 19.30
Invited Lecturers: Aliou Haadi Barry (University of Nouakchott, Mauritania), Mamoudou Diallo (University of Ziguinchor, Senegal), Aleksandar Visnjevac (Ruđer Bošković Institute, Croatia), Emmanuel Aubert (University of Lorraine, France)
Contributed talks: tbd
Large Facilities for Emerging Countries
10 October 2016, 8.30 - 11.00
Invited Lecturers: Florence Porcher (LLB, France)
Contributed talks: tbd
ROUNDTABLE 1: Crystallography as vehicle to promote Science in Africa and beyond
7 October 2016, 21.00 - 23.00
ROUNDTABLE 2: Equipment for African laboratories and the African Light Source, AfLS
8 October 2016, 21.00 - 23.00
Advisory CommitteeGautam DESIRAJU, Immediate Past-Président of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (India) Jean P. NGOME ABIAGA, UNESCO-Paris (France) Daniel NYANGANYURA, ROA-ICSU, ICSU (South Africa) Romain MURENZI, TWAS Director, TWAS (Italy) Pinak P. CHAKRABARTI, Chair of the Asian Crystallographic Asscociation (AsCa), Indian Institute of Technology (India) Christopher CAHILL, Chair of the American Crystallographic Association (ACA), George Washington University (USA) Márcia Carvalho DE ABREU FANTINI, Chair of the Latino-America Crystallographic Association (LACA), Instituto de Física da USP (Brasil) Alessia BACCHI, Chair of the European Crystallographic Association (ECA), Università degli Studi di Parma (Italia) Dominik SCHANIEL, Director of the Laboratory of Cristallographie, Résonance magnétique et Modélisation (CRM2), Université de Lorraine (France) Michele ZEMA, IUCr Outreach Officer, University of Pavia (Italia) Prince Jay ORITSEJOLONE OGHIFO, IUPAC, Chemical Society of Nigeria (Nigeria) Masaki TAKATA, Chair of the Spring 8, Spring 8 (Japan) |
Organizing CommitteeRoger TSAFACK N., University of Dschang (Cameroon) Anaclet FOMETHE, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Celestin CHAMENI, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Emmanuel NGAMENI, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Ignas TONLE K., University of Dschang (Cameroon) Jean NGOUNE, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Claude LECOMTE, University of Lorraine (France) Justin NENWA, University of Yaounde 1 (Cameroon) David NKOUTHIO, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Martin TCHOFFO, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Aleksandar VIŠNJEVAC, Ruđer Bošković Institute (Croatia) Charles BANENZOUE, University of Douala (Cameroon) Alexandre DJIMELI, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Delphine TUME, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Yves MBIANGUE, University of Maroua (Cameroon) John LAMBI N., ENS Yaoundé (Cameroon) Felicité MAJOUMO, University of Buea (Cameroon) Junior M MATEMB, University of Bamenda (Cameroon) Martin TCHAMBA, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Armand WOUATONG, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Emmanuel SOPBUE, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Paul TEMATIO, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Patrice KENFACK, University of Dschang (Cameroon) |
Scientific CommitteeClaude LECOMTE, Université de Lorraine (France) Gilberto ARTIOLI, University of Padova (Italia) Andreas ROODT, University of Free State (South Africa) Susan BOURNE, University of Cape Town (South Africa) Abdelmalek THALAL, l'Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech (Morocco) Fai CORNELIUS, University of Dschang (Cameroon) Hocine MERAZIG, Université Constantine (Algérie) Magatte CAMARRA, Université de Zichinchor (Sénégal) Aliou H. BARRY, Université de Nouakchott (Mauritanie) Jules A. TENON, Univ. Houphouet (Cote d’Ivoire) Mohamed OUMEZZINE, Fac. des Sciences de Monastir (Tunisia) Eric HOVESTREYDT, BRUKER, Karlsruhe (Germany) |
The 1st Pan African Conference on Crystallography is part of the activities for the "Building Science Capacity in Africa via Crystallography" initiative of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), funded by the International Council for Science (ICSU) through the ICSU Grants Programme 2015.
The IUCr has further sponsored the event through its "IUCr Sponsorship and Support of Meeting" and "Visiting Professorship" schemes.