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African Light Source

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The African Light Source (AfLS) is currently the initiative to build the first Pan-African synchrotron light source. Both the African Light Source (AfLS) Foundation and the Africa Synchrotron Initiative (ASI) are working towards this vision.

Rational

There are more than 70 light sources, including about 30 high and medium energy synchrotrons, scattered globally but Africa is the only continent without any synchrotron light source facility. The idea for an African light source has been discussed at least since 2000. African scientists and nations have a rapidly growing knowledge in using light sources, and South Africa and Egypt participate in the ESRF and Sesame light source, respectively. Such participation provides not only access to the facilities for researchers, but also capacity building and training across many aspects of synchrotron operation and technologies which is necessary to have the right skills in place for a future African light source. In December 2017, Diamond Light Source, UK established the Synchrotron Techniques for African Research and Technology (START) with a £3.7 million funded by the UK Research and Innovation for 3 years. START aimed to provide access to African researchers with focus on energy materials and structural biology. [1][2]

Leaders

African Light Source foundation

File:The African Light Source (AfLS) logo.webp
The African Light Source (AfLS) logo by AfLS foundation [3]

In November 2015, the First AfLS Conference was held with 98 delegates from 13 African nations at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France. The conference led to the Grenoble Resolutions which encapsulate the formation of the AfLS Steering Committee, AfLS Roadmap and the creation of the AfLS Foundation, registered in South Africa. [4][5] The AfLS Foundation is chaired by Professor Simon Connell. Since the first conference, there have been three further conferences.[6] The AfLS Foundation is actively working upon the Conceptual Design Report (CDR) for a light source in Africa.[7]

Africa Synchrotron Initiative

In 2018, during the 32nd African Union meeting, in Addis Ababa, the African Union’s executive council called on its member states to support a pan-African synchrotron. The following year, Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana president, began championing the project. Subsequently, the Africa Synchrotron Initiative (ASI) was formed in 2019 by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), and is chaired by the Professor Shaaban Khalil.[8]

Scrutiny

  • As of October 2022, the two organisations (AfLS foundation and ASI) are not merging their efforts which makes governance a challenge since there are members who are part of the two organisations.[9][10]
  • AfLS is estimated to cost 1 billion US dollars to be realised and $100 million for annual running costs. The ability of African nations in funding the project has been questioned since they struggle to fund national projects.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "GCRF - START: Synchrotron Techniques for African Research and Technology".
  2. ^ Nicklin, Chris; Stredwick, Rebekka; Sewell, Trevor (2022-01-02). "Synchrotron Techniques for African Research and Technology: A Step-Change in Structural Biology and Energy Materials". Synchrotron Radiation News. 35 (1): 14–19. Bibcode:2022SRNew..35a..14N. doi:10.1080/08940886.2022.2043684. ISSN 0894-0886. S2CID 247431515.
  3. ^ "Home". The African Lightsource. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  4. ^ Connell, Simon H.; Mtingwa, Sekazi K.; Dobbins, Tabbetha; Khumbah, Nkem; Masara, Brian; Mitchell, Edward P.; Norris, Lawrence; Ngabonziza, Prosper; Ntsoane, Tshepo; Winick, Herman (2019-08-01). "Towards an African Light Source". Biophysical Reviews. 11 (4): 499–507. doi:10.1007/s12551-019-00578-3. ISSN 1867-2469. PMC 6682199. PMID 31301018.
  5. ^ "Grenoble Resolutions mark historical step towards an African Light Source". www.esrf.fr. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  6. ^ "ONLINE: The Third African Synchrotron Light Source Conference (AfLS3) | EAIFR". eaifr.ictp.it. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  7. ^ Newton, Marcus C.; Connell, Simon H.; Mitchell, Edward P.; Mtingwa, Sekazi K.; Ngabonziza, Prosper; Norris, Lawrence; Ntsoane, Tshepo; Traore, Daouda A. K. (2022-10-19). "Building a brighter future for Africa with the African Light Source". Nature Reviews Physics: 1–2. doi:10.1038/s42254-022-00534-3. ISSN 2522-5820. PMC 9580420. PMID 36275781.
  8. ^ "The African Synchrotron Initiative (ASI) Think Tank | The AAS". www.aasciences.africa. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  9. ^ Wild, Sarah (2021-10-27). "Plan for Africa's first synchrotron light source starts to crystallize". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-02938-0. PMID 34707279. S2CID 240072809.
  10. ^ Connell, S. H.; Mtingwa, S. K.; Dobbins, T.; Masara, B.; Mitchell, E. P.; Norris, L.; Ngabonziza, P.; Ntsoane, T.; Sekota, M.; Wague, A.; Winick, H.; Yousef, M. (2018). "The African light source project". African Review of Physics. 13: 108–118. ISSN 2223-6589.
  11. ^ Wild, Sarah (2021-10-27). "Plan for Africa's first synchrotron light source starts to crystallize". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-02938-0. PMID 34707279. S2CID 240072809.
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