Crystallography in Africa

The Executive Committee is keen to promote crystallography in developing regions. In particular, it has established a Committee to manage the Crystallography in Africa initiative [C. Lecomte (Chair), L. Van Meervelt, J.P. Ngome (UNESCO), A. Roodt, A. Thalal, H. Merazig, P. Kenfack, R. Murenzi (TWAS), M. Zema].

Lecture series and Schools

Lecture series and Schools on general crystallography have been held in various countries (for example, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, South Africa). The host pays the accommodation costs and the IUCr pays the travel costs for one lecturer and also contributes towards the travel costs of other African professors coming to attend the course from other universities.

Training courses

AFRAMED (Appui à la Formation et la Recherche en Afrique par des Mesures à Distance)

AFRAMED provides remote access to equipment by fostering collaboration between African and French researchers. The project connects African students and researchers to a French diffractometer allowing them to conduct advanced diffraction experiments from their local laboratory. 

Session reports

• Session 1: 1–30 September 2022, "A Recent and Ambitious Project for the Development of Crystallography in Africa"
• Session 2: 28 August–23 September 2023, "Bridging Continents through Crystallography: How AFRAMED is Revolutionizing Scientific Collaboration in Africa"

Equipment

Diffractometer manufacturers have supplied powder and single-crystal diffractometers free of charge. The IUCr pays the shipping costs and the recipient Universities undertake to ensure their successful installation. Schools are organized at these locations following the installation.

Institutions or manufacturers willing to donate equipment should contact Professor Claude Lecomte (email: claude.lecomte@univ-lorraine.fr).

Bursaries

A limited number of bursaries are awarded to African students to enable them to attend meetings of the IUCr Regional Associates.

IUCr Congresses

A limited number of full bursaries (to cover economy flight, accommodation and registration) are available for young professors (up to the age of 40), post-doctoral students and PhD students from Africa to enable them to attend an IUCr Congress. Applicants must give an oral or poster presentation.

Please send an application comprising a brief CV (2 to 3 pages), the Abstract of the presentation and a letter of motivation to Professor Claude Lecomte (email: claude.lecomte@univ-lorraine.fr).