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African Crystallographic Association (AfCA)

The mission of the African Crystallographic Association is to contribute to the advancement of science on the African continent via crystallography in all its aspects, including related topics concerning the structure and related properties of non-crystalline states, and to promote African cooperation in crystallography.

IUCr Representative

About

Strategic vision of AfCA

AfCA plans to realise its mission through the following actions:

  1. Create a network of African crystallographers and assist in creating a database listing African crystallographers, while encouraging registration in the IUCr World Directory of Crystallographers (WDC).
  2. Facilitate the establishment of National Associations of Crystallography in African countries, or groups of local crystallographers on the continent, and support the activities of existing associations.
  3. Support AfCA’s application to become a Regional Associate of the IUCr.
  4. Organise the Pan African Conference on Crystallography (PCCr) every two years to enable interaction, discussion and the sharing of results within the community.
  5. Establish a public awareness and engagement programme to create a fact-based understanding of crystallography through awareness, dialogue and education in the region.
  6. Support training activities across the African continent, including OpenLabs, Pan African Crystallography Schools, crystal growth competitions and related initiatives.
  7. Assist in the promotion of crystallography and science within education programmes.
  8. Help to acquire diffraction equipment for crystallographers, initially in one country in each of the five regions of the continent – Central Africa, West Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa – to support crystallographic research and balanced collaborative partnerships across Africa and beyond, and ultimately in all African countries.
  9. Assist in providing the poorest countries with minimum research infrastructure and materials, such as powerful computers for data analysis and servers.
  10. Encourage the mobility of researchers within the region for experiments and promote joint research projects across Africa.
  11. Leverage national bodies, institutions and international funding agencies for financial support.
  12. Facilitate, with the involvement of the IUCr, UNESCO and African governments, the establishment of an African IUCr Cooperation Fund to support these actions.
  13. Lobby for the introduction of a scientific visa to support the mobility of researchers between African nations, enabling greater exchange, collaboration and sharing of scientific resources and expertise to address common development goals. The scientific visa should be free of charge, valid for at least one year and issued quickly once certified by appropriate higher education and research bodies.

Member Countries