Initiatives of outreach, community building, training and twinning are also aimed at African users and establishing scientific ambassadors. NEPHEWS’s actions within Africa are framed to this end and are intended to maximise the impact of the investment of time, training and access to the scientists and their communities. To ensure a perspective for the next generations concerning sustainable developments in their regions, global networking, mutual use of RIs and with this knowledge circulation, NEPHEWS is addressing four regions in Africa with dissemination and communication campaigns, info days, training, and twinning for advanced researchers.
The selection of targeted regions in Africa was primarily guided by past successes with LEAPS and LENS in engaging African scientists and fostering collaborations, along with the most favourable circumstances available. It is important to note that engagement in Africa is endeavouring to focus on areas where there are existing domestic champions of these techniques who can access research infrastructures (RIs), or where scientific complementarities naturally facilitate the utilisation of these RIs, such as in the case of crystallography.
Additionally, regions, countries, cities or institutions that have an emerging technological base, supportive infrastructure, or equipment may also be targeted. The potential for engaging with the largest possible audience of African scientists will help determine the best venues for these engagements.
NEPHEWS is organising four „InfoDays” in four selected regions to promote and disseminate information to local scientific communities, aiming to share opportunities for transnational access to premier research infrastructures in Europe. The four African regions and countries that NEPHEWS has chosen to visit, along with their expected catchment areas, are indicated on the map:
– Southern Africa: South Africa
– Western Africa: Benin
– Eastern Africa: Kenya
– All of Africa: Rwanda
Twinning serves as a powerful bridge, connecting experienced large-scale facility users with newcomers eager to learn and innovate. Through our twinning programme, we invite you to collaborate directly with an established user group during a dedicated beamtime session.
This initiative involves hands-on participation in experiments, with a particular focus on Africa, where we have reserved eight spots for experienced researchers. These individuals will emerge as future ambassadors for Synchrotron/Free Electron Laser and Neutron-based science in their regions.
By bringing together seasoned experts and new scientists, this twinning initiative fosters a dynamic and supportive environment. It actively reduces barriers to writing compelling proposals, enhances collaboration during experiments, and facilitates data analysis and publication of results. The eight positions for African researchers will not only initiate future scientific endeavours in their communities but also empower them to serve as regional advocates for SR/FEL and N research infrastructures. This is crucial for building community and enhancing human capacity in Africa.
Furthermore, the eight available spaces for experienced researchers from Africa will help them support future scientific activity in these researchers communities, by empowering them to act as regional ambassadors for SR/FEL and N research infrastructures. This aspect is vital for community and human capacity building in Africa.
NEPHEWS has funding for 4 African PhD researchers registered with an African university to participate in the renowned HERCULES EUROPEAN SCHOOL:
Application Timeline:
Open: Early April 2025
Close: Mid-May 2025
Shortlisting and Interviews: June 2025
Face-to-face in Nairobi 2025
Talent is equally distributed around the globe – opportunities are not. Large-scale research facilities like the members of NEPHEWS have devoted themselves to alleviate this imbalance.
Climate change, sustainable energy supply, environment, biodiversity, clean water, food, and health seem to confront humankind with almost impossible tasks. These unprecedented challenges can only be addressed globally, while the distribution of knowledge, intensified transnational cooperation, and most importantly a joint effort of scientists from around the globe are major ingredients.
A look at the worldwide (science and education) landscape reveals a massive imbalance of opportunities. Research and education – as important pillars of sustainable development, gender equality, self-determination, self-empowerment – and an alignment of opportunities are the godparents of a peaceful future and of a way to solve global challenges. However, in the past decades, low- and medium-income countries were basically excluded from knowledge circulation; most of the knowledge exchange – for example at conferences – took place in the northern hemisphere, and almost all large-scale facilities are located there too.
The NEPHEWS workshop, taking place on-site in Kenya, aims at countering these imbalances and fostering global collaboration. Major topics in the workshop are energy science, science diplomacy, and funding opportunities. A tutorial on how to access NEPHEWS facilities and write promising proposals for beamtimes is also in the programme.
Date
23rd – 26th June 2025
Location
Best Western Meridian Hotel Nairobi
(6th Muranga Road, Off Moi Avenue, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya)
Programme
Registration
The workshop is especially aimed at early career and experienced researchers from sub-Saharan Africa. The number of participants is limited. In case of more applications than available places, the selection of participants will take the different regional and scientific areas into account.
InfoDays Posters
