This is an online workshop with a group of experts to input into a feasibility study looking at developing long-term Africa-UK Physics Partnerships.
Background
The Institute of Physics (IOP), the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), and a network of partners are working on a proposal for an ambitious Africa-UK physics partnership to address the Global Challenges using the capabilities that physics can provide.
The intent is for African nations to drive scientific solutions to Global Challenges from physics and for the UK to be partners with them in this endeavour. The project will focus on physics projects in the following thematic areas: energy, weather and climate, health, big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large national facilities and address the capacity building within physics. The project will cover the following countries: Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
This multi-year project will require a 10+ year investment, for which the UK government will be approached to fund. Co-funding will be sought from African Governments within the Commonwealth and philanthropic organisations with whom the IOP are engaging.
The intent is for African nations to drive scientific solutions to Global Challenges from physics and for the UK to be partners with them in this endeavour. The project will focus on physics projects in the following thematic areas: energy, weather and climate, health, big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large national facilities and address the capacity building within physics. The project will cover the following countries: Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
This multi-year project will require a 10+ year investment, for which the UK government will be approached to fund. Co-funding will be sought from African Governments within the Commonwealth and philanthropic organisations with whom the IOP are engaging.
Feasibility and Baseline Study
The UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have provided funding for the ACU and IOP to carry out a feasibility study to support the development of a multi-year long-term project between the UK and African nations.
The study will evaluate the capacity of physics research, development and innovation in target partner countries and seek to identify opportunities to develop long-term partnerships.
The study will encompass an online survey, workshops such as the one you are invited to participate in below, and one to one interviews with experts across the continent. A report will then be submitted to BEIS for review.
We hope that you will be open to participating in the study at various points during the process which will be completed by the end of May 2020.
Online Workshop with Group of Experts
The study will evaluate the capacity of physics research, development and innovation in target partner countries and seek to identify opportunities to develop long-term partnerships.
The study will encompass an online survey, workshops such as the one you are invited to participate in below, and one to one interviews with experts across the continent. A report will then be submitted to BEIS for review.
We hope that you will be open to participating in the study at various points during the process which will be completed by the end of May 2020.
You are invited to participate in an online workshop that will form part of the feasibility study and help us in building the science and business case for the proposal to government.
The goals of the workshop are;
The goals of the workshop are;
- To provide participants with contextual and background information on the proposed Africa-UK Physics Partnership project,
- To discuss the research capacity, and cultures at African institutions in the area of physics,
- To discuss where capacity building is needed in the target thematic areas,
- To explore potential barriers to the proposed African-UK Physics Partnership Project,
- To discuss the possible research instrument that will be used to evaluate African countries’ current capabilities, strengths, challenges, needs and opportunities within the target thematic areas,
- To explore experts who can be involved in the project for the various thematic areas, and
- To provide a networking opportunity for future partnership activities.
