BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CERN//INDICO//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260326T140000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260326T141000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260426T060656Z UID:indico-contribution-808-10333@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Anthony Watts (University of Oxford)\nhttps://events .saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10333/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10333/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:LAAAMP: Light sources for Africa\, the Americas\, Asia\, Middle Ea st and Pacific. Fostering capacity building and collaboration through sync hrotron science. DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260326T141000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260326T142000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260426T060656Z UID:indico-contribution-808-10332@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Sizun Christina (French National Centre for Scientif ic Research)\nAdvanced Light Sources (AdLSs) have been recognized as impor tant large-scale facilities that provide a natural place for international scientific collaboration\, capacity building\, and networking. The except ionally intense light produced at these facilities allows scientists to ca rry out studies of the structure of proteins\, of new pharmaceutical compo unds\, study archaeological objects\, design new and better components for technological devices\, among many other applications. The establishment of these facilities contributes to boosting the technical and scientific d evelopment of the region and to improving the well-being of the general po pulation.\n \nFunding from the International Science Council (ISC) was awa rded in 2016 to the joint IUPAP-IUCr project “Utilisation of Light Sourc e and Crystallographic Sciences to Facilitate the Enhancement of Knowledge and Improve the Economic and Social Conditions in Targeted Regions of the World” Later on\, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) have joined the programme. LAAAMP has carried out different projec ts aimed at training scientists\, particularly early-career researchers in the different aspects of synchrotron-related techniques. The FAculty-STud ent (FAST) Teams awards provide funds for a Professor and a Student to spe nd two months at any of its 18 participating AdLSs. Other activities of LA AAMP have allowed the establishment of crystallography hubs in Benin (X-Te chLab) and in Jamaica (crXstal). Similar hubs are planned in other regions for the near future.\n \nLAAAMP coordinates the initiative “Advanced li ght source facilities to empower Global-South scientists for sustainable d evelopment” endorsed by the International Decade of Sciences for Sustain able Development (2024-2033). The aim of this initiative is to promote and establish new AdLSs in Africa\, Central Asia\, and the Latin America-Cari bbean region. In addition\, schools\, workshops\, and conferences are regu larly organized and supported by LAAAMP\, which will contribute to trainin g and secure future users of AdLSs.\n\nThe structure of LAAAMP and the pro grams developed and supported will be presented. Additional information ca n be accessed at https://laaamp.iucr.org/.\n\nhttps://events.saip.org.za/e vent/272/contributions/10332/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10332/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:How Instruct-ERIC can help Biophysics in Africa DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260326T142000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260326T143000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260426T060656Z UID:indico-contribution-808-10328@events.saip.org.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Bryan Trevor Sewell (University of Cape Town)\nThe s tudy of the structure of biological entities ranging from macromolecules t o cells\, which underpins most of biophysics\, is called Integrated Struct ural Biology. The field continues to play a key role\, not only in biologi cal discovery but also in innovation and technology. Work in the field req uires equipment that is specialized and highly developed. The operation an d maintenance of such equipment depends on trained and experienced people. The Europeans have found that an effective model\, that gives the wider c ommunity access to this equipment\, is to create facilities to house and o perate it. Scientists from member countries can access the equipment\, bot h to learn how to use it and to conduct their own research. The coordinati on of this process is done through an entity called a European Research In frastructure Consortium (ERIC)\, which is funded through subscriptions fro m the member states. Instruct-ERIC (https://instruct-eric.org/)\, concerne d with Integrated Structural Biology\, is currently seeking to expand its footprint by recruiting participation from non-European organizations. Ent ry-level\, cost-free participation involves the signing of an MOU with Ins truct\, which entitles staff of the affiliate organization to respond to c ertain funding calls\, which will fund the use of the facilities and exper tise. At present\, the only organization in Africa with such an MOU in pla ce is the University of Cape Town (UCT). UCT is seeking funding from Horiz on to increase its level of involvement. Part of the obligation will be to increase national awareness of Instruct-ERIC with the ultimate goal of So uth Africa becoming a full member. A video introducing the services of In struct- ERIC is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HNwReIQDnhc?si=oYtD z0AXhQqqS1Gt\n\nhttps://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10328/ LOCATION: URL:https://events.saip.org.za/event/272/contributions/10328/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR