The ASP has evolved to be much more than a school. It is a program of actions with directed ethos toward physics as an engine for development in Africa.

Mission

Mission

  • OBJECTIVE
    • Increase capacity development in fundamental physics and related applications in Africa
  • NATURE
    • Graduate summer school every two years hosted by a different African country
    • Workshop for high school teachers from the host country
    • Outreach to high school learners from the host country
    • International conference on fundamental physics and applications
    • Continuous coaching and mentoring of students
    • Forum to engage researchers, teachers, policy makers, and industry to discuss improvement for greater impact capacity development
  • CURRICULUM
    • First week: theoretical foundation of fundamental physics
    • Second week: experimental physics
    • Third week: applications (accelerators, medical physics, nanotechnology, light sources, energy)
    • Throughout: Information technology, Grid computing, computer modelling, data analysis and statistical methods
    • Scientific research topics of particular interest to the host country
    • International conference on the aforementioned topics with invited and contributed talks, discussions and poster sessions
  • STUDENTS
    • Applications open to all African and international graduate students
    • Aim to attract the best young physics students from throughout Africa
    • 60 to 80 students are selected from well over 300 applicants
    • The majority of the selected students are citizen of African countries
  • HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS
    • Up to 80 teachers from around the host country
    • Train teachers for improved physics teaching
  • HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS
    • Up to 1500 learners of the 10th to the 12th grade selected from the host country
    • Motivate learners to develop and maintain interest in physics
  • FORUM
    • Platform to engage policy makers, research and education institutes, industries on capacity development and retention
    • Platform to discuss the role and impact of ASP
    • Platform to discuss and suggest improvement of the ASP program
  • INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
    • Participation open to any scientists, researchers, educators, policy makers including those not involved in ASP
    • Discuss the major research directions in Africa
    • Foster and improve collaboration between researchers in Africa and the rest of the world
    • Increase collaboration between African countries for concerted solutions in matters of education and research
  • MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
    • Provide, at any time, mentoring and coaching to ASP student alumni at the PhD level
    • Not a replacement of academic advisors; work with student advisors for greater impact
    • Maintain contacts with students and advise them on academic paths and opportunities
  • LECTURERS and CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

    • Leading scientists from all over the world including Africa
    • Professional talks and peer-reviewed research papers presented and discussed at the conference
    • lectures, hands-on tutorials, exercises and experiments for students, teachers and learners
  • FUNDING
    • 20 or so research institutes, international organizations, government agencies and universities support the school
    • Strong support from the host country is necessary
    • Support from non host African countries is highly desirable in the future
  • AFTER THE SCHOOL
    • Maintain contact with the students and support them in their scientific career development, seeking and pursuing higher education and research opportunities
    • Active coaching and mentoring of students in collaboration with their academic advisors
  • IMPACT
    • Increase networking among the participants
    • Foster scientific collaboration between the host country and international research institutes
    • Foster collaboration between the host country and other African countries to address common issues in education and research