African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications 2014
The third biennial African School of fundamental physics [ASP] and applications took place in Dakar Senegal from 3 to 23 2014. The school explores theoretical, experimental, applied physics and computing aspects of the field. It covers a wide range of topics: particle physics, particle detectors, astro-particle physics and cosmology, accelerator technologies and some of the applications, such as medical physics, light sources, and Grid computing. The participating students are selected from all over Africa and beyond. The selected students receive full bursaries, covering their transportation, and room and board for the entire duration. Scientists from Africa, Europe and the USA are invited to prepare and deliver lectures on specific topics taking into account the diverse levels of the students. The duration of the school allows for networking ecouraging interactions among students and between students and lecturers. The school is supported by many institutes in Africa, in Asia, in Europe and in the USA.
In the third edition (ASP2014), sixty-nine students were selected from 328 applications, and ultimately fifty-six students attended the school in Senegal. The selected students came from twenty-one African countries, in addition to one student from Iran and another one from the USA.
The first edition of the school (ASP2010) took place in South Africa in 2010, attended by sixty-five students from seventeen countries. The second edition (ASP2012) was held in Ghana in 2012 and saw the participation of fifty students from fifteen countries.
The school is managed by an international organizing committee and in consultation with an international advisory committee. The host country of the school is selected amongst several candidates considering several factors including the logistical support from the potential host institutes. Once a host country is identified, a local organizing committee is formed to manage all the local aspects of the school organization.
After the school, the organizing committee maintains contact with the students and helps them to find higher education opportunities elsewhere in Africa and beyond.
The success of the first three editions of the school has been very encouraging and provides the motivation to work harder towards the original objective to organize the school every two years, and in doing so, truly contribute to improved education and capacity development in Africa. The organizing committee has begun searching for appropriate candidates for the fourth edition of the school in 2016, which will be in a different African country.
We express our thanks to all the supporting institutes. Their contributions have been essential for the success of the school so far. We count on their continued support to make the school truly biennial with increased positive impact on capacity development in Africa.
For more information, visit the website of the African School of Physics.
