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After the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP in 2008, we were locked out of many global Physics in Africa opportunities. This has left us out of the open access discussion because Nigerian Rabia Salihu Sa’id , Ibiyinka Fuwape, Alain Moise Dikandé , researchers are mostly self-sponsored; Jamal Mimouni, Francis Hasford , Delia Haynes , Igle Gledhill , hence, the costs of publications are highly prohibitive. Access to participate at George Amolo , Omololu Akin-Ojo and Nashwa Eassa conferences has also been restricted, as Abstract | Africa tends to be isolated and sometimes forgotten when it comes to countries routinely decline visas, even when the applicant is fully funded by reputable scientific research and in particular physics. But the region has great potential, organizations. Internally, researchers being home to the youngest population in the world, and despite a variety of face poor pay, infrastructural challenges issues, there has been steady, albeit uneven progress towards establishing a (irregular power supply, unsteady internet scientific infrastructure. Ten African researchers discuss the diverse challenges and connectivity, basic research equipment), opportunities faced by physicists across the continent. and fast-changing educational policies. These have led many Nigerian researchers to migrate to developed countries. Three challenges of physics in Africa multiple scattering, and my paper would be Rabia Salihu Sa’id The challenges of accepted if I scaled it up to include multiple Physics in sub-Saharan Africa physics in Africa, from what I have read scattering. At the time I did not have the Alain Moise Dikandé I have been told, and from conversations with fellow facilities and modelling capability to scale up “Our University does not need excellent physicists from other African countries, my research at my institution. researchers; the priority here is teaching, are many. First, there is the challenge of Third, there is the challenge of the and as such we are looking for dedicated numbers: there are few physicists engaged paucity of research institutes and industry, teachers, not ambitious ones who dream in research and in academia. This is perhaps which limits job opportunities for physicists of the Nobel Prize.” This sentence reflects because of a lack of research institutes and to teaching in secondary schools and the way our institutions have little concern industry that would otherwise require people universities. Bachelor of Physics graduates for research, the priority being teaching. with a PhD or master’s degree in physics. who do not want to teach usually opt to Physicists in Cameroon, and probably in Using my university and my department as work in revenue services or banks. These most African countries in general, with an example, and starting at the entry level institutions gladly employ them because the exception of South Africa and certain and admission phase, one notices that most physicists have better affinity with numbers. North African countries (Egypt, Tunisia of the students admitted in the Bachelor of This set of physicists then go on to pursue and Morocco), work in this rather singular Science in physics programme had actually higher degrees in courses other than physics, context, which requires self-denial and applied to study medicine. However, the opting for management courses that are extreme passion to keep faith in research. medical school has a limited number of more suited to their chosen career paths. In addition to political disinterest in places so, generally, applicants who do not science and a hostile social environment, secure admission into the medical school Challenges facing Nigerian researchers dominated by cultural beliefs portraying are distributed into the single honours Ibiyinka Fuwape As a mentor to many science as magic, in my experience physicists degree programme of physics, chemistry, young researchers within Nigeria and in sub-Saharan Africa also have to contend biology and related fields. Because the leader in academia, I see many early career with contempt from their peers in developed applicants have the requisite academic scientists struggle to fit into a world not countries — and sometimes even more so entry requirements for the medical school, ready to accept them. It is a multifaceted their colleagues in relatively more favoured they are usually brilliant students, but since challenge that has left many disoriented African countries. Furthermore, with few physics is not their first choice, they change about academia. One major challenge is to exceptions, international organizations career path after the bachelor’s degree. be accepted based on what we — scientists are generally not interested in research Second, there is the challenge of catch-up. working and living in Africa — have to offer projects on the continent that do not fall Many African institutions and universities and not our nationality. In my experience, in the scope of what they believe to be lack the requisite facilities to conduct editors may reject manuscripts by African the priority for Africa (food security and research at the fast pace that research is researchers, only to later accept and publish health, or sometimes projects related to conducted elsewhere. I encountered this similar work by other researchers. It sends a mining). In the context of such frictions, situation in 2012 when I sent a research message that our knowledge and hard work the temptation to drop out is certain and paper for a conference. I had studied single is not enough to get us a seat at the table. unfortunately represents the path that most scattering by particles of dust aerosols. Access to many global grants including talented researchers are following, to the I received feedback that researchers have APC (article processing charge) waivers detriment of the progress of research on moved further from single scattering into are tied to GDP (gross domestic product). the continent.

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That said, we must recognize an and others. In South Africa, the SALT Medical physics in Africa evolution in the mentalities of political (Southern African Large Telescope) and Francis Hasford Medical physicists (MPs) powers, which seem to realize the stakes the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) projects apply physics concepts for the diagnosis of of science in a context as competitive as are a locomotive for the countries in the human diseases through medical imaging the one we live in today. Some sub-Saharan Southern region. and treatment of the conditions through countries, including Cameroon, are taking Other bright spots in physics are the radiation therapy. We predominantly work initiatives, still timid but appreciable, to legacy of the African School of Fundamental in clinical, research and development and encourage research — the consequence of Physics and Applications (ASP), which academic fields. the progressive involvement of researchers has held its annual meeting in a different Medical physics in Africa faces in the management of the country’s location every year since 2010, and the peculiar challenges, foremost of which is academic bodies. It is to be hoped that AIMS (African Institute for Mathematical lack of recognition of the profession and they remain mindful of the expectations Sciences) network, which act as powerful appreciation of MPs’ roles in most African of their colleagues. incubators of young talents. Yet pathfinding countries. Africa has 1,040 MPs, unevenly for young bright minds is still very much distributed among a population of 1.3 billion Bright spots amid uneven progress dependent on training at foreign institutions. in the region. It has the smallest number of Jamal Mimouni Can it be said that physics There are also many other places in the MPs per million inhabitants globally. The and astronomy are witnessing a boom continent where no obvious progress is highest concentrations of radio-diagnostic in recent years in Africa? I would like to taking place and which are not catching up. and radiation therapy facilities are in answer in the affirmative, especially in In addition, as in other parts of the world, South Africa and northern sectors of the astronomy where quite a few bright spots there is some disaffection for fundamental region. Half of African countries have no have appeared, such as in Ethiopia with sciences. All in all, the continent is moving radiotherapy facilities, creating limited the Entoto Observatory and Research at an uneven pace towards improving in access to radiotherapy cancer care. Other Centre, in Morocco with the Oukaimeden physics and astronomy. However, there are challenges are inadequate numbers of Observatory (Z. Benkhaldoun, Nat. Astron. an increasing number of bright spots, which academic and clinical training centres, 2 352–354; 2018) near Marrakech, call for strong international support. and lack of job posts.

The contributors Rabia Salihu Sa’id is a full professor of Atmospheric Physics at Bayero and is an associate of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. University, Kano, in Nigeria. She holds a PhD, MSc and BSc in Physics He is the recipient of the 2016 International Union of Pure and Applied and an MSc in Environment and Development, and is an expert in the Physics (IUPAP)/IOMP Young Scientist Award in Medical Physics. effects of dust aerosols on climate and air quality measurements. In 2015, Delia Haynes did her PhD at Trinity Hall at the University of Cambridge, she received the OWSD (Organization for Women in Science for the followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Pfizer Institute for Developing World)/TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences)/Elsevier Pharmaceutical Materials Science, also at Cambridge. She has been at Foundation Award for Early Career (Physics), which rewards and Stellenbosch University since 2007, where she is now a professor in the encourages women working and living in developing countries who Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science. Delia is the chair of are in the early stages of their scientific careers, having often overcome the Steering Committee to form the African Crystallographic Association. great challenges to achieve research excellence. Irvy (Igle) Gledhill spent time at the University of California, Los Angeles Ibiyinka Fuwape has been a professor of physics at the Federal and Stanford before moving to the Council for Scientific and Industrial University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria since 1989. She is currently the Research in South Africa, her home country. She is now Visiting Vice Chancellor of the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, Professor of Flow Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand. Delta State, Nigeria. Her research interests include theory of chaos and She is a past president of the South African Institute of Physics and a application of nonlinear dynamics in coupled oscillator systems, neuronal Vice-President of the Network of African Science Academies. She edits systems, and lower and upper atmospheric research. She is an alumna of African Physics Newsletter. the Schlumberger Faculty of the Future Fellowship programme. George Amolo is a professor of physics and Director of the School of Alain Moise Dikandé (full professor in physics) is Head of the Physics Physics and Earth Science, The Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Department, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon. He is and a research associate in Computational Modelling and Materials an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in the ‘Experienced Researchers’ Science with the Kenya Education Network (KENET). He received his Category, a Senior Associate of the Abdus Salam International Centre PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and worked for Theoretical Physics (ICTP, Trieste, Italy), guest editor of the special in the University of Eldoret and Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, before issue of the Journal of the Optical Society of America (JOSA A and B): moving to the Technical University of Kenya in 2016. Optics in Africa and member of the editorial board of Journal of Optics. Omololu Akin-Ojo received his BSc and MSc Physics degrees from the Jamal Mimouni is an Algerian astrophysicist, who received his higher University of Ibadan, and his PhD from the University of Delaware (USA). education between Algiers University and the United States (PhD in Following two postdoctoral stints at Boston University and the Abdus Particle Physics in 1985, University of Pennsylvania). He is the head Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Trieste, Italy, of a graduate programme in astrophysics at Constantine 1 University he returned to Africa — first to Nigeria and now Rwanda as Director of in Algeria, and the President of the African Astronomical Society. the East African Institute for Fundamental Research, a physics training He is an active participant in the debate on science and society in and research hub. His main research interest is in condensed matter the Arab-Muslim World. physics and its applications for African development and advancement. Francis Hasford is the Head of Medical Physics at the University of Nashwa Eassa is an associate professor of physics and the Dean of the Ghana and Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Secretary General Deanship of Scientific Research at Al Neelain University. She undertook of the Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations, expert a postdoctoral fellowship in the Nanophotonics group at Nelson Mandela medical physicist for the International Atomic Energy Agency and Metropolitan University (NMMU), South Africa. She holds a PhD in member of the IOMP (International Organization for Medical Physics) physics from NMMU and Master of Science in material physics and Web Sub-committee. He received his PhD from the University of Ghana nanotechnology from Linköping University, Sweden.

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Available opportunities include the is inadequate, but electricity supplies should be strengthened. Human capacity existence of FAMPO (the Federation of are unstable. In spite of that, the Kenyan development in medical physics will better African Medical Physics Organizations), research and education network hosted support the efforts by African governments the regional medical physics federation. 20 times as many participants in meetings that annually dedicate large resources of FAMPO is working with member states and webinars in June as it did in April. their national budgets to attend to the health towards improving quality of service to African physicists can easily feel needs of their citizens against communicable patients, promoting professional practice of isolated. Being fully recognized in a global and non-communicable diseases. Modern MPs through accreditation and certification project is one way of changing this: CERN technologies used in agriculture, such as schemes, promoting publication of medical partnerships mean that Africans are in the greenhouses, moisture content monitors physics research findings and uniting team at the Higgs scale of achievement. and irrigation, just to mention a few, are the MP workforce regionally. Other Radio astronomers are deeply engaged with well founded in the principles of physics opportunities comprise leveraging on fora the SKA telescope in nine African countries. and could be customized through innovation like Medical Physics Day and partnerships Partnerships inside Africa are also deeply to better serve the citizens. The exploitation with IAEA (the International Atomic important to us. With much encouragement, of the abundance of energy from the Sun Energy Agency), IOMP (the International electronic structure methods and and wind energy has the potential that can Organization for Medical Physics) and applications have taken off; optics, materials reduce the continued use of fossil fuels and others to improve training and general science and solar energy consortia have been destruction of forest to provide domestic awareness for the profession. formed, and fundamental physics has been needs, thus promoting a safer environment. flourishing. The community is working Developing experimental infrastructure towards an African lightsource. Physics for African advancement Delia Haynes For experimental Because experimental facilities are Omololu Akin-Ojo Physics is vital for scientists like crystallographers, one of expensive to install and maintain, theoretical Africa in the building of structures: roads, the biggest challenges in Africa is access and computational physics is a great fit for hospitals, aqueducts, electricity grids, to infrastructure. Instrumentation is Africa, and it links straight into biophysics mechanized agriculture plants, food storage often old and dysfunctional, there is little and data sciences. The community has risen facilities, biotechnology laboratories, defence financial support, and access to reliable up to fight COVID-19 with data handling equipment and many more. At this point power and water can be an issue. When and modelling, pooled testing and ventilator in history, we can skip most of the trial and equipment is available, there may not be manufacture. error of development and build by adopting a trained technician, which is a problem Big problems remain. One glaring example and adapting working technologies and when instruments break down — there is climate change, but African domain experts know-how from different parts of the world. is no way of getting them fixed. There are are now establishing the first Africa-based Large multidisciplinary teams, composed of also challenges with travel and visas within Earth Systems Model. Cultural barriers to people with diverse knowledge and expertise Africa, a real hindrance to scientists trying girls and women entering physics are another from all over the globe, should work together to collaborate with their colleagues on the battle. The biggest barrier to every effort in in physics-based science and technology continent. As a result of these challenges Africa is funding, but I’m amazed at how to solve problems in Africa. For example, to with equipment and travel, many African resilient and inventive physicists are. mitigate the global water shortage problem, crystallographers must rely on collaborators African researchers with colleagues from outside Africa for data. Physics for development all over the world are working on water However, Africa has incredible George Amolo In many parts of Africa, prospecting and mapping of aquifers. Indeed, opportunities for science. The continent physics is, surprisingly to me, not viewed geophysical prospecting is an important has the world’s youngest population, and as a discipline that has a short- or even example of the contribution of physics to our young scientists are full of energy, medium-term impact compared with African development and advancement. enthusiasm and talent. They are driving priority areas such as health, food security, Why do we not see greater impact of the formation of scientific societies such energy and water quality, and water access. physicists in African development and as AfCA (the African Crystallographic As a result, little or no funding is provided for advancement? First, there is a shortage of Association). There is great scope for capacity development in the discipline, thus rigorous academic training and preparation, the development of large-scale research leading to limited research infrastructure. high-quality mentorship, strong research infrastructure, exemplified by the SKA. Owing to limited human capacity in physics, groups and international collaboration. The African Lightsource Foundation is also considerable time is used in administration Second, there is a lack of funding and funding working to establish an advanced lightsource and servicing other degree programmes policies. African governments not only need on the African continent. Projects of in the natural and applied sciences at the to fund science and technology but must have this nature require cooperation between undergraduate level, leaving little time for a policy and vision for science and technology. scientists, governments and industry, which engagement in quality research work. Training in science and technology should be is both a challenge and an opportunity! There is a need to align research in seen as a means to improve the economy, not physics to support national agendas as a drain on the economy. African physicists are resilient towards human, environmental and Igle Gledhill In Africa, we share the deepest socio-economic development in order to Ways to strengthen physics in Africa aspirations of all physicists: to discover the remain relevant and benefit from continual Nashwa Eassa Many African governments basic principles that govern the Universe, local funding. Revised curricula and skills and the industrial sector in African countries and to solve problems and innovate. that support areas of discipline application do not pay sufficient attention to research Many of our circumstances look such as medical physics, materials science in the fields of basic and applied physics, in intractable. It’s not just that internet access and renewable energy are examples that terms of funding and the use of research

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findings. This situation is due to a limited important and should also include extra 5University of Constantine 1, Constantine, Algeria. ability to recognize research in physics as mobilization of resources for research within 6Medical Physics Department, School of Nuclear and a priority and appreciate its role in developing universities in African countries. Universities Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. technologies that may lead to economic should formulate interdisciplinary research 7Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. growth and sustainable development. groups and strengthen collaborative 8 Because this situation is ongoing, the research research projects with the private sector and Flow Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa. environment is often poor, and researchers non-governmental organizations to secure 9School of Physics and Earth Science, The Technical have been limited in developing the skills funding and ensure the use of research University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya. they need to produce distinct research at findings. Finally, it is vital to strengthen the 10East Africa Institute for Fundamental Research African research institutions. Therefore, research impact at the national, regional and (EAIFR), University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda. promoting research in physics in African international levels, through publications, 11Al Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan. countries is a necessity. evidence-based policies and engagement ✉e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; There is also a need to strengthen the with stakeholders. [email protected]; [email protected]; research capacity in conducting, managing [email protected]; [email protected]; Igle.Gledhill@ 1 2,3 Rabia Salihu Sa’id ✉, Ibiyinka Fuwape ✉, wits.ac.za; [email protected]; oakinojo@ and sharing research results, besides 4 5 Alain Moise Dikandé ✉, Jamal Mimouni ✉, eaifr.org; [email protected] developing the research environment. Francis Hasford 6 ✉, Delia Haynes 7 ✉, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-020-0239-8 Another action that could be taken is to Igle Gledhill 8 ✉, George Amolo 9 ✉, use research outcomes and results to advise Omololu Akin-Ojo10 ✉ and Nashwa Eassa11 ✉ Published online 18 September 2020 policy-makers through policy briefs on topics 1Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. such as the use of solar energy, knowing that 2Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. sunlight is available, and there is a shortage in 3Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, Publisher’s note electricity supply in many African countries. Nigeria. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. 4 Advocacy for science-based evidence to Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of inform decision-making processes is very Buea, Buea, Cameroon. © Springer Nature Limited 2020

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