East African Summer School on Optics and Lasers

Administration

Description

An ICTP hybrid meeting in Nairobi, Kenya

The scope of the school is to promote new theoretical and experimental methods, concepts, instruments, measurement techniques and data analysis routines for both Laboratory and industrial applications, as well as to coordinate international activities and collaboration in the area of Optics and photonics. By focusing on both theory and applications, the school will also provide an intersection of emerging techniques and experimental methods with theoretical advances in the field of Optics and lasers.

This summer school aims to build a larger workforce who will drive Lasers and photonics research to higher heights in future in the African continent and other developing countries.

The participants will be equipped with hands on training skills and be able to do some advanced experiments which they have never done in their respective institutions with the aim of transferring knowledge and skill.
We hope to motivate the participants to take up research activities in this field of Lasers and photonics.

This will be an opportunity for networking and learning from experts from abroad, who will share and motivate the young scientists in Africa and other developing countries (who will manage to attend the school), to pursue or carry out innovative projects in lasers and photonics. Innovative technology aspects of modern low-cost laser facilities will be covered experimentally in the hands-on activities.

Topics

Introduction to laser physics and optical metrology
Optics and quantum information
Digital holography microscopy and photothermal spectroscopy
Nano-optics and optics metamaterials
Chiral nanophotonics
Flat optics: Enabling novel science and applications
Biomedical optics with a focus on the theory and applications of near-infrared tissue spectroscopy for point-of-care monitoring of cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and oxygenation
Y-shaped diode lasers for terahertz technology applications
Isolated attosecond pulses
The potential of optical biosensor in bridging the diagnostic gap in developing countries
Laser spectroscopy of atomic systems
Optical fibre communication technology
Advancing imaging technologies
Lasers & photonics impact on sciences for the society
The squeezing light via self-induced transparency solitons
Ultrashort pump generation from Yb:YAG lasers
Solar pumped lasers
Designing multicore fibers for high-power fiber amplifiers
Kerr squeezing in fibers and sub-shot-noise interferometry
Assessing the second-order correlation function of a quantum state from its Wigner function
Computational electromagnetics and photonics: from conventional fast solvers to the novel fractional formulations and their applications
AI-driven biomedical imaging for smart diagnostics

Call for Contributed Abstracts: All applicants are encouraged to submit an abstract for a poster presentation. Abstract templates are available below for download.

Speakers
H. CABRERA MORALES, ICTP, Italy
A. CANDEO, Milan Polytechnic, Italy
M. DIOP, Western University London, Canada
H. FATTAH, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany
J. O. GWARO, Maasai Mara University, Kenya
N. KALININ, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany
J. KAMUTI KALWE, Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenya
D. KINYUA, Kirinyaga University, Kenya
G. LEUCHS, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany
J. LI, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
M. MAAZA, UNESCO-UNISA-iThemba LABS, South Africa
M. Q. MEHMOOD, Information Technology University (ITU), Pakistan
S. NJOROGE, Karatina University, Kenya
E. OGARO, Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenya
S. PEREIRA, TU Delft, The Netherlands
G. K. RURIMO, Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenya
M. SHIKHALI NAJAFABADI, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany
W. SULTANI, Information Technology University (ITU), Pakistan
D. WASWA, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa
M. ZUBAIR, Information Technology University (ITU), Pakistan

Venue: Multimedia University of Kenya, P.O. Box 15653 - 00503 Nairobi

Welcome Remarks: Please check in the 'Material Section' the Welcome Remarks from the Ag Deputy Vice Chancellor of Multimedia University of Kenya

Visa: Please use the following link to apply for your Visa https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en

Grants: A limited number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from developing countries. There is no registration fee.

Material

Abstract Templates Poster Pre Arrival Information Preliminary list of Participants Programme Welcome Remarks

East African Summer School on Optics and Lasers | (smr 3934)

Go to day

Monday, 6 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Participants’ arrival and registration 30'

Speaker: Summer School Secretariat
08:15 Welcoming of Guests 5'

Speaker: NIOL Director MMU/ Summer School Local Organisers
08:20 National Anthem & Opening Prayer 5'

Speaker: NIOL Director MMU/ Summer School Local Organisers
08:25 Chief Guest and Guest Speakers Pay a Courtesy Call to the VC 5'

Speaker: AG. Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. Eng Ngoo LIVINGSTONE, PhD.

08:30 Introductory Remarks on the Summer School 10'

Speaker:

Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya), Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy), Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)

08:40 Opening Remarks (NRF, NACOSTI, MMARAU VC) 50'

Speaker: Rosebella O. MARANGA, PhD, MBS (AG. Vice Chancellor MMU)
09:30 Opening Remarks from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany 20'

Speaker: Hanieh FATTAHI (Max Planck Society, Germany)
09:50 Opening Remarks from The Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Italy 20'

Speaker: Joe NIEMELA (ICTP, Italy)
10:10 Opening Remarks from the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education 30'
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Chairperson: Rosebella O. MARANGA, PhD, MBS (AG. Vice Chancellor MMU)
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Speaker: Honourable Ezekiel MACHOGU
10:40 Group Photo 10'
10:50 Launch of Max Planck partner Research Group 30'

Speaker: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
11:20 Tea/Coffee Break 10'
11:30 The squeezing light via self-induced transparency solitons 1h0'
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Chairperson: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Mojdeh HIKHALI NAJAFABADI (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
12:30 Light sheet fluorescence microscopy 1h0'
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Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Alessia CANDEO (Milan Polytechnic, Italy)
13:30 Lunch Break 45'
14:15 Frequency analysis of imaging systems 1h0'
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Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Silvania PEREIRA (TU Delft, Netherlands)

15:15 Introductory Laboratory Session 1h45'

Speaker:

Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan), Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy), Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya), Elijah OGARO (Multimedia University of Kenya)

Tuesday, 7 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Ultrashort pump generation from Yb:YAG lasers 1h0'
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Chairperson: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Hanieh FATTAHI (Max Planck Society, Germany)
09:00 Ultrashort pump generation from Yb:YAG lasers 1h0'
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Chairperson: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Hanieh FATTAHI (Max Planck Society, Germany)
10:00 Tea/Coffee Break 15'
10:15 Advancing imaging technologies 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Alessia CANDEO (Milan Polytechnic, Italy)
11:15 Advancing imaging technologies 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Alessia CANDEO (Milan Polytechnic, Italy)
12:15 Biomedical Optics with a focus on the theory and applications of near-infrared tissue spectroscopy for Point-of-Care monitoring of cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and oxygenation 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Mamadou DIOP (Western University, Canada)
13:15 Lunch Break 45'

14:00 Laboratory Session 3h0'

Experiments  during the hands on training                                            

Group 1
Light sheet fluorescence microscopy: basics and setting up 
Alessia CANDEO (Milan Polytechnic, Italy)   

Group 2
Basics of diffraction and diffractive optics elements 
Silvania PEREIRA (TU Delft, Netherlands)

Group 3
Conventional optical system design in Zemax  
Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)

Group 4
Design & optimization of meta-optical devices through computational solvers  
Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)

Group 5
CAD designs for 3D-printed optical systems 
Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)

Group 6
Open-source ray tracing optimization for meta-optics Muhammad 
Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)

Group 7
Open-source ray tracing optimization for meta-optics 
Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)

Speaker:

Wednesday, 8 May 2024
- 08:00 - 17:00
  - 08:00 Solar pumped lasers 1h0'
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Chairperson: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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    Speaker: Hanieh FATTAHI (Max Planck Society, Germany)
  - 09:00 Solar pumped lasers 1h0'
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Chairperson: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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    Speaker: Hanieh FATTAHI (Max Planck Society, Germany)
  - 10:00 Tea/Coffee Break 15'
  - 10:15 Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction 1h0'
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Chairperson: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
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    Speaker: Silvania PEREIRA (TU Delft, Netherlands)
  - 11:15 Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction 1h0'
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Chairperson: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
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    Speaker: Silvania PEREIRA (TU Delft, Netherlands)
  - 11:15 Designing multicore fibers for high-power fiber amplifiers 1h0'
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Chairperson: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
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    Speaker: Nikolay KALININ (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany)
  - 13:15 Lunch Break 45'
  - 14:00 Poster Session/ Interaction activities 2h0'
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Chairpersons: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy), Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)
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  - 16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'

Thursday, 9 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Optics and quantum information 1h0'
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Chairperson: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Gerhard LEUCHS (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany)
09:00 Optics and quantum information 1h0'
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Chairperson: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Gerhard LEUCHS (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany)
10:00 Tea/Coffee Break 15'
10:15 Flat optics: Enabling Novel Science and Applications 1h0'
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Chairperson: Elijah OGARO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)
11:15 Flat optics: Enabling Novel Science and Applications 1h0'
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Chairperson: Elijah OGARO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)
12:15 Analysis of coherent optical systems 1h0'
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Chairperson: Elijah OGARO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
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Speaker: Silvania PEREIRA (TU Delft, Netherlands)
13:15 Lunch Break 45'

14:00 Laboratory Session 2h0'

Speaker:

16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'

Friday, 10 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Kerr squeezing in fibers and sub-shot-noise interferometry 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Nikolay KALININ (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany)
09:00 Kerr squeezing in fibers and sub-shot-noise interferometry 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Nikolay KALININ (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany)
10:00 Tea/Coffee Break 15'
10:15 Overview of Research at National Institute for Optics and Lasers 1h15'

Speaker: Geoffrey Kihara RURIMO (AG. Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Finance and Planning)
11:30 Assessing the second-order correlation function of a quantum state from its Wigner Function 1h0'
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Chairperson: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Mojdeh HIKHALI NAJAFABADI (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
12:30 Computational Electromagnetics and Photonics: from conventional fast solvers to the novel fractional formulations and their applications 1h0'
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Chairperson: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Muhammad ZUBAIR (ITU, Pakistan)
13:30 Lunch Break 30'

14:00 Laboratory Session 2h0'

Speaker:

16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'

Saturday, 11 May 2024
- 08:00 - 17:00
  - 08:00 Participants Sign in/participants arrival and registration 30'
  - 08:30 Visit to Nairobi National park 2h0'
  - 10:30 Tea/Coffee Break 30'
  - 13:00 1h0'
  - 14:00 Free afternoon 3h0'
Sunday, 12 May 2024
- 08:00 - 17:00
  - 08:00 Participants Sign in/participants arrival and registration 30'
  - 08:30 Visit to Nairobi City, and National Museum of Kenya 1h0'
  - 09:30 Visit to Nairobi City/National Museum of Kenya/ Uhuru park 1h0'
  - 10:30 Tea/Coffee Break 30'
  - 13:00 1h0'
  - 14:00 Free afternoon 3h0'

Monday, 13 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Biomedical Optics with a focus on the theory and applications of near-infrared tissue spectroscopy for Point-of-Care monitoring of cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and oxygenation 1h0'
```
Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Mamadou DIOP (Western University, Canada)
09:00 Digital Holography Microscopy 1h0'
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Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
10:00 Tea/Coffee Break 15'
10:15 Ray Tracing Optimization and Analysis for Meta-optics 1h0'
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Chairperson: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)	
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Speaker: Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)
11:15 Ray Tracing Optimization and Analysis for Meta-optics 1h0'
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Chairperson: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)	
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Speaker: Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)
12:15 The potential of optical biosensor in bridging the diagnostic gap in developing countries 1h0'
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Chairperson: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)	
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Speaker: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
13:15 Lunch Break 45'

14:00 Laboratory Session 2h0'

Speaker:

16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'

Tuesday, 14 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Lasers & photonics impact on Sciences for the society 1h0'
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Chairperson: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Malik MAAZA (iThemba Laboratories UNISA, South Africa)
09:00 Lasers & photonics impact on Sciences for the society 1h0'
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Chairperson: Dickson KINYUA (Kirinyaga University, Kenya)
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Speaker: Malik MAAZA (iThemba Laboratories UNISA, South Africa)
10:00 Tea/Coffee Break 15'
10:15 Laser spectroscopy of atomic systems 1h0'
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Chairperson: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)	
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Speaker: Elijah OGARO (Multimedia University of Kenya)
11:15 Hyperspectral imaging 1h0'
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Chairperson: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)	
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Speaker: Alessia CANDEO (Milan Polytechnic, Italy)
12:15 Photothermal Spectroscopy and Applications 1h0'

Speaker: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
13:15 Lunch Break 45'

14:00 Laboratory Session 2h0'

Speaker:

16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'

Wednesday, 15 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Y-shaped Diode lasers for Terahertz technology applications. 1h0'
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Chairperson: David Wafula WASWA (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)
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Speaker: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)
09:00 Chiroptics,design and characterization of chiral metalenses 1h0'
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Chairperson: David Wafula WASWA (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)
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Speaker: Johnston Kamuti KALWE (Multimedia University of Kenya)
10:00 Tea/Coffee Break 15'
10:15 AI-Driven Biomedical imaging for Smart Diagnostics 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Waqas SULTANI (ITU, Pakistan)
11:15 AI-Driven Biomedical imaging for Smart Diagnostics 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Waqas SULTANI (ITU, Pakistan)
12:15 Isolated Attosecond pulses 1h0'
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Chairperson: Humberto CABRERA (ICTP, Italy)
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Speaker: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)

14:00 Laboratory Session 2h0'

Speaker:

16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'

Thursday, 16 May 2024

08:00 - 17:00

08:00 Optical fibre communication technology 1h0'

remote                                                                                           Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)

Speaker:

David Wafula WASWA (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)

09:00 Optical fibre communication technology 1h0'

remote                                                                                           Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)

Speaker:

David Wafula WASWA (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)

10:15 Tea/Coffee Break 15'

10:30 Exhibitions and Poster sessions 30'

Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya), David Wafula WASWA (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)

11:00 Metasurfaces-based Hand-on Sessions on Design and Measurements 1h0'
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Chairperson: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)	
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Speaker: Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)
12:00 Metasurfaces-based Hand-on Sessions on Design and Measurements 1h0'
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Chairperson: Stephen NJOROGE (Karatina University, Kenya)	
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Speaker: Muhammad Qasim MEHMOOD (Information Technology University of the Punjab, Pakistan)
13:00 Lunch Break 1h0'

14:00 Laboratory Session 2h0'

Speaker:

16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'

Friday, 17 May 2024
- 08:30 - 17:00
  - 08:30 Key Note speech from sponsors NRF/Optica/ICTP 1h0'
  - 09:30 Feedback from Participants 1h0'
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Chairperson: Jared Ombiro GWARO (Maasai Mara University, Kenya)
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  - 10:30 Tea/Coffee Break 30'
  - 11:00 Award of Certificates 1h0'
  - 12:00 Vote of Thanks 1h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch Break 1h0'
  - 14:00 Participants preparations for departure 2h0'
  - 16:00 Tea/Coffee Break 1h0'