The Open Symposium on African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP)

Administration

Description

DEVELOPING THE FUTURE OF PHYSICS IN AFRICA

The African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP) is a continent-wide initiative to define a 10-year roadmap for physics research and education, with a 20-year vision. It connects experts internationally to set priorities, drive collaborations, and make practical recommendations for the future.

WHY ATTEND THE OPEN SYMPOSIUM?

Review the draft ASFAP Final Report

Presented in plenary, followed by expert discussions and open feedback from the international community.

Contribute feedback to shape the roadmap
Connect with leading African and global physicists
Strengthen networks across disciplines and regions

ABOUT THE AFRICAN STRATEGY FOR
FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED PHYSICS

Mandated by the African Physical Society and endorsed by UNESCO, ASFAP is

a grassroots effort led by physicists.

The process brings together scientists to:

Define key research and education priorities
Promote collaborations across borders and disciplines
Deliver concrete, community-driven recommendations

STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS

FIELDS OF PHYSICS

Astrophysics & Cosmology – Atomic & Molecular Physics – Biophysics – Condensed Matter & Material Physics – Earth Science – Fluid & Plasma Physics – High Energy Physics – Light Sources – Medical Physics – Nuclear Physics – Nuclear Physics Techniques

CROSS CUTTING FIELDS

Accelerators – Computing – Energy – Instrumentation & Detectors

SOCIETAL ENGAGEMENTS

Community engagement – Early career Physicists – Ethics in Physics – Physics education – Women in Physics

For more information please consult the ASFAP web page here [ https://indico.cern.ch/event/1541442/ ]

COMMITTEES & CONVENERS

STEERING COMMITTEE

Assamagan K.A. (BNL) ■ Connell S.H. (UJ) ■ Fassi F. (UM5) ■ Khalil S. (CFP) ■ Malek F. (CNRS - LPSC)

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Adam R. (SKA) ■ Dabholkar A. (ICTP) ■ Elouadrhiri L. (JLab) ■ Fassi-Fehri O. (UM5) ■ Gates J. (Brown University) ■ Hassan M. (TWAS) ■ Hassegawa S. (U Tokyo) ■ Heuer R. (SESAME) ■ Hounkonnou M. N. (UA-C) ■ Kasry A. (UNESCO) ■ Kim Y. (UChicago) ■ Malek F. (CNRS - LPSC) ■ Malu R. (Ministry of Education – DRC) ■ Maaza M. (iThemba LABS) ■ Miyashita S. (JPS) ■ Mokhtar N. (IAEA) ■ Muronga A. (NMU) ■ Quevedo F. (NYUAD) ■ Rudolf P. (RUG) ■ Soboyejo W. (WPI) ■ Spiro M. (IUPAP) ■ Tajima S. (Osaka U) ■ Tsesmelis E. (CERN) ■ Vilakazi Z. (WITS) ■ Wagué A. (AfPS) ■ Yifang W. (IHEP)

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS & CONVENERS

Abah O. (NU) ■ Adraoui I. (Ibn Zohr U) ■ Arame Boye N. (UCAD) ■ Asabere B. (GSSTI) ■ Avery S. (UPenn) ■ Boye D. (BNL) ■ Chidinma I. (NASRDA) ■ Chetty N. (WITS) ■ Chigome S. (BITRI) ■ Cyulinyana M. (NCST) ■ Drissi L. (UM5) ■ Engo S. (U Yaoundé I) ■ Fankam B. (ADU) ■ Goerlach U. (IPHC-CNRS) ■ Guèye P. (MSU) ■ Haddad S. (UTEM) ■ Hassani S. (CEA-Saclay) ■ von der Heyden B. (SUN) ■ Jenni P. (UFR, CERN) ■ Ka O. (UCAD) ■ Kamel G. (SESAME) ■ Kar D. (WITS) ■ Kenmoe S. (UDE) ■ Krüger T. (UPR) ■ Laassiri M. (BNL) ■ Leeuw L. (UWC) ■ Makinde O. (SUN) ■ Mimouni J. (UC1) ■ Muheki P. (MUST) ■ Mulilo B. (UZA) ■ Musembi R. (UNI) ■ Mwewa C. (BNL, DESY) ■ Nibamureke U. (Univen) ■ Povic M. (SSGI) ■ Rahal G. (CNRS-IN2P3) ■ Raich (CERN – Retired) ■ Ramaila S. (UJ) ■ Samsam S. (INFN-MI) ■ Sebihi R. (UM5) ■ Serafini L. (INFN-MI) ■ Sewell B. T. (UCT) ■ Stodart N. (UCP) ■ Traoré A. (UCAD) ■ Usman I. (WITS)

Material

Agenda Group photo List of Participants Poster

The Open Symposium on African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP) | (smr 4248)

Go to day

Monday, 17 November 2025

08:30 - 09:00 Registration and administrative formalities

09:00 - 11:00 Introductory adresses

Please consult  THIS_LINK for detailed agenda

Conveners:

Sandro Scandolo (ICTP, Italy), Ketevi Adikle Assamagan (Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA)

09:00 ICTP introduction 15'

Speaker:	Sandro Scandolo (ICTP, Italy)
Material:	Video

09:15 UNESCO—The African Strategy of Fundamental and Applied Physics: A Groundbreaking Roadmap for Scientific Transformation 15'

Speaker:	Amal Kasri (UNESCO, France)
Material:	Video

09:30 The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) 15'

Speakers:	Fairouz Malek (CNRS - LPSC, France), Simon Connell (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
Material:	Video

09:45 Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) 15'

Speaker:	Norbert Hounkonnou (Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), Benin)
Material:	Video

10:00 Group photo of online participants 5'
10:05 Discussion 25'
10:30 Coffee Break 20'

11:00 - 12:00 Regional inputs

Convener:

Simon Connell (University of Johannesburg (ZA)), Benard Mulilo (University of Zambia), Iroka Chidinma Joy (National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria), Oumar Ka (Cheikh Anta Diop University), Chilufya Mwewa (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DE))Sanae SAMSAM (INFN Milano)

11:00 A Landscape of High Energy Physics in Latin America 25'

Speaker:	Fernando Quevedo (NYUAD)
Material:	Video

11:30 The European Strategy for Particle Physics 25'

Speaker:	Emmanuel Tsesmelis (CERN, Switzerland)
Material:	Video

12:00 - 14:00 ASFAP (Advisory Committee Feedback)

Convener:

ASFAP: Advisory Committee Feedback: Amal Kasry (UNESCO), Petra Rudolf (European Physical Society, France)

12:00 Advisory Committee Report — SWOT ANALYSIS OF ASFAP 25'

Speaker:	Robert Adam (The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Observatory, South Africa)
Material:	Video

12:30 Lunch 1h30'

14:00 - 14:30 Ethics in Physics

Convener:

Babatunde John Odetayo (University of Benin (NG)), Benard Mulilo (University of Zambia)

14:00 Ethics in Physics 15'

Speaker:	Chilufya Mwewa (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DE), Germany)
Material:	Video

14:15 Discussion 15'

14:30 - 15:00 Observers

Convener:

Benard Mulilo (University of Zambia), Babatunde John Odetayo (University of Benin (NG))

14:30 Observers feedback 15'

Speaker:	Oumar Ka (Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal)
Material:	Video

14:45 Discussion 15'

15:00 - 16:30 Regional inputs

Convener:

15:00 USA - Nuclear Physics long-range plan 25'

Speaker:	Latifa Elouadrhiri
Material:	Video

16:00 The Americal Physical Society (APS) as a Welcoming Global Hub 25'

Speaker:	Amy Flatten (The American Physical Society, USA)
Material:	Video

16:30 - 18:00 ASFAP (Steering Commitee Input)

Convener:

Steering Commitee Input: Petra Rudolf (European Physical Society, France), Fernando Quevedo (NYUAD)

16:30 ASFAP Steering Committee 25'

Speaker:	Ketevi Adikle Assamagan (Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA)
Material:	Video

16:55 Discussion 25'

18:30 - 20:00 Welcome reception

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

09:00 - 13:30 Cross-cutting Fields (ASFAP reports)

Please consult  THIS_LINK for detailed agenda

Convener:

Ulrich Goerlach (CNRS, France), Alassane Traoré (ITNA, Senegal), Oumar Ka (Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal)

09:00 Accelerator physics 15'

Speaker:	Sanae Samsam (INFN, Italy)
Material:	Video

09:15 Computing in Physics 15'

Speaker:	Ghita Rahal (CERN, Switzerland)
Material:	Video

09:30 Quantum computing 15'

Speaker:	Ouissal Moumou (Quantinuum, UK)
Material:	Video

09:45 Instrumentation & Detectors 15'

Speaker:	Ulrich Goerlach (CNRS, France)
Material:	Video

10:00 Energy 15'

Speaker:	Robinson Juma Musembi (University of Nairobi, Kenya)
Material:	Video

10:15 Earth Physics 15'

Speaker:	Bjorn von der Heyden (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Material:	Video

10:30 Coffee break 30'
11:00 Summary and recommendations 15'

Material: Video
11:15 Discussion 1h15'
12:30 Lunch 1h0'

13:30 - 17:00 Light Sources & Applications (ASFAP Reports)

Convener:

Samuel Chigome (BITRI, Botswana), Gihan Kamel (SESAME, Jordan), Lalla Btissam Drissi (Mohammed V University, Morocco)

13:30 Light Sources 15'

Speaker:	Gihan Kamel (SESAME, Jordan)
Material:	Video

13:45 Compact light sources 15'

Speaker:	Luca Serafini (INFN, Italy)
Material:	Video

14:00 Condensed Matter & Matterials Physics 15'

Speaker:	Adraoui Imane (Ait Melloul, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco)
Material:	Video

14:15 Atomic & Molecular Physics 15'

Speaker:	Stéphane Kenmoe (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany)
Material:	Video

14:30 Biophysics 15'

Speaker:	Kristian Muller-Nedebock (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
Material:	Video

14:45 Summary and recommendations 15'

Speaker:	Gihan Kamel (SESAME, Jordan)
Material:	Video

15:00 Coffee break 30'
15:30 Discussion 1h30'

Material: Video

Wednesday, 19 November 2025

09:00 - 11:00 Nuclear Physics Techniques (ASP Reports)

Please consult  THIS_LINK for detailed agenda

09:00 Agricultural science 15'

Speaker:	Alassane Traoré (University Cheikh Anta Diop Institute of Applied Nuclear Technology ITNA, Senegal)
Material:	Video

09:15 Air quality research 15'

Speaker:	Bertrand Tchanche (Alioune Diop University, Senegal)
Material:	Video

09:30 Waste management 15'

Speaker:	Marie Clementine Uwineza Nibamureke (University of Venda, South Africa)
Material:	Video

09:45 Discussion 45'

Material: Video
10:30 Coffee break 30'

11:00 - 11:30 Regional inputs

11:00 China 25'

Speaker:	Bruce Mellado Garcia (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa)
Material:	Video

11:30 - 18:00 Societal Engagements

11:30 Feedback from African Physical Society 15'

Speaker:	Omololu Akin-Ojo (University of Ibadan, Nigeria)
Material:	Video

11:45 Discussion 15'

Material: Video
12:00 Lunch 2h0'

14:00 Community Engagements 15'

Speaker:	Marie Clementine Uwineza Nibamureke (University of Venda, South Africa)
Material:	Video

14:18 Physics Education 15'

Speaker:	Bertrand Tchanche (Alioune Diop University, Senegal)
Material:	Video

14:36 Women in Physics 15'

Speaker:	Marie Chantal Cyulinyana (Rwanda National Council for Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Rwandan Association for Women in Science and Engineering & AIMS, Rwanda)
Material:	Video

14:54 Physics societies 15'

Speaker:	Oumar Ka (Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal)
Material:	Video

15:12 Young Physicists Forum 15'

Speaker:	Mounia Laassiri (Helsinki Institute of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland)
Material:	Video

15:30 Coffee break 30'
16:00 Group photos 30'

16:30 Summary of recommendations 15'

Speaker:	Marie Clementine Uwineza Nibamureke (University of Venda, South Africa)
Material:	Video

16:45 Discussion 1h15'

Thursday, 20 November 2025

09:00 - 11:00 Particles & Related Applications (ASP Reports)

Please consult  THIS_LINK for detailed agenda

Conveners:

Mirjana Mosorinac Povic (ESSTI, Ethiopia), Stephen Inkoom (University of Ghana, Ghana)

09:00 Particle Physics 15'

Speaker:	Farida Fassi (Mohammed V University, Morocco)
Material:	Video

09:15 Nuclear Physics 15'

Speaker:	Benard Mulilo (University of Zambia, Zambia)
Material:	Video

09:30 Fluid & plasma physics 15'

Speaker:	Oluwole Daniel Makinde (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
Material:	Video

09:45 Medical physics 15'

Speaker:	Rajaa Sebihi (Mohammed V University, Morocco)
Material:	Video

10:00 Astrophysics 15'

Speaker:	Mirjana Povic (ESSTI, Ethiopia)
Material:	Video

10:15 Summary of recommendations 15'

Speaker:	Mirjana Povic (ESSTI, Ethiopia)
Material:	Video

10:30 Coffee break 30'

11:00 - 14:00 Particles & Related Applications (discussion)

Conveners: Farida Fassi (Universite Mohammed V, Morocco), Mirjana Mosorinac Povic (ESSTI, Ethiopia)
- 11:00 Discussion 1h30'
  
  Material: Video
- 12:30 Lunch 1h30'

14:00 - 16:00 ASFAP Report: Content review of the societal engagements chapters

Conveners:

Marie Chantal Cyulinyana (University of Rwanda, Rwanda), Bjorn von der Heyden (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa), Luca Serafini (INFN, Italy), Kristian Muller-Nedebock (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), Oluwole Daniel Makinde (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), Stephen Inkoom (University of Ghana, Ghana), Shaaban Khalil Ibrahim (ENHEP Egyptian Network of High Energy Physics, Egypt), Ghita Rahal (CNRS, France), Ann Njeri Ng'endo (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Simon Connell (University of Johannesburg, South Africa), Robert Adam (The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Observatory, South Africa)

14:00 Related chapters 30'

Material: Video
14:30 Review 1h0'
15:30 Coffee break 30'

16:00 - 17:00 Introductory Addresses

Conveners:

Mounia Laassiri (Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA), Michele Irwin (APS, USA)

16:00 from IAEA 1h0'

Speakers:	Tzanka Kokalova Wheldon (IAEA, Austria), Danas Ridikas (IAEA, Austria)
Material:	Video

Friday, 21 November 2025

09:00 - 10:30 ASFAP Report: Content review of the light sources & applications chapters
```
Please consult  THIS_LINK for detailed agenda
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Convener: Luca Serafini (INFN, Italy), Kristian Muller-Nedebock (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
- 09:00 Related chapters 30'
  
  Material: Video
- 09:30 Review 1h0'
  
  Material: Video

10:30 - 11:00 Vote of thanks

10:30 Vote of thanks 10'

Speaker:	Lalla Btissam Drissi (Mohammed V University, Morocco)
Material:	Video

10:40 Coffee break 20'

11:00 - 14:00 ASFAP Report: Content review of the particles & application chapters

Convener:

Oluwole Daniel Makinde (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), Stephen Inkoom (University of Ghana, Ghana), Shaaban Khalil Ibrahim (ENHEP Egyptian Network of High Energy Physics, Egypt)

11:00 Related chapters 30'

Material: Video
11:30 Review 1h0'
12:30 Lunch 1h30'

14:00 - 15:30 ASFAP Report: Content review of the cross-cutting fields chapters

Convener: Ghita Rahal (CNRS, France), Ann Njeri Ng'endo (University of Nairobi, Kenya)
- 14:00 Related chapters 30'
  
  Material: Video
- 14:30 Review 1h0'
15:30 - 16:00 ASFAP Report: Content review of nuclear physics techniques chapters

Convener: Simon Connell (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
- 15:30 Related chapters 10'
  
  Material: Video
- 15:40 Review 20'
16:00 - 16:35 ASFAP Report: Content review of the executive summary

Convener: Robert Adam (The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Observatory, South Africa)
- 16:00 Related chapters 10'
  
  Material: Video
- 16:10 Review 20'
- 16:30 End 5'