Formerly supported physics networks
Africa
IPPSAFR:02 - African Laser, Molecular and Optical Sciences Network
The aim of the African Laser, Molecular and Optical Sciences Network (LAM) on diode laser spectroscopy was to strengthen training and research capacities at the participating universities. It was supported by ISP 1996-2011.
The network started in 1996 after an intensive training of scientists from four African universities in diode laser spectroscopy including a design of the tabletop diode spectrometer at the Atomic Physics division of Lund University, Sweden. After the completed training, instruments that were built were shipped to each of the four countries:
- University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Senegal
- University of Cape Coast, Ghana
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
- University of Khartoum, Sudan
In 1999, the network received a three-year grant to be formally
established. The grant was devoted to help the network in strengthening the capacity building by acquiring adequate and complementary equipment for training and research in diode laser spectroscopy.
In May 2001 the international workshop “Laser Spectroscopy in Development” was hosted by the Atomic Physics division of Lund Institute of Technology with the participation of senior scientists and students from Senegal, Ghana, Sudan, Kenya, Cameroon, Tunisia,
Zimbabwe, and Equador. The workshop further emphasised the need to create an African network of collaborating research groups in diode laser spectroscopy for enhanced teaching, training, and research activities in environmental monitoring and medicine. In connection with the workshop, blue diode laser spectrometers were acquired by each group in Senegal, Ghana, Sudan, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Through active work in the region and through numerous arranged conference and workshops, the network contributed to increase the capacity building in the different universities as well as improving social and economical development in Africa. It also helped in strengthening the scientific cooperation within Africa.
In 2004 the ISP Board decided that three of the groups included in the network would receive project support and not only network support. Thus from year 2005, the projects in Ghana, Kenya and Senegal i.e. IPPS GHA01, IPPS KEN04 and IPPS SEN01 respectively received individual project support.
Achievements
From 1996 to 2002 the group graduated 8 MPhil/MSc students. In addition, they published 2 papers in international scientific journals, 2 papers in local or regional journals and made 6 contributions to scientific conferences.
Central America
NADMICA - Natural Disaster Mitigation in Central America
In Central America, ISP coordinated a project on Natural Disaster Mitigation. In the framework of this activity eleven MSc and PhD students from six Central American countries were accepted to pursue their studies in Sweden.
Central American universities involved:
Costa Rica: Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), San José
El Salvador: Universidad de El Salvador (UES), San Salvador
Guatemala: Universidad de San Carlos (USC), Guatemala City
Honduras: Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa
Nicaragua: Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua (UNAN), Managua
Panama: Universidad de Panamá, Panama City
Swedish universities involved:
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University
- Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University
- Division of Fire Safety Engineering, Lund University
- Earth and Space Sciences, Chalmers University of Science and Technology
History
This program started in 2008 as a Sida financed multilateral project, involving all eight Central American countries, as well as the Dominican Republic. The Central American coordinator until 2011 was the Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano (CSUCA). For various reasons two countries (Belize and Dominican Republic) dropped out of the program. During the initial period 2008 - 2010, students were selected for studies in Sweden, both on the Master and on the PhD level. In 2011, two more PhD students from the former Sida bilateral program with Honduras also joined the program. As of January 2012, the program was transformed to a network directly under ISP.