Tag Archives: Université Cheikh Anta Diop

The importance of photonics (science of light) in African science

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A May 14, 2025 essay (h/t to phys.org) written by Andrew Forbes, professor, University of the Witwatersrand, and Patience Mthunzi-Kufa, distinguished professor, University of South Africa, for The Conversation describes the history, current work, and hopes for photonics on the African continent, Note: Some links have been removed,

Light is all around us, essential for one of our primary senses (sight) as well as life on Earth itself. It underpins many technologies that affect our daily lives, including energy harvesting with solar cells, light-emitting-diode (LED) displays and telecommunications through fibre optic networks.

The smartphone is a great example of the power of light. Inside the box, its electronic functionality works because of quantum mechanics [Note; Link removed]. The front screen is an entirely photonic device: liquid crystals controlling light. The back too: white light-emitting diodes for a flash, and lenses to capture images.

We use the word photonics, and sometimes optics, to capture the harnessing of light for new applications and technologies. Their importance in modern life is celebrated every year on 16 May with the International Day of Light.

Scientists on the African continent, despite the resource constraints they work under, have made notable contributions to photonics research. Some of these have been captured in a recent special issue of the journal Applied Optics [Note: Link removed]. Along with colleagues in this field from Morocco and Senegal, we introduced this collection of papers [Note: Link removed], which aims to celebrate excellence and show the impact of studies that address continental issues.

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Africa’s history in formal optics stems back thousands of years, [emphasis mine] with references to lens design already recorded in ancient Egyptian writings.

In more recent times, Africa has contributed to two Nobel prizes based on optics. Ahmed Zewail (Egyptian born) watched the ultrafast processes in chemistry with lasers (1999, Nobel Prize for Chemistry) and Serge Harouche (Moroccan born) studied the behaviour of individual particles of light, photons (2012, Nobel Prize for Physics).

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The papers in the special journal issue touch on a diversity of continent-relevant topics.

One is on using optics to communicate across free-space (air) even in bad weather conditions. This light-based solution was tested using weather data from two African cities, Alexandria in Egypt and Setif in Algeria.

Another paper is about tiny quantum sources of quantum entanglement for sensing. The authors used diamond, a gem found in South Africa and more commonly associated with jewellery. Diamond has many flaws, one of which can produce single photons as an output when excited. The single photon output was split into two paths, as if the particle went both left and right at the same time. This is the quirky notion of entanglement, in this case, created with diamonds. If an object is placed in any one path, the entanglement can detect it. Strangely, sometimes the photons take the left-path but the object is in the right-path, yet still it can be detected.

One contributor proposes a cost-effective method to detect and classify harmful bacteria in water.

New approaches in spectroscopy (studying colour) [Note: Link removed] for detecting cell health; biosensors to monitor salt and glucose levels in blood; and optical tools for food security all play their part in optical applications on the continent.

Another area of African optics research that has important applications is the use of optical fibres for sensing the quality of soil and its structural integrity. Optical fibres are usually associated with communication, but a modern trend is to use the existing optical fibre already laid to sense for small changes in the environment, for instance, as early warning systems for earthquakes. The research shows that conventional fibre can also be used to tell if soil is degrading, either from lack of moisture or some physical shift in structure (weakness or movement). It is an immediately useful tool for agriculture, building on many decades of research.

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The last century was based on electronics and controlling electrons. This century will be dominated by photonics, controlling photons.

Professor Zouheir Sekkat of University Mohamed V, Rabat, and director of the Pole of Optics and Photonics within MAScIR of University Mohamed VI Polytechnic Benguerir, Morocco, contributed to this article.

Light-based technologies have wide practical applications. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY [downloaded from https://theconversation.com/light-is-the-science-of-the-future-the-africans-using-it-to-solve-local-challenges-256031]

Here’s the special issue with two links:

Virtual Feature Issue

Joint feature issue in Applied Optics and Optics Continuum: Optical Science and Photonics in Africa (OSPA)

Zouheir Sekkat, Optics & Photonics Center, MAScIR-UM6P, Ben Guerir, and University Mohamed 5, Morocco (Lead Editor)
Andrew Forbes, University Witwatersrand, South Africa
Patience Mthunzi-Kufa, CSIR, South Africa
Balla Diop Ngom, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal

OR

20 March 2025, Volume 64, Issue 9, pp. 2102-2323; Feat. pp: OSPA1–3; C1–C163  

Enjoy!

African Engineering and Technology Network (AFRETECH) signs up ninth academic partner

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Before getting to the announcement from the African Engineering and Technology Network (AFRETECH), here’s a bit more about the organization from its webspace (About US page) on the University of Nairobi (Kenya) website,

The African Engineering and Technology Network (AFRETEC) is a pan-African collaboration of technology-focused universities from across the African continent. The creation of AFRETEC is a defining moment for the digital transformation of Africa. The network will build a strong knowledge creation and educational infrastructure on the continent. It will also provide a platform for its members to engage in deep collaboration that drives inclusive digital growth in Africa.

AFRETEC will create a platform for technology-focused universities in Africa to drive inclusive digital growth by collaborating on teaching and learning, knowledge creation, and entrepreneurship activities within the area of engineering and technology.

The core of this transformative initiative lies in providing unwavering support to students and academic staff, enabling them to enhance their knowledge and skills in the realm of emerging technologies and other areas needing attention when it comes to the employability of graduates. Academic staff are supported to enhance their teaching skills via training of trainers and workshops.

AFRETEC brings together technology-focused universities in Africa in a collaborative setting to drive inclusive digital growth. The key areas of collaboration include:

Teaching and Learning

Knowledge Creation

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Industry & Inclusion

Afretec’s pillar of knowledge creation recently announced three research clusters of health, energy and sustainability, and environment. The network’s teaching and learning pillar launched a series of studies on teaching resources and best practices in Africa. Under the entrepreneurship pillar, programs were initiated to build the pipeline of entrepreneurship at partner universities.

This May 28, 2025 College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania, US) news release (also on EurekAlert) by Hannah Diorio-Toth announces a new partnership,

Carnegie Mellon University Africa announced today that the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) has signed its ninth university partner, Universidade Agostinho Neto. The network, launched in 2022, provides a vehicle for technology-focused universities in Africa to engage in deep collaboration to drive digital growth, create technology development and job growth, and shape policy change.

Afretec Network members span the entire continent and include Carnegie Mellon University Africa (Rwanda), Al Akhawayn University (Morocco), the American University in Cairo (Egypt), Université Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal), University of Lagos (Nigeria), University of Nairobi (Kenya), University of Rwanda, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and now Universidade Agostinho Neto (Angola).

“We are proud to welcome Agostinho Neto University into the Afretec Network,” said Conrad Tucker, director of CMU-Africa and associate dean for international affairs-Africa. “As a network, we are focused on pan-African digital growth, which means that it is crucial that we collaborate across different languages and cultures on the continent.”

The Afretec Network is focused on goals in three areas:

  • Producing critical, locally relevant innovations and globally competitive technology talent 
  • Developing a digital knowledge creation ecosystem
  • Fostering a startup technology culture and ecosystem across Africa

Located in the capital city of Luanda, Agostinho Neto University is Angola’s oldest and largest public higher education institution. The university has a commitment to modernization, academic excellence, and the sustainable development of Angola and Africa. The Portuguese-speaking country of Angola has a young population and a strong demand for engineering, IT, and technology-driven programs. The university has already begun to collaborate with the network and will join partner universities in engaging with stakeholders across the continent to work toward the shared mission of the digital transformation of Africa.

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About the African Engineering and Technology Network:

The African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) is a pan-African network made up of technology-focused universities across the continent, who are working together to drive the digital transformation of Africa. The network is led by Carnegie Mellon University Africa. Learn more by visiting www.afretec.org.

About the College of Engineering and CMU-Africa: 

The College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is a top-ranked engineering college that is known for our Advanced Collaboration culture in research and education. The College is well-known for working on problems of both scientific and practical importance. Our “maker” culture is ingrained in all that we do, leading to novel approaches and transformative results. Our acclaimed faculty have a focus on innovation management and engineering to yield transformative results that will drive the intellectual and economic vitality of our community, nation, and world. 

Carnegie Mellon University Africa was established in 2011 through a partnership between Carnegie Mellon and the Government of Rwanda. CMU-Africa is the only U.S. research university offering its master’s degrees with a full-time faculty, staff, and operations in Africa. The institution is addressing the critical shortage of high-quality engineering talent required to accelerate the economic transformation of the African continent. For more information on the College of Engineering location in Africa, visit www.africa.engineering.cmu.edu.

Given the Trump administration’s (US) antipathy toward international aid and education (of all kinds and at many levels), this announcement comes at an ‘interesting’ time.