AfCA's Birth: Realizing the Dream of African Crystallography

What is it about?

The article provides a brief overview of the establishment of the African Crystallographic Association (AfCA). It covers the historic process of establishing AfCA and highlights the involvement of various countries in North and South Africa. The article also mentions the role of Jan Boeyens and the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) in the 1990s and the various initiatives that were launched to develop crystallography in Africa.

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Photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash

Photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is important because it highlights the establishment of the African Crystallographic Association (AfCA), the fifth Regional Associate of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr). The article emphasizes the historic process of establishing AfCA and the significant milestones achieved in crystallography in Africa. The research provides insights into the development of crystallography in different regions of Africa, including South Africa and North/West Africa. The research also underscores the challenges faced in expanding crystallography in Africa, such as access to funding and instruments, and the need for targeted actions to expand African science significantly. The formation of AfCA is a significant step towards promoting crystallography in Africa and fostering collaboration among African crystallographers. Key Takeaways: 1. Crystallography in Africa has a long history, with South Africa being one of the earliest regions to establish crystallography. 2. The African Crystallographic Association (AfCA) was officially admitted as the fifth Regional Associate of the IUCr at the 26th Congress and General Assembly of the IUCr in Melbourne, Australia. 3. The article highlights the different milestones achieved in crystallography in different regions of Africa, including South Africa and North/West Africa. 4. The research emphasizes the challenges faced in expanding crystallography in Africa and the need for targeted actions to expand African science significantly. 5. The formation of AfCA is a significant step towards promoting crystallography in Africa and fostering collaboration among African crystallographers.