Milestones towards the formation of AfCA

Since the launch of the IUCr Crystallography in Africa initiative in 1999 chaired by Claude Lecomte, the IUCr has put enormous effort into developing opportunities for education and research and building capacity in crystallography in the African continent.

The idea of forming an African Crystallographic Association (AfCA) was discussed for the first time at the IYCr2014 Summit meeting in Bloemfontein (South Africa), and the creation of the 1st Pan African Conference on Crystallography, PCCr1, was set into motion by the brilliant initiative of Claude Lacomte. Claude's strategic vision led him to present the idea to Patrice and Ignas, triggering a spark that now fuels all of Africa. PCCr1 was held in Dschang (Cameroon) in 2016 and chaired by Ignas Tonle and Jean Ngoune, with Claude Lecomte as Chair of the Scientific Committee.

The IUCr2017 Congress held in Hyderabad, India represented an important milestone for AfCA. A session on "Crystallography in emerging nations: projects for a sustainable development of education and research infrastructure in Africa" (Chairs: Claude Lecomte and Michele Zema) was held as part of the parallel programme of the Congress. A meeting of the AfCA Steering Committee followed. Strategic regions were identified and representatives nominated. At the same time, planning started for the 2nd Pan African Conference on Crystallography, PCCr2, which was held in Accra (Ghana) in 2019, under the guidance of Robert Kingsford-Adaboh and David Dodoo-Arhin, as chairs of the Organizing Committee, and Gilberto Artioli, chair of the Scientific Committee. The conference was held jointly with the 2nd African Light Source Conference.

During PCCr2, Delia Haynes was nominated chair of the AfCA Steering Committee and new members were nominated. Among the first activities of the new Steering Committee were the launch of the AfCA facebook page, and the bid to choose the venue of the 3rd Pan African Conference on Crystallography. Nairobi (Kenya) was selected, and George Amolo, Chair of PCCr3, invited the whole crystallographic community from Africa and the rest of the world to the Multimedia University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya on 18-23 January 2021.

Because of the pandemic, PCCr3 was postponed and an ePCCr online conference was instead organised. This conference was organised jointly with the African Light Source and the African Physical Society. The AfLS/ePCCr/AfPS conference was held on 15-20 November 2021. On Wednesday, November 17th, the African Crystallographic Association was officially launched. The first AfCA General Assembly meeting was held and the first Executive Committee elected. 

Kenya has been selected by the AfCA-EC to host the 3rd Panafrican Conference on Crystallography PCCr3 with the theme ‘Harnessing Crystallography For Africa’s Research And Technology Transformation’

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