About / Docs – The African Lightsource

The African Light Source (AfLS) Foundation is mandated to drive progress along the Roadmap towards establishing an Advanced Light Source on the African continent. The documents gathered here trace that journey: from foundational reports and peer-reviewed publications to the manifestos, resolutions and cultural symbols that anchor the movement.

Many on the continent and beyond had advocated for a Pan-African light source since the 1990s. A first major milestone came with EBASI (the Edward Bouchet–Abdus Salam Institute) in 2000, followed by the formation of the African Laser Centre in 2001. The AfLS itself was formed in 2015 at the AfLS-1 Conference, which generated the Grenoble Resolutions and the AfLS Roadmap. The collection below documents the history, context and future of the project — browse it, alongside the rest of this site, to learn more about the AfLS.

Key milestones on the path towards the African Light Source, from early Pan-African advocacy to the 2024 Strategic Task Force Reports.

StrategyFoundational reports and key documents

The 3 Strategic Task Force Reports — launched on 11 December 2024 at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) Conference in Abuja. These reports set out the strategic basis for advancing the African Light Source.

The Roadmap, Manifesto and Grenoble Resolutions (2015-11-27)

The Roadmap to the African Light Source, the African Light Source Manifesto, and the Grenoble Resolutions (Version of Grenoble, November 2015) together form the founding charter of the AfLS movement, produced at the AfLS-1 Conference.

The AfLS Foundation Document (2018-06-01)

The African Light Source Foundation was registered as a legal entity. The Foundation Document records its formal establishment and mandate.

AfLS Two Pager (2020-10-01)

A concise two-page overview of the African Light Source — its purpose, scope and ambition — for quick reference and sharing.

PublicationsPeer-reviewed articles and book chapters

Journal of Synchrotron Radiation — The African Light Source: history, context and future — *J. Synchrotron Rad.* (2024) 31, 1–9 (2024-01-02).

Recent progress towards an African light source — *Big Science in the 21st Century: Economic and Societal Impacts*, Chapter 54 (2023).

Science diplomacy from the Global South: the case of intergovernmental science organizations — *Science and Public Policy* 50(4) (2023) 782, 1–12 (2023-06-14).

Building a brighter future for Africa with the African Light Source — *Nature Reviews Physics* (2022) (2022-10-19).

Synchrotron X-ray radiation and the African earth sciences: a critical review — *Journal of African Earth Sciences* (2020-10-05).

Towards an African Light Source — *Biophysical Reviews* (2019) (2019-07-13).

The African Light Source Project: the history and vision — *The African Review of Physics* 13 (2018) 0019 (2018-10-20).

In the mediaCoverage and commentary

African Light Source aims for science with ubuntu — Research Professional News (2022-05-12). A feature on the AfLS vision of collaborative, community-centred science across the continent.

BackgroundEarly case-making and history

Sincrotrón report — SINCROTRÓN — the decision-making followed by the leaders of five synchrotrons, by Víctor del Río Bello (2018-04-01).

World light sources map — A Synchrotron Radiation Research Facility for Africa, by S. Mtingwa and H. Winick (2014-07-10).

IntroductionsQuick guides and cultural symbols

Quick intro — the LAAAMP Brochure. Synchrotron light sources are giant, multi-disciplinary super-microscopes. This brochure offers an accessible introduction to what they are and why a facility for Africa matters.

The AfLS Calling and Speaking Stick (2015). The AfLS adopts African cultural symbols — the Calling Stick and the Speaking Stick — rooting the project’s governance and gatherings in continental tradition. Presented by Philip Oluseyi Oladijo at AfLS7 (2024).