The International Advisory Committee (IAC) is the high-level strategic body guiding the African Light Source initiative, providing the scientific judgement, global networking and strategic reflection needed to bring a synchrotron light source to Africa.
MANDATEKey missions of the IAC
The Committee works to a focused mandate that spans scientific guidance, institutional liaison and strategic oversight:
- Scientific and technical advice. To provide advice and recommendations on all scientific, technical and capacity-building issues during the completion of a conceptual design report for the African Light Source.
- High-level liaison and networking. To promote high-level liaison and networking at national, pan-African and world-leading institutions in order to drive forward a light source for Africa.
- Strategic reflection. To engage in incisive strategic reflections, ensuring wisdom and judgement in developing the actions to be implemented by the AfLS Committees.
LEADERSHIPChair of the IAC
Dr Khotso Mokhele
Chair, International Advisory Committee of the AfLS
Dr Mokhele holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of California, Davis, USA (1986), and completed post-doctoral fellowships at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1986–1987) and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1990–91).
Current roles
- Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the African Open Science Platform.
- Chairperson of the Boards of Directors of two companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (Tiger Brands Limited and AECI).
- President of the Hans Merensky Foundation.
Previous relevant roles
- Chancellor of the University of the Free State, South Africa (2010–2020).
- President of the Foundation for Research Development of South Africa (1996–1999).
- Founder President of the National Research Foundation of South Africa (1999–2006).
- Founder President of the Academy of Science of South Africa (1996–1999).
- Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO, representing South Africa (1997–2001).
- Vice President for Scientific Planning and Review of the International Council for Science (ICSU) (2005–2008).
- Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Impala Platinum Holdings (2009–2015) and of Adcock Ingram, a pharmaceutical company (2008–2016).
Relevant experience
This is only part of Dr Mokhele’s broad experience in research-policy leadership. He was the founding President of the National Research Foundation (NRF), the South African funding agency established at the time of South Africa’s new democracy. As President of the NRF, Dr Mokhele led the fundraising and formation of the consortium to build the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), a 10-metre-class optical telescope, in Sutherland, South Africa. The success of this project provided the platform that South Africa used to launch its bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Telescope. Dr Mokhele also provided strategic leadership to iThemba LABS (Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences), one of the national research facilities managed by the NRF.
The leadership that built South Africa’s flagship science facilities now helps guide the path to a light source for Africa.
MILESTONELaunch of the Committee
The IAC was launched at the AfLS2020 Virtual Workshop on 20 November 2020. The Committee held its first virtual meeting on 16 November 2020, with its full membership convened to begin its advisory work.
Terms of Reference
The work of the IAC is governed by a formal Terms of Reference document, which sets out the Committee’s mandate, composition and operating procedures in support of the African Light Source initiative.