A record of the notices, reports and planning documents that drove the “Science at Synchrotrons in South Africa” (S@S) initiative — the national effort to build a community of synchrotron users and to develop a roadmap for African access to synchrotron light.
Synchrotron light sources are concentrated across Europe, North America and Asia, with Africa long absent from the map. The South African programme set out to change that — first by joining an established European facility, then by laying the groundwork for a roadmap toward a home-grown capability.
MILESTONESNews
- 21 May 2013
South Africa signed a medium-term agreement with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) at a level of 0.3%, and in doing so became the 20th country to join the European synchrotron. The step was announced jointly by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the ESRF.
- February 2012
Sekazi Mtingwa published the article “Synchrotron Science on the Move in South Africa” in the APS Forum on International Physics Spring Newsletter, profiling the country’s growing synchrotron-user community.
- 13 January 2012
The “Strategic Plan for Synchrotron Science in SA” was completed. It was not yet a public document, but requests addressed to the SRRIC Chair, Tshepo Ntsoane (Necsa), would be considered.
- 1–2 December 2011
The “Science @ Synchrotrons – Business Plan and Strategic Plan” Workshop was held to consolidate the programme’s planning documents.
DOCUMENT LIBRARYActions and key documents
The S@S initiative produced a series of reports, studies and planning documents over several years. Each captures a stage in the case for synchrotron access in South Africa.
Science at Synchrotrons — 2009 (NRF report)
The February 2009 NRF report setting out the scientific case and progress of the Science at Synchrotrons programme.
Series of Four Meetings on Science at Synchrotrons
A February 2007 conference report summarising the outcomes of four community meetings convened to build the South African synchrotron-user base.
Science at Synchrotrons — Roadmap
The August 2007 roadmap document charting the strategic path toward synchrotron access for South African and African researchers.
SA Beamline Feasibility Study
The November 2007 study assessing the feasibility of a dedicated South African beamline.
User Statistics Questionnaire
An August 2008 questionnaire circulated to gather usage statistics from the community, with a return date of 30 August 2008.
Science at Synchrotrons in SA — mailing list
A community mailing list through which members of the South African synchrotron-science programme shared notices and coordinated activities.
FORWARD LOOKIn preparation in 2013
- S@S 2013/4 — date to be set (last week of November, first week of December or second week of January), to be held in the Cape.
- Finalisation of the Business Plan for the Synchrotron Roadmap, to be carried out by Sekazi Mtingwa (MIT and ALC) and Bryan Masara (SAIP — Executive Officer).
- Final stage of the finalisation of the “Strategic Plan”.
- Discussing the possibility of a “Hercules”-type school as a one-year replacement for S@S, following offers from the ESRF and SOLEIL.
South African researchers at the ESRF. The “Hercules”-type training school, offered by the ESRF and SOLEIL, was envisaged as a way to keep building hands-on synchrotron expertise within the community.
ARCHIVENews archive
Earlier notices from the Synchrotron Radiation Roadmap Implementation Committee (SRRIC) and the wider programme are preserved in the archive:
- SRRIC Circular, June 2008
- SRRIC Circular, August 2008
- News up to 2010
