Support, Donate and Hall of Honour – The African Lightsource

The African Light Source is built on a growing coalition of support: letters and memoranda from institutions across the continent and beyond, partner organisations who co-host its conferences, and the funders whose generosity has made each milestone possible. Here you can also learn how to add your own voice of support, or become a donor to the project.

How support flowsFrom a letter of support to a lasting legacy

Backing for the African Light Source takes several forms, each reinforcing the others. Statements of intent build political and institutional momentum, partner organisations extend the project’s reach, and donations turn that goodwill into the training, travel and infrastructure that grow Africa’s light-source community.

How the different forms of support converge through the AfLS Foundation into tangible capacity-building across the continent.

MoUs and LoSsLetters of Support and Memoranda of Understanding

Letters of Support and Memoranda of Understanding for the African Light Source

A collection of Letters of Support (LoSs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) gathered up to 20 November 2020 records the institutions and organisations that have formally affirmed their commitment to the African Light Source project. Together they form a continually growing testament to the breadth of backing the initiative enjoys.

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in support of the African Light Source — A Memorandum of Understanding being signed in support of the African Light Source.

Co-OrganisersConference co-organisers

The African Light Source works alongside partner organisations to co-organise its conferences and scientific meetings. A notable example is the November 2022 conference, co-hosted with the South African Institute of Physics, whose backing helps the project convene the researchers, students and policy-makers who advance the light-source agenda.

Hall of HonourHall of Honour — previous funders

The Hall of Honour recognises the funders whose support made earlier African Light Source conferences possible. We gratefully acknowledge every organisation that has contributed to the project’s journey.

Funders and sponsors of the 2019 AfLS2 conference — AfLS2 — 2019 funders.

Funders and sponsors of the 2015 AfLS1 conference — AfLS1 — 2015 funders.

Add your voiceExpress your support of the African Light Source project

If you or your organisation would like to affirm your support of the African Light Source project, you may write to the AfLS Foundation. The text below is offered as a template, which you are welcome to expand upon in your own words.

Suggested text for a Letter of Support

To the African Light Source Foundation

I, <Name, Institution, Address> / The <Organisation, Address> would like to see an Advanced Light Source on the continent of Africa. I/We believe that Africa needs its own Advanced Light Source, with an associated Science and Innovation business park, together with improved local and regional research facilities, as well as a strong scientific, engineering, technological and business User Base that is highly trained to take advantage of all the social and economic benefits. I/We fully support the work of the African Light Source Foundation.

Sincerely,
<Name, Affiliation>

Please send your letter to the Chair of the AfLS Steering Committee, Prof. S. H. Connell.

DonateYou are invited to be a donor for the African Light Source

Donors contributing over €10k at this early stage will be recognised on the Donors Plaque at the future AfLS facility. Donations may be deposited into the bank account of the African Light Source Foundation, which is managed and audited within the Executive Office of the South African Institute of Physics.

Recognition for early donors

Contributions over €10k at this formative stage earn a permanent place on the Donors Plaque at the future African Light Source facility.

Donations, made in units of €10k, may be directed to any of the following purposes:

Training visits: Travel and subsistence for students and early-career African scientists undertaking training and working visits to synchrotrons.
Conferences & schools: Travel and subsistence for students and early-career African scientists attending conferences and schools associated with capacity-building and network-building around research at light sources.
Policy participation: Travel and subsistence for senior African Light Source Steering Committee officers to take part in important African continental and international meetings of political or policy-making significance.
Regional infrastructure: Contributions to equipment deployed as local or regional infrastructure, of a nature that builds a region’s capacity to participate in research based at light sources.

To participate, please contact the AfLS Steering Committee Chair, Prof. Simon Connell.