The UNESCO-UNISA ITLABS/NRF Africa Chair in Nano-sciences & Nano-Techno- logies (U2ACN2), a trilateral partnership between the UNESCO, the University of South Africa (UNISA) & iThemba LABS-NRF, the largest national R&D facility of the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), was established in 2013. Headquartered & administered by UNISA, the largest university in South Africa & the African continent, the U2ACN2, is envisaging to further cement its nano-sciences & nano-technologies continental footprint in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) & the V.C. catalytic Niche Areas. The U2ACN2, is seeking partnership with HEIs, R&D and Funding institutions from both the Nort & South in view of implementing ACCENTS: The Multi-disciplinary African Centre of Competencies in Nano-sciences & Nano-technologies for SDGs.
ACCENTS’ mission & vision are geared toward the preparation of a multiskilled workforce of tomorrow, through a multidisciplinary Human Capital Development program via both an Academic and R&D of excellence for a comprehensive social impact in Africa within the energy, water & health nexus.
ACCENTS’ Patrons:
- Prof.J. M. LEHN (Nobel Laureate, Chemistry 1987, University of Strasbourg, Strasboug-France)
- Prof. A. KRIEF (Director IOCD; the International Organization of Chemistry for the Development, Namur-Brussels)
- Prof. F. DAKORA (President AAS, the African Academy of Sciences, Nairobi-Kenya)
- Prof. T. MEYIWA (Vice-Principal; Research, Innovation, Commercialization & Postgraduates, University of South Africa)
- Dr. F. AZAIEZ (Director; iTLABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa
ACCENTS’ Credentials & Int. Recognitions:
- Galileo Galillei award in nanophotonics áInternational Commission of Optics/Photonics,ICO, Dresden-Germanyñ
- Jose Vasconcelos world award for education áWorld Cultural Council-WCC, Hong Kong-Chinañ
- Abdus Salam Spirit award (UN Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics ICTP, Trieste-Italyñ
- Association of the Commonwealth Universities award áACU, London-UKñ
- Presidential Mapungubwe Silver National Order áSA Government Presidencyñ.
- African Union Continental Excellence STI award áAddis Ababa-Ethiopiañ
ACCENTS’ Selected Publications:
ACCENTS’ Partners:
- iThembaLABS-NRF: National Research Foundation of South Africa
- UNISA:University of South Africa
- AAS:African Academy of Sciences
- UNESCO-ICTP Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics(TBC)
- DAAD:German Academic exchange Service
- University of Oxford
- SIDA: Swedish International Development Agency
- Univ.Mans,
- Univ. d’Angers
- Institut d’Optique
- TWAS: Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TBC)
- OWSD: Int. Organization of Women in Sciences (TBC)
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