Joint Undertaking for an African Materials Institute JUAMI: Materials for a Sustainable Future
Abstract
Background JUAMI was formed in 2012 to build collaborations between early career materials science researchers in Africa and the United States, as well as other countries. By engaging in lectures from leading materials researchers, hands-on experimental activities, and innovative proposal generation, the graduate students participating in JUAMI develop skills to address grand materials challenges. The international connections between American, African, and other researchers create networks that lead to future collaboration and discovery. The first JUAMI school was in 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 55 students: 35 from US, 18 from Africa, one fromGermany, and one from Israel. Subsequent JUAMI schools increased African participation with JUAMI 2016 in Tanzania having 38 African students and JUAMI 2018 in Kampala, Uganda having 37 African students. Female participation has also increased with JUAMI 2018 having 50% female students.Technical and Scientific Objectives Global security depends on the economic advancement of the Global South,but there are not enough resources in the world to support everyone living the Global North#s current lifestyle. Advances in sustainable materials are necessary for enabling a high quality of life for Africans, Americans, and people from all parts of the world. Materials science and engineering improvements in energy capture, energy storage, water cleaning, electrolysis, manufacturing, and end-of-life will make that future possible. JUAMI is a platform for educating and empowering early career researchers to tackle those materials sustainability challenges. Participants will learn theoretical and experimental skills from technical experts and then perform hands-on lab experiments to solidify their learning. In teams, students will use their new materials knowledge to develop research proposals around some of the greatest sustainability challenges facing Africa and the US. Through this engaging learning experience, the 55-65 participants will build international connections that bring together research communities spanning the globe, leading to future collaborations. JUAMI 2023 will both train and connect the next generation of sustainable materials researchers.Relevance to US Naval Science and Technology Plan Through JUAMI 2023, the Navy stands to identify and build connections with early career talent from throughout the world to tackle scientific challenges of national strategic importance. Advances in sustainable materials will enable breakthroughs in a myriad of technologies. In particular, JUAMI tutorials, labs, and proposals align with Navy framework priority areas of Operational Endurance (power generation, storage, energy efficiency), Environmental Quality program: Water treatment/reduction and analysis (membranes, filtration), Nanoengineered Materials (nanoparticles, metamaterials, photonics, nano-alloys), and Electrochemical Materials (electrolysis, electrosynthesis, flow cells).Desired/Anticipated Outcomes 1. Published academic papersinspired by research proposals developed by JUAMI students2. Non-profit STEM-advocacy organizations built through international connections between US and African students3. Technical skill development and new appreciation for international materials science needs for JUAMI student participants4. International network of early career researchers that will seed future collaborations and cross-pollination of ideas
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 02, 2024
- Source ID
- N629092312054
Entities
People
- Francis Nyongesa
Organizations
- African Academy of Sciences
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy