The Joint Undertaking for an African Materials Institute (JUAMI), formerly the Joint-US Africa Materials Institute, is aimed at developing joint materials research and education activities among universities in Africa, the United States, and elsewhere in the world. The major activity of this institute is a series of intensive two-week schools in Africa that feature topics on materials for energy, sustainability, and technology, with instruction by world-renowned researchers. The first and second schools, held respectively, in December of 2012, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and in June of 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania, brought together young researchers with a shared passion for technological solutions to societal problems. Impactful and lasting collaborations were established at both schools.
The third school will be held in Kampala, Uganda, December 10–21, 2018, under the local sponsorship of Makerere University, one of Africa’s premier institutions of higher education. The topical emphasis will be on materials for sustainable energy. Activities will feature tutorials on cutting-edge energy materials topics; hands-on experiments and learning activities; and research seminars by top materials scientists. Instruction will be provided to approximately 65 graduate and postdoctoral researchers, 60% of whom will be from Africa.
JUAMI 2018 is co-organized by Sossina M. Haile (Northwestern University), Simon Billinge (Columbia University), and Thomas Mallouk (The Pennsylvania State University). Major funding for the school is provided by the US National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research. Other contributors include the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, and the Global Initiatives Office of Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering. Logistical support is provided by the Materials Research Society and the African Materials Research Society. For additional information, visit www.juami.org.
