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OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEPAD MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST AFRICAN CENTRE
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, will officially deliver a keynote address opening the Ministerial Segment of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Conference on Science and Technology for Development and also launch the first state-of-the-art African Laser Centre to be built in South Africa to support and strengthen regional laser centres in the African tomorrow, Thursday, 6 November 2003, at Sunnyside Park Hotel in Johannesburg.
The African Laser Centre is geared towards amongst other things:
* Promoting research and implementing training programmes in laser research, and fostering collaboration to provide an African dimension to the activities of regional laser centres
* Facilitating the availability of financial resources, technical assistance, and equipment loans
* Promoting collaboration among laser researchers throughout Africa and between African laser institutions and their international counterparts, and enhance the efforts of Laser Atomic Molecules Networks 6th International Conference on Laser Physics and its Applications, held in December 2002 in Tunisia
* Reversing the brain drain of researchers from the African continent to the scientifically and technologically advanced regions of the world by providing a competitive knowledge base and attractive research and developmental facilities
* Promoting technology transfer, including laser knowledge, African Laser Centre members and to industry
* Improving the quality of life of all African people and beneficiaries of the African Laser Centre.
Already, the following regional laser centres have been identified as possible user facilities to support the African Laser Centre:
* The National Laser Centre in Pretoria, South Africa - Manufacturing, Machining, and Materials Processing
* The University of Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal - Atomic and Molecular Physics and Laser Spectroscopy and Processing
* The Laser and Fibre Optics Centre in Cape Coast, Ghana - Agricultural and Environmental Science
* National Institute of Enhanced Science in Cairo, Egypt - Medical and Biological Applications of Lasers
* Tunis el Manar University in Tunis, Tunisia - Plant and Environmental Science and Molecular Spectroscopy
* The Advanced Technologies Development Centre in Algiers, Algeria - Laser Spectroscopy and Surface Studies.
The Department of Science and Technology believes that the African Laser Centre is a huge investment that will contribute in strengthening these institutions to become centres of excellence, enhance opportunities for science and technology and other related areas and ultimately, economic development of Africa.
NB: THE MEDIA IS INVITED TO ATTEND.
The programme is as follows:
1. Opening of the High-Level NEPAD Conference Ministerial Segment: 09:00 - 10:30
* Remarks by Prof Nkuhlu, Chairperson NEPAD Steering Committee
* Remarks Chairperson of senior officials' segment
* Remarks by Representative of the African Union
* Remarks by UNESCO Director-General
* Keynote Address by Dr Ben Ngubane, Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
2. The launch of the African Laser Centre: 14:00 - 16:00
For RSVP contact Ms Zama Mthethwa at 082 601 0249
Enquiries: Andrew Aphane - Manager: Communication at 082 387 5615
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
5 November 2003