PACN
Royal Society of Chemistry Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN)
Who we are?
The Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN) seeks to create a self-sustaining science base in Africa, helping to strengthen capacity, solve local challenges and contribute to global knowledge. Working with scientists throughout Africa, we aim to:
- Integrate African chemistry into the global scientific community by enabling the exchange of ideas and facilitating collaboration.
- Support the community to deliver solutions to global challenges in the areas of environment, energy, food, health and water.
- Enhance and improve the skills and knowledge of the chemical science community in Africa.
- Enable access to high quality chemical science research.
Set-up in 2008, the PACN has invested more than £2.5 million in African science. We have worked with corporate partners such as Syngenta, P&G, GSK, chemical societies, funders, government bodies, NGOs, and local organisations.
Where we are?
PACN has created four hubs of centres of excellence to focus our work across the continent and provide regional centres for our events, networking, and training courses. The African university partners of the four Hubs are:
- Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, and University of Nairobi, Kenya
- University of Lagos and University of Ibadan, Nigeria
The PACN office is based at University of Nairobi, Kenya and is staffed full-time by Mr Erick Awas, PACN Senior Administrator.
What we do?
In 2024, PACN are organising a series of analytical training courses to be held across Africa:
- LC-MS: A Hands-on Approach, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya. 8-12 April 2024
- GC-MS training: A Hands-on Approach, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. 8-12 July 2024
- 4th Hands on NMR Training Workshop (in conjunction with Kenya National NMR Centre), University of Nairobi, Kenya. 29 July-2 August 2024.
- LC-MS: A Hands-on Approach, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. 2-6 September 2024
We organise virtual webinars on various topics for members of the African research community to attend. On 28th March, in partnership, with RSC Advances, we hosted a webinar titled “Navigating publishing your research with the RSC”. We also are planning a webinar on Science Leadership co-hosted with the African Science Leadership Programme (ASLP). The Kenyan hub organises a webinar series with the aim of bringing together scientists across the country.
The PACN Congress is the flagship biennial event. Previous events have been held in all four hubs on topics including Sustainable Water, Agricultural Productivity, Healthcare, managing resources and biodiversity.
The 2024 PACN Congress will take place on 29-31 October at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and will explore the theme of sustainability, with sub-themes covering environment, energy, food and agriculture, water, and health. The event, which will be attended by delegates and speakers from across Africa and beyond, will feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, oral presentations, and poster sessions. The panel sessions will focus on:
- Open Access Publishing
- UN Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution
- Green Chemistry
Funding from the RSC’s Chemistry Community Fund will support the attendance of 100 early career chemists from African nations, to give oral and poster presentations at the event, ensuring diverse participation. Applications for oral and poster presentations will open in May.
Join us
PACN is open to anyone. Whether you are an African scientist, a company working in Africa, have research collaborations with the continent or you’re just interested in our activities, you can be part of this expanding network working towards a sustainable science base in Africa.
Join our LinkedIn group to become part of our community and be kept up to date with opportunities and news.
Contacts:
RSC: Dr Andrew Shore and Dr Jamal Hassan (africa@rsc.org)
Kenya: Mr Erick Awas (pacn@uonbi.ac.ke)