ECA bursaries recipients at PCCr2/AfLS2: from the left Gift Mehlana (Midlands State University, Zimbabwe), Seham Kamal (Cairo University, Egypt), Rim Benali-Cherif (Abbes Laghrour Khenchela University, Algeria).
Gift Mehlana (Midlands State University, Zimbabwe), Seham Kamal (Cairo University, Egypt), Rim Benali-Cherif (Abbes Laghrour Khenchela University, Algeria) are the three recipients of the ECA travel grants for attending the 2nd Pan African Conference on Crystallography/African Light Source 2, PCCr2-AfLS2.
They share their impressions:
Gift: “I had an opportunity to share my research with the crystallographic community. During my presentation, I presented a new class of materials called metal-organic frameworks for carbon dioxide capture and conversion. My work is expected to generate new technologies that can be implemented to mitigate the effects that are caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The joint PCCr2 and AfLS2 was a successful event which was characterised by presentations which I believe will benefit all the young scientists who attended the conference.”
Rim: “PCCr2 Intra-African cohesions and Europe-Africa interactions through crystallography: I was able to meet great people, and share ideas concerning my research field, thus encouraging future collaborations. So, I am very grateful to have had this opportunity, and I would like to thank the ECA for granting me the chance to participate in this Conference. I was given the opportunity to present my work through a “poster presentation”, which allowed me to discuss and exchange work, and to talk about progression in the field with other young researchers. The scientific discussions that have been given proved to be varied not only on subjects close to my research but also on more distant topics as well as on the existing and possible research pathways.It was a wonderful experience. The level and diversity of discussion were outstanding. It was very well organized, both logistically and in terms of its content.”
Seham: “Thanks to ECA travel grant to participate to PCCr2. When we speak about Crystallographic conference, this is to speak about Art in Science. Thanks to ECA for giving me the opportunity to present my research work and share ideas with colleagues, build up new research cooperation and friends […] to share my information and knowledge during my oral presentation in organic and industrial materials symposium. It gives me a great pleasure to met members of AfCA-SC and put together the road map towards African crystallographic Association. This is to emphasis role of ECA to supporting young African scientists and spread out Crystallography in Africa.”