Participating Institutions

Academic Director

Secretariat

This network is based largely on the premise that increased skills in materials science and engineering are needed in southern Africa to develop and add value to the extensive mineral deposits of the region. AMSEN will benefit from existing collaborations, including the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials established at Wits in 2004 and the Wits-Namibia Engineering Curriculum Development Program in nanotechnology, sponsored by Norway’s SANTED Programme. To reduce the brain drain in this field from academia to industry, AMSEN plans a retention strategy that includes supplementation from industry, allowing staff to consult for and be seconded to industry, and providing incentives for publishing in academic journals.