Building the SciBridge:

Using Nanoscience to Create Scientific Connections Between Africa and the U.S.

Veronica Augustyn1 & John Paul Eneku2

1Texas

Materials Institute, University of Texas at Austin (U.S.A.) 2Department of Physics, Makerere University, Uganda (Africa)

In science, diversity is a benefit. Being able to look at a given issue or a given phenomenon from different standpoints provides a richness of the scientific method. -Prof. Mildred S. Dresselhaus Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MRS Bulletin, December 2013

Outline
Our Backgrounds Why SciBridge How SciBridge works
Experiment kits Lecture and experiment Research seminar

Spreading the news about SciBridge Future goals Upcoming workshop

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Our Backgrounds
Veronica Postdoctoral Fellow Materials Science Energy Storage John Paul

Asst.Lecturer Physics
Ph.D. student

Photovoltaics

Why SciBridge
We created SciBridge: To develop academic dialogue without expensive research equipment To inspire African undergraduate students to study and do research in nanoscience & energy To extend the U.S.-Africa scientific network More U.S.-Africa science collaborations are essential to provide many more scientific solutions to human life needs: Research collaborations require financial support Few funding opportunities exist Difficult for early-career scientists to compete
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How SciBridge Works

Kit Fab
Experiments kits assembled in Austin, TX They are shipped to a university in Africa

Lecturer at the African university gives background on experiment Hands-On Students perform experiment

Researcher in the U.S. gives web-based seminar SciBridge Discussion follows

Experiment Kits
Utilizing well-developed experimental procedures from the University of California, Los Angeles & California NanoSystems Institute High School Nanoscience Program (NSF IGERT: MCTP) Kits cost between $100-$200 Contents of the kit: enough for ~80 students Kits are versatile and can be supplemented with local materials where possible

dye-sensitized solar cell kit

Available Experiments
Self Assembly Solar Cells Superhydrophobic Surfaces Photolithography Biotoxicity Water Filtration Supercapacitors
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Sample Experiment: Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Sample Experiment: Supercapacitors

Electrical double-layer charging of carbon: 100 F/g!

Schematic of the simple supercapacitor device students build, charge, and discharge to light a small LED

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Background Lecture

Lecture(s)/seminars on the theory of experiment for the students Home work for the students Discussion session for home work Trial experiment by the instructor

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Experiments
Preparatory processes in the laboratory for the experiment exercise Experiment exercise Discussion of experiment results Way forward

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Web-based research seminar

Global perspective of the motivation for the experiment Basics about the experiment Life applications of the experiment concept, research status and challenges Remarks on the previous experiment Students questions and thoughts Way forward
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Future Goals
Fundraising Spread SciBridge to other universities Domesticate experiments by inclusion in the university curriculum Academic workshops/seminars by member universities Staff development for sustainability Initiate relevant undergraduate programmes to groom future researchers Collaborative research
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Upcoming Workshop
Topic: Dye-sensitized solar cells University: Makerere University Lecturer: John Paul Eneku Research Seminar: B. Reeja Jayan, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology Kit Coordinator: Veronica Augustyn & California NanoSystems Institute

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Spreading the word about SciBridge

We are developing an internet following to help us fundraise for kit supplies Visits to other institutions Website: www.scibridge.org Instagram: scibridge Facebook: scibridge
Help us by liking our pages!

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Acknowledgements
U.S. National Science Foundation & JUAMI
Prof. Simon Billinge, Peter Green & Sossina Haile

University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Jia Ming Chen Prof. Sarah Tolbert

Department of Physics, Makerere University

Dr. Wintson Tumps Ireeta

University of Texas at Austin

Prof. Arumugam Manthiram
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