Workshop Theme
  Venue
  Important Dates
  Invited Speakers
  Committees
  Abstract Submission
  Format
  Announcements
  Deadlines
  Registration
  Accommodation
  Transport
  Presentations
  Photo Gallery
  Workshop Awards
  Workshop Report
  Program Manual
  Contact Details

  Last updated: 20 Feb 2012

4th African Laser Centre Student Workshop

     

Logo_Oval_2

 

9 – 13 November 2011

Zevenwacht Wine Estate,
Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

The School is financially supported by the African Laser Centre

 

 See more at:
www.laserfest.org

  Latest additions to the website:

| Photo Gallery | Awards | Report | Program Manual | Invited Speakers | Presentations |


Workshop Theme

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The purpose of the symposium is to bring together ALC grant holders and partners from across Africa, and students at South African universities who are working in the various ALC sponsored projects.  The workshop programme is designed to facilitate student presentations and interaction with project
leaders.Time is allocated for getting to know one another and to exchange ideas and to share knowledge.The format of the workshop will be as follows:

  • Each project leader will have the opportunity to introduce the project, followed by a student presentation (Total time allocated 20 minutes).

  • Additional project presentations in the form of posters.

  • A limited number of rental pool student presentations will also be accommodated.

  • Three keynote speakers will also address delegates.

The Conference venue is situated in the heart of Zevenwacht Wine Estate’s picturesque vineyards.  The informal setup on the wine estate and the fact that the workshop is limited to ALC associated researchers and students, will encourage interaction between grant holders and students. 

Venue

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The school will take place from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 November 2011 at the Zevenwacht Wine Estate under the auspices of the African Laser Centre.

 

More about Zevenwacht Wine Estate.

See map of the Zevenwacht Wine Estate.

See road map to the Zevenwacht Wine Estate.

More about Stellenbosch and surroundings.


Important Dates

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If you are an ALC grantholder or a student studying at a South African university on an ALC project and would like to attend the symposium, please take note of the dates in the table below.

 

Workshop announcement and call for abstracts

1 August 2011

Abstract and application deadline

1 September 2011

Abstract acceptance outcome

15 September 2011

Deadline for final abstracts for programme

5 October 2011

Workshop Starts

9 November 2011

Workshop Ends

13 November 2011


Invited Speakers

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Prof Andrea Galtarossa
Department of Information  Engineering (DEI), University of Padova, Italy.

The title of his talk was “Polarization of light in optical communications: an impairment or a resource?”. It involved the main problem related to transmission of polarized optical signals in standard single-mode fibers, being that fiber birefringence causes polarization dependent dispersion, which could be overcome by using two different approaches: coherent detection in conjunction with polarization maintained fibers or by producing low birefringent fibers.

   

Dr James Uhomoibhi
Faculty E-Learning Coordinator at the University of Ulster, Ireland.

The title of his talk was “Laser Light scattering detection and measurements of micro-rheological structures and dynamics of complex systems (foams and its ageing) and measurement of uniform translational motion”. He discussed the technique of diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS) to study the ageing of foams and to investigate the response of the system’s signal itself in what is called a uniform translational motion.
   

Prof Mourad Zghal
Engineering School of communications of Tunis, Université of Carthage, El Ghazala Ariana Tunisia.

The title of his talk was “Supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fibers” He reviewed the physics behind the process of supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fibers, as well as applications ranging from sensors to lasers and to different types of passive and active waveguide devices.

 


Committees

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The symposium is being organised by the Laser Research Institute in the Department of Physics, at the University of Stellenbosch for the African Laser Centre.

 

Organising Committee

Workshop Chair 

Prof Erich Rohwer

Workshop Secretariat

Prof Piet Walters

ALC /NLC Liaison

Dr Paul Motalane

Review Committee chair

Prof Hubertus von Bergmann

Programme Committee Chair

Prof Heinrich Schwoerer

US Liaison

Dr Pieter Neethling

US Liaison

Dr Christine Steenkamp

NMMU Liaison

Prof Andrew Leitch

UFS Liaison

Dr M Ntwaeaborwa

 

Abstract Review & Scientific Advisory Committee

Prof Hubertus von Bergmann, US

Prof Erich Rohwer, US

Prof Heinrich Schwoerer, US
Prof Hendrik Swart, UFS

Dr Andrew Forbes, NLC

 

 Programme Committee

 Prof Heinrich Schwoerer, US
 Prof Ernest van Dyk, NMMU

 Prof Andrew Leitch, NMMU

 Prof Erich Rohwer, US
 Dr Anton du Plessis, NLC

 


Abstract Submission

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A one-page abstract must be submitted by 1 September 2011 according to the required format.  These will be reviewed and the authors notified of the outcome.  Full details of the format and instructions for submission can be found in the Word document in the link below.  An additional 1 page of supporting discussion and figures may also be submitted. Please note that you have to send your Application Form together with your Abstract.
Abstract Submission Instructions:   [ .doc]   [.pdf]  


Format

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Time slots of 20 minutes duration each for oral presentations. This include an introduction by the project leader (< 5 min), presentation by the student, and 3 minutes allocated to questions at the end.  Presentations in English.

Prizes will be awarded the best presentations. The assessment will be done by the scientific advisory committee


Announcements

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This page is used to announce the latest news regarding the workshop and progress with arrangements.

  1. Preliminary programme:  Please click here for programme.
    Please consult the programme to establish your presentation time.
    Please contact Workshop Secretariat or Prof Erich Rohwer if you have any programme queries.

  2. Oral presentations Due to the full programme, the format of the orals will be as follows.
    Invited speakers:  40 minutes.
    Other speakers:  20 minutes, including project leader introduction, student presentation and questions.  Project leaders are requested to be brief to allow adequate time for student to present and for questions.

  3. Poster Presentations If you have a poster presentation, the poster size is A0.  Material to attach poster to boards will be supplied.  Please also note that you will have a 2 minute oral introduction of your poster.  For this you will be allowed 1 Power Point slide.

  4. Workshop Outing:
    There will be a sight seeing tour to Table Mountain and surroundings on Saturday afternoon.

  5. Local transport arrangements:
    See TRANSPORT below.  The organisers will provide transport from the Cape Town International airport to Zevenwacht and back on the following days:
    Wednesday afternoon 9 November:  Cape Town Airport to Zevenwacht.
    Sunday  morning 13 November:  Zevenwacht to Cape Town Airport.
    Please contact Workshop Secretariat or Dr Neethling if you have any transport queries.


Deadlines

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Abstract and Application deadline

1 September 2011

Deadline for final abstracts for programme

5 October 2011


Registration

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    Find Application Form here: [.pdf]  or  [.doc]


Accommodation

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Accommodation has been reserved at  Zevenwacht Wine Estate.


Transport

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A shuttle transport service between Cape Town International airport and the Zevenwacht Wine Estate will be available for participants at the beginning and end of the school. Participants who would like to make use of this transport are expected to arrive in Cape Town on 9 November 2011 preferably in the afternoon and depart on 13 November 2011 after breakfast.

 

You will be met at the airport Arrivals terminal exit.  The name of the ALC Workshop will be displayed on a sign at the exit. 


Presentations

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Andrea Galtarossa
Optical sensors: new solutions for advanced applications
[.pdf] -
4.82MB
Polarization of light in optical communications: An impairment or a resource?
[.pdf] -
3.32MB
 
A.Yousif Mohammed
Influence of working atmosphere on Y3(Al,Ga)5O12:Tb thin films fabricated by PLD technique.
[.pdf] -
1.79MB
 
Jean-Jacques Monga Kaboko
Design and development of an all-optical active Q-Switched Erbium-doped fibre ring laser.
[.pdf] -
1.1MB
 
Dr. Christian Litwinski
Basics in steady state and time resolved spectroscopy.
[.pdf] -
2.46MB
 
B.A. Obadele
Surface modification of TIC reinforced 304L Austenitic and 2507 Duplex Stainless Steel matrix composite fabricated by laser melt injection.
[.pdf] -
2.21MB
 
S. Ombinda-Lemboumba (Poster)
Transient absorption spectroscopy study of Zinc Phthalocyanine in different solvents.
[.pdf] -
173KB
 
H.A.A. Seed Ahmed
Energy transfer in Ce/Tb co-doped sol-gel silica.
[.pdf] -
3.09MB
 
I. Tynga
Effectiveness of Zinc Phthalocyanine to include cell death in human breast cancer cells.
[.pdf] -
1.63MB
 
     

Photo Gallery

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Images from ALC Workshop (2011)

Group 1 - [Click on image for larger view - 1000KB]

| Main Gallery |

| Group 2 -- 941KB | Group 3 -- 989KB |

| Group 4 -- 871KB | Group 5 -- 734KB |

 

Workshop Awards

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ALC WORKSHOP 2011 AWARDS sponsored by:

Our sincere thanks to Wirsam Scientific who sponsored our awards. Five awards for exceptional presentations at the Workshop 2011 were personally handed over by Dr Sharfuddin Sayed, Product Manager of Wirsam, at the conclusion of the workshop proceedings.

Ivan Tynga: Exceptional MSc oral presentation

 

Stephanie Mukarugina: Exceptional MSc poster presentation

 

Olufemi Olaoye: Exceptional MSc poster presentation

 

Zephania Birech: Exceptional PhD oral presentation

 

Luanne Spies: Exceptional PhD oral presentation

 

Dr Sharfuddin Sayed (second from left) together with Dr Paul Motalane (Contract R&D Manager), Dr Ndumiso Cingo (Chairman of the ALC Board), Prof Piet Walters Workshop Organizer) and Prof Erich Rohwer (Chairman of the Organizing committee).

   

Contact Info

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 Secretariat Address:
 ALC Student Workshop,
 c/o Prof P E Walters
 Department of Physics
 University of Stellenbosch
 Private Bag X1
 7602 Matieland
 South Africa
 Telephone

+27 21 808 3366

 Fax

+27 21 808 3385

 e-mail

pew@sun.ac.za

 


   

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