News Viewer

Thierry d’Almeida is a Research Director at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), an expert in materials science, shock physics, X-ray techniques, and instrumentation for large scientific facilities. He has worked internationally as a researcher at several institutions, including the Washington State Institute for Shock Physics, the European Synchrotron in Grenoble, and the University of Cambridge, before joining the CEA in 2010. He has carried out numerous expert missions in higher education and research for various international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the French Development Agency (AFD), and UNESCO. For the IAEA, he provides assistance with training strategies in the field of civil nuclear power. He participates in university evaluation missions (Rating-review) for various training and research organizations including the National Research Foundation (South Africa), the National Center for Scientific Research (France) and the African and Malagasy Council for Education (CAMES). As an expert, he is also involved in the preparation of scientific notes for the French Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technical Choices (OPCST).

For several years, its efforts focus on the design and implementation of training and research programs tackling the priorities of the African continent, with a particular emphasis on ecological materials, sustainable urban planning, energy efficiency, environmental transition and food security.

Materials science is arguably one of the most important discipline in the physical sciences that should be developed in Africa given its rich mineral, energy, and biological diversity resources. The weakness of scientific activity and R&D relating to materials science is mainly explained by the lack of dedicated resources, including qualified human resources, engineers and researchers in this field.

The abundance of natural resources in Africa contrasts sharply with the continent's poverty because the bulk of wealth creation lies in the transformation of these resources and not in their export as raw materials.

The development of materials science should therefore be an important objective for Africa with significant opportunities for economic benefits and the development of quality people. Many successful activities in materials science are already underway in Africa.

This talk will focus on the development of skills and analytical capabilities in the field of materials science, in particular by examining the issue of the valorization of local materials for applications such as construction building, textiles, agri-food processing and packaging.

View Past Recordings

More about PHYSICS MATTERS

Playlist