Training

Trainings.

X-TechLab training sessions.

English Training Session: Crystallography
English Training Session: Tomography

Our training programme

X-TechLab training consists of two annual sessions. Each of these two sessions focuses on two areas of training: " Crystallography and X-ray Diffraction Techniques " and " Tomography and Mathematical Engineering ". 

TRAINING OFFER

E & F Training

After a successful first edition, this year's edition should confirm the positive impact of the X-TechLab platform's training courses on the scientific community in May 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic forced us to postpone this session but above all reminded us of the urgency for the contnent to develop solutions and protocols adapted to its realities.

The November training session is of a special nature; everywhere in the world physical contact between people and movement is limited to the strict minimum, the observance of a social distance is obligatory as well as the systematic wearing of masks in all places and the regular disinfection of hands.

In a particularly vulnerable continent and as a Pan-African platform, our challenge is to be able to fulfil its training mission while responding to new societal demands and promoting the participation of all African countries.

We offer a new training formula combining online and face-to-face training with a significant part dedicated to applied research. This project will allow us to train efficiently, in a short period of time and at a lower cost a large majority of scientists from different African countries. This project draws its relevance from the fact that the training and scientific research landscape in Benin and in Africa in general reveals a notorious lack of technical platforms. Apart from the X-TechLab, no laboratory in Benin has diffractometers or microtomographs. A reality common to the majority of African countries.

It should be noted that as the language of training is English, a training course in scientific English will be available free of charge to French-speaking participants and will take place online from 19 October to 13 November 2020.

The X-TechLab training session will take place from 16 to 27 November 2020.

Scientific English training

                    The Technical English learning programme is Module I of the X-TechLab's X-ray techniques training programme. As English is the language of instruction for X-TechLab training courses, it appeared necessary to set up an English language upgrading programme for the French-speaking target group taking part in the training. The objective is to help the French-speaking candidates to better understand the lessons given in English while improving their language skills. 

  Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, the learner should be able to :

- pronounce correctly, in English, the terms used in crystallography, in X-ray diffraction techniques, or in X-ray tomography and mathematical engineering ;

- be able to write correctly, in English, the terminologies specific to X-ray techniques ;

- be able to understand without difficulty the courses given during the X-TechLab training sessions.

     participation conditions

                 This first edition of the training course in English is completely free of charge. All those who have shown an interest in the activities of the X-TechLab by registering for one of the training programmes "Crystallography and X-ray diffraction techniques" and "Mathematical engineering and X-imaging" are eligible. The English course will take place every day from 19 October to 13 November 2020. After registration, the candidate will receive an email from X-TechLab within a few days, which will direct him/her to the class of the day via the X-TechLab platform and the Edmodo LMS.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Professor Gervais CHAPUIS whose "Crystallography Online Dictionary" has been widely used in the context of the scientific English courses.

TRAINING AXES

Crystallography and X-ray techniques

Areas intended for structural studies applied to various issues of interest in life sciences, agriculture, environment and energy.

Our lecturers

  • José Manuel MERINO ALVAREZ, Professor, Université Autonome de Madrid, Espagne, josem.merino@uam.es
  • Eberhardt Josué FRIEDRICH KERNAHAN, PhD, Université Autonome de Madrid, Espagne, josue.friedrich@uam.es
  • Thomas BLANTON, PhD, Executive Director, International Centre for Diffraction Data, tblanton@icdd.com
  • Philip Oladijo, Professor, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Botswana, oladijop@biust.ac.bw
  • Michele ZEMA, PhD, Université de Pavia, Italie, IUCr Executive Outreach Officer, michele.zema@unipv.it
  • Suzanna WARD, Head of the Cambridge Structural Database, Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, ward@ccdc.cam.ac.uk
  • Thierry d’ALMEIDA, Research Director, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), France, Thierry.DALMEIDA@cea.fr
  • Etienne SAGBO, PhD, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, esagbo@yahoo.fr
  • Marielle AGBAHOUNGBATA, PhD, X-TechLab, Agence de Développement de Sèmè City, m.agbahoungbata@xtechlab.co
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Tomography and mathematical engineering

Development and implementation of a methodology for the development of innovative, ecological materials adapted to the local environment. This methodology implements a chain comprising the acquisition of 2D images allowing the 3D reconstruction of the interior of the samples, the extraction of morphological data using mathematical methods and numerical calculations.

Our lecturers

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