School of Pure and Applied Sciences

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    eGY-Africa: addressing the digital divide for science in Africa
    (2013) Baki, Paul; Nguno, Anna; Barton, Charles; Amaeshi, Larry; Tenthani, Chifundo; Petitdidier, Monique; Cottrell, Les
    Adoption of information and communication technologies and access to the Internet is expanding in Africa, but because of the rapid growth elsewhere, a Digital Divide between Africa and the rest of the world exists. In many sub-Saharan African countries, education and research sector suffers some of the worst deficiencies in access to the Internet, despite progress in the development of NRENs - National Research and Education (cyber) Networks. By contrast, it is widely acknowledged in policy statements from the African Union, the UN, and others that strength in this very sector provides the key to meeting and sustaining Millennium Development Goals. Developed countries with effective cyber-capabilities proclaim the benefits to rich and poor alike arising from the Information Revolution. This is still a dream for many scientists in African institutions. As the world of science becomes increasingly Internet-dependent, so they become increasingly isolated. eGY-Africa is a bottom-up initiative by African scientists and their collaborators to try to reduce this digital divide by a campaign of advocacy for better institutional facilities. Four approaches are being taken. The present status of Internet services, problems, and plans are being mapped via a combination of direct measurement of Internet performance (the PingER Project) and a questionnaire-based survey. Information is being gathered on policy statements and initiatives aimed at reducing the digital divide, which can be used for arguing the case for better Internet facilities. Groups of concerned scientists are being formed at the national, regional levels in Africa, building on existing networks as much as possible. Opinion in the international science community is being mobilized. Finally, and perhaps most important of all, eGY-Africa is seeking to engage with the many other programs, initiatives, and bodies that share the goal of reducing the digital divide - either as a direct policy objective, or indirectly as a means to an end, such as the development of an indigenous capability in science and technology for national development. The expectation is that informed opinion from the scientific community at the institutional, national, and international levels can be used to influence the decision makers and donors who are in a position to deliver better Internet capabilities. eGYAfrica workshops have been held approximately bi annually, the last of which was in Nairobi Kenya.
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    African Equatorial GPS Scintillations during the Minimum and Ascending Phases of Solar Cycle 24
    (2014) Andrew, Akala; Groves, KM; Amaeshi, Larry; Idolor, Raphael; Okoro, Ekemini; Carrano, Charles; Bridgwood, Christopher; Baki, Paul; Dujanga, Florence; Doherty, Patricia
    This study characterizes African equatorial scintillations at L-band frequency during the minimum and ascending phases of solar cycle 24. Three years' (2009-2011) of amplitude scintillation data from three African equatorial GPS stations namely; Lagos (3.48oN, 3.27oE, mag. lat: 3.04oS), Nigeria; Nairobi (1.30oS, 36.80oE, mag. lat: 8.03oS), Kenya; and Kampala (0.30oN, 32.50oE, mag. lat: 9.26oS), Uganda were used for the investigation. We grouped the data on daily, monthly, seasonal, and yearly scales at three levels of scintillation (weak (0.3<=S4<0.4), moderate (0.4<=S4<0.7), and intense (S4>=0.7)), and adopted three data cut-off criteria. Scintillations exhibit daily trend of occurrence during the hours of 1900 LT-0200 LT, with higher levels being localized within the hours of 2000-2300 LT. Generally, highest scintillation occurrences were recorded during the equinoxes, and the trend increased with solar activity. Specifically, scintillations were almost absent during June Solstices of the period under investigation, and it appears as if January is a non-scintillation month over equatorial Africa. On a scintillation active day, the number of satellites available to the receiver's view reduces as the duration of observation reduces. These results may support the development of future models that could provide real-time predictability of African equatorial scintillations, with a view to supporting the implementation of GNSS-based navigation in Africa.
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    Kenyan women in physics: Overcoming cultural, economic, and professional challenges
    (2011) Baki, Paul; Kasina, Angeline; Nyamwandha, Cecilia; Kawira, Millien; Mburu, Jane; King'ori, Gladys; Kahonge, Teresia; Gichana, Zubeda
    Efforts to attract, retain, and improve the status of girls and women in Kenya to the sciences, in particular physics, are outlined. Areas in which positive change has been observed are noted. Issues that still need to be addressed to realize the full potential of women undertaking physics are discussed.