The International Programme in the Chemical Sciences (IPICS): 40 Years of Support to Chemistry in Africa

The International Science Programme at Uppsala University, Sweden, started in 1961 with the inception of the International Seminar in Physics, stimulating the participation of scientists from developing countries in training, and research in physics at the university. Based on the good experience of the seminar in physics, the International Seminar in Chemistry was started in September 1970. In 1988, major changes in the mode of operation of the programs were implemented, and they were collected under the common name the International Science Programmes. In 2002, the International Programme in the Mathematical Sciences was added. The operation of the International Science Programme (ISP) is today made possible by funding from the Swedish government authority Sida, but other organisations including IAEA and UNESCO have been important contributors. Uppsala University is the scientific and administrative home of ISP and has provided substantial funding since 1988. The International Seminar in Chemistry started similarly to the seminar in physics to announce for individuals interested in training in Uppsala. After 1988 the programs, now named the International Programme in the Physical Sciences and the International Programme in the Chemical Sciences, respectively, changed strategy to focus on long-term support to selected research groups rather than to individuals. Research activities supported were to be of high relevance to the country or region concerned, and long-term support required to assist in the process of building up sustainable research environments, generating useful scientific results to be disseminated, and implemented for the development of the country or region. Contacts with relevant host laboratories were also supported to facilitate development of activities. In 2008, as a result of a change in Swedish policy for development support, a considerably reduced number of countries became available for ISP cooperation. ISP celebrates its 50-year anniversary in 2011 and IPICS its 40-year anniversary in 2010. The outcome of 40 years of IPICS support to African research groups in chemistry can be exemplified with 70 PhD and 164 MSc examinations, more than 900 scientific publications, and in the period 1996–2009, 49 scientific meetings. Besides this, considerable development of instrumental and intellectual resources has been accomplished by the supported research groups.