We are working on the organisation of a COSPAR Capacity Building Workshop on ‘Mineral and Materials Sciences for Space Exploration’ in Kenya

The research group led by Professor Garcia-Ruiz at the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC),  the University of Nairobi (UoN), the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) and other partner institutions are currently working on the organisation of a COSPAR Capacity Building Workshop on ‘Mineral and Materials Sciences for Space Exploration’, to be held at the facilities of the University of Nairobi.

The event is initially scheduled to take place from September 22 to October 2, 2026.

• Target group: PhD Students, Postdoctoral researchers and young scientists (participants should have a background in crystallography, geosciences, astronomy or a related field)
• Special emphasis will be placed on regional representation, with the majority of participants expected to come from African countries. We are also making arrangements for European PhD students involved in a Marie Curie Doctoral Network project that is linked to Exomars mission. We strongly believe that this cultural and scientific exchange between African and European students will be highly enriching.

Participants will receive training in modern crystallographic techniques, including diffraction, imaging, spectroscopy and remote sensing. We also plan to bring portable equipment to the Rift Vallye so that participants can gain a true hands-on field experience.