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Imaging Africa: a strategic approach to optical microscopy training in Africa

Nature Methods volume 18, pages 847–855 (2021)Cite this article

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Life scientists in Africa have had limited opportunity to participate in international advanced scientific training programs and workshops, which largely benefit researchers in North America, Europe and the Asia–Pacific region. Here, we chronicle the strategies adopted and challenges encountered in organizing Imaging Africa, an all-expenses-paid, continent-wide practical workshop in optical microscopy hosted in South Africa from 13 to 17 January 2020. Our experience can help steer other groups who similarly seek to organize impactful and sustainable training initiatives in Africa.

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Fig. 1: Distribution of applicants for Imaging Africa 2020.
Fig. 2: Maintaining a diverse and representative composition of workshop attendees.
Fig. 3: Immersive learning and hands-on experience with a broad range of microscopy tools.
Fig. 4: Responses to selected survey questions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank S. Cooper, D. Lang, C. Jacobs, Abhimanyu, L. Jakoet, D. Fredericks, R. Bastos, S. Hendriks and G. Sexton for their assistance in ensuring the success of the workshop. We are immensely grateful to R. George and G. Rubin for their strong support of the Imaging Africa initiative. We acknowledge the UCT Confocal & Light Microscope Imaging Facility for the use of their facility during the workshop. We are grateful to the members of the MRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit for their support and assistance. Special thanks go to our commercial partners, Zeiss Research Microscopy Solutions and Oxford Nanoimaging. We thank V. Mizrahi and the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine for their institutional commitment. We are grateful to H. Ndlovu for critical review of the manuscript. Lastly, we would like to thank all applicants and attendees of the Imaging Africa workshop. The Imaging Africa workshop was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, the Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill African Studies Center and the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine. The Advanced Imaging Center at the Janelia Research Campus is generously supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA

    Michael A. Reiche, Jesse Aaron & Teng-Leong Chew

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA

    Satya Khuon & Wendye Quaye

  3. SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit & DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Digby F. Warner & Anastasia Koch

  4. Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Digby F. Warner

  5. Eh!woza, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town, South Africa

    Digby F. Warner & Anastasia Koch

  6. Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Digby F. Warner

  7. Department of Bioengineering and Biophysics Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Daniel A. Fletcher

  8. Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Klaus Hahn

  9. Centre for Dynamic Imaging, Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Kelly L. Rogers

  10. Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Kelly L. Rogers

  11. Department of Cell Biology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    Musa Mhlanga

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Correspondence to Teng-Leong Chew.

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Reiche, M.A., Warner, D.F., Aaron, J. et al. Imaging Africa: a strategic approach to optical microscopy training in Africa. Nat Methods 18, 847–855 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01227-y

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