UNIMA Student Joins Africa's Brightest Physics Minds at ASP2026

From the lecture halls of the University of Malawi to a continental gathering of some of Africa's brightest young physicists, Joyce Mwaipinga's passion for physics earned her the opportunity to represent the University at the Biennial African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications (ASP2026) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 5 to 19 July 2026.

Co-organised by the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Science and Technology, the school brought together about 169 undergraduate and postgraduate students from across Africa.

The programme aimed to strengthen capacity in fundamental physics, scientific research, and technological applications, recognising their importance in driving Africa's scientific and socioeconomic development.

Throughout the two-week programme, participants engaged in intensive physics lectures, hands-on laboratory sessions, educator training, and science policy discussions.

The experience provided a unique platform for students to deepen their understanding of both fundamental and applied physics while exploring how scientific research can help address real-world challenges and contribute to the continent's future.

For Joyce, the experience was both academically enriching and personally rewarding because it offered her an opportunity to learn from leading physicists, interact with students from diverse backgrounds, and build valuable networks with peers and experts who share a common passion for advancing science in Africa.

“I am deeply grateful to the University of Malawi for the opportunity to attend ASP2026, and to the organisers and sponsors who made this school possible. I carry this experience forward as motivation to contribute meaningfully to physics education and research here at home, and to the wider vision of physics as a catalyst for Africa's growth,” she says.

Beyond the student programme, ASP2026 also featured a professional development workshop for high school teachers, an outreach programme for secondary school students, and a policy forum that brought together African researchers and policymakers to exchange ideas on strengthening physics education and research across the continent.