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Analytical chemistry is an essential field in society today. It touches all our lives, from ensuring the quality of our foods and medicines, to the air we breathe and the water we drink. Every kind of manufactured item, from textiles and pharmaceuticals to motor cars and gasoline, requires analysis. Consequently, there is a need for highly trained analytical chemists. 

Most laboratories in academia, industrial and medical facilities in the developed world have access to advanced analytical equipment and highly trained professionals to operate them. However, in developing economies, including many African countries, there is a lack of such advanced equipment due to their high purchase price, running costs and fees associated with providing sufficiently trained scientists to operate them. This means that students in developing countries seldom have the opportunity for hands-on training in these techniques. Samples requiring analysis often have to be sent to laboratories in Europe or America, often at great expense.  

Dr Lancaster and his team’s work in Africa has addressed these issues by providing advanced equipment and training to over 700 African scientists and students. They have established hubs of excellence in Chemistry Departments in Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria and a cohort of highly trained scientists who are themselves now training others. This work is now resulting in more people being trained and publications of scientific papers directly attributable to the training.  

The training is given free of charge at the point of use and many people who otherwise would not have access to this resource have benefited. Environmental analysis has provided important data on the quality of air and drinking water and for the preservation of endangered species, specifically African Vultures.