Light can help Africa to develop–Yanne Chembo

Yanne Chembo of the French National Council for Research in this exclusive interview underscores the importance of light and light technology for the development of African countries.

Member of the Cameroon Physical Society and expert in photonics, Chembo says light has revolutionized medicine, opened up international communication via the Internet and continues to be central to linking cultural, economic and political aspects of the global society. One of the champions of celebrations to mark the International Year of Light spoke to The Post’s Leocadia Bongben during the Cameroon Physical Society International Conference.

Excerpts:

Of what importance is the Cameroon Physical Society International Conference?

Firstly, every two years in November the Cameroon Physical Society organises an international conference on high-level physics for development. We started this initiative which is in its fourth edition and we are very happy to have people coming from New Zealand and other parts of the world. This depicts the importance of the conference. Secondly, the United Nations proclaimed 2015 as an International Year of Light.

Light and light technology what is it, the sun or electricity?

It includes all of the above; it is the light, culture, technology, economic and other aspects. When we talk about optic fiber communication, the emitter in an optic fiber network is not an antenna, it is a laser. This is a concrete example of how you can use light and in a telephone call, a laser transmits the communication.

X-ray and other applications where light is used is light technology. As far as Africa is concerned, I always insist on the economic aspect because we are a developing continent and we care about everything that would help Africa to develop, and light can. We can go beyond the technology and economic aspect of light and talk about the cultural.

I defended a project at the United Nations two years ago, we talked about lasers and technology and a diplomat asked if we thought about doing something for the blind people who have difficulties to learn and live in society? Europe wants to encourage people to explore their cultural heritage through light. In Africa, the sun is very important for our cosmogony; it is not only a scientific thing. The International Year of Light is meant to be multidisciplinary, inclusive and universal; it is science, technology and culture.

So why does the United Nations proclaim the International Year of Light and a worldwide celebration?

The reason is that light has a very strong impact in our lives much more than we know. A simple example; telecommunication and optic fiber today represent 5-10 percent of the wealth of African countries including Cameroon.

This has an indirect impact on up to 20 percent of our economy. In the case of Cameroon, turnover in telecommunication is about 1billion US dollars (FCFA 500 billion). The amount of money Government needs to run the country is about FCFA 3-4 billion. Telecommunications can already leverage 15-20 percent of the economic turnout of the country which is really significant. This is already a concrete example of light technology in daily lives.

What is the goal of the International Year of Light?

The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015) is a global initiative that highlights to the citizens of the world the importance of light and optical technologies in their lives, for their future and for the development of society. Light plays a vital role in our daily lives and is an imperative cross-cutting discipline of science in the 21st Century.

It has revolutionised medicine, opened up international communication via the internet, and continues to be central to linking cultural, economic and political aspects of the global society. For centuries light has transcended all boundaries, including geographic, gender, age, etc.

The Year, therefore, is not for decision makers to dictate what should be done, but for all to celebrate all that surrounds light and to use the period to highlight certain difficulties such as power rationing. The blind can decide to organise a seminar to sensitise the Government to educate the blind on brail; UNESCO and the UN would provide logistical support and access to Government.

When exactly is the period to mark the International Year of Light?

Activities were launched on January 20 in Paris and in Cameroon we decided to mark the year in November because every two years, the Cameroon Physical Society organises an international seminar. The year is actually a period to kick-start initiatives and continues with the dynamism in the coming years in order to attract the attention of decision makers.

What aspect of light can be used to develop the country?

A very concrete example is that I set up a laser physics laboratory with Prof. Paul Woafo four years ago. I came with some European colleagues and we thought we could replicate the kind of research they were doing in Cameroon. We took two PhD students on a kind of experimental laser physics-optic fiber. These have worked in collaboration with the scientists and would defend their PhD theses this 2016. We would soon have two Cameroonians who have knowledge on how to handle optic fiber.

What has been the big achievement of this conference?

I am very pleased with the conference which brought together more than 100 participants thus, portraying strong local interest. Also, participants who are advanced in their research presented their works to starters thereby opening their mind to what is done in the world and for them to build networks.