The Fourth Edward A Bouchet International Conference on Physics and Technology for the Development of Africa will convene in Cotonou, Benin August 6-10, 2001. The Conference is organized by the Edward Bouchet Abdus Salam Institute (EBASI) and is supported by The National University of Benin (NUB), The International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Trieste) (ICTP), the Telecommunication Authority of Benin and by the Institute for Mathematics and Physical Sciences (IMSP) of NUB. Additional support for the conference will come from African governments, African Scientific Societies, and other national and international organizations.

The Scientific Focus of the conference will be on material sciences, quantum optics, nonlinear dynamics and applied mathematics for new communication technologies. The scientific sessions will follow a preliminary workshop on organizing, building technical infrastructures and funding new communications technologies for social and economic development in Africa. Presentations at both the workshop and the conference will be based on papers accepted from abstracts submitted in response to this call for papers.

All abstracts (<500 words) for review must be submitted by February 15, 2001. Abstracts will be chosen on the basis of scientific quality and relevance to the conferenceâs focus, with special consideration given to research based on collaborations between African and African American investigators. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by March 15, 2001 and will include detailed instructions on the preparation of and deadlines for final manuscripts. The Conference will be conducted in French and English. The Conference proceedings will be published. For those participants whose papers have been accepted, travel and subsistence expenses should be covered by their home institutions or other agencies. However, there may be limited funds available for participants from African countries. Requests for these funds should be sent to Dr. Orou.

Abstracts may be submitted by E-Mail, Fax, or mail to either:
 

Dr Jean Chabi Orou  (Chairman, 4 th Bouchet Program Committee) IMSP  National University of Benin 01 BP 613  Porto-Novo  Benin  E-Mail: jchabi.telecentre@songhai.org Phone:(+229) 22 2455 FAX: (+229) 22 2455

Dr. Lynette Edmonds Johnson (Member, 4 th Bouchet Program Committee) CeNNAs Florida A&M University 1800-3 E. Dirac Drive Tallahassee, FL 32310 USA E-Mail: johnsonl@cennas.nhmfl.gov Phone: (+1) 850-561-2472 FAX: (+1) 850-561-2474

International Organizing Committee: Prof. C. S. Brown (Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies), Prof. J.-P. Ezin (Institut de Mathématiques et de Sciences Physiques), Prof. A. E. Bak (Morehouse College), Prof. J. A. Johnson III (FloridaA & M University), Prof. F. K. A. Allotey (National Centre for Mathematical Sciences), Prof. A. M. Johnson (New Jersey Institute of Technology), Mr. B. Agnan (Telecommunications Authority of Benin), Mr. Gyimah (Ghana Telecommunications Authority).