From life-saving isotopes to cutting-edge nuclear science

A field trip to Africa’s leading nuclear science and medical isotope hub

This field trip is based in Cape Town. Travel and accommodation costs are at your own expense.

A major highlight is the visit to the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) iThemba Laboratories for Accelerator-based Sciences (LABS) – the only facility of its kind in Africa. It not only produces vital medical isotopes that help diagnose and treat cancer patients, but also conducts cutting-edge research that positions Africa at the forefront of nuclear science.

International space agencies, including NASA, rely on NRF-iThemba LABS for critical radiation testing of satellite components. The facility’s unique ability to simulate cosmic radiation conditions has established South Africa as a key player in the global space industry while driving innovations in sensor technology and radiation-resistant materials.

Visitors can explore facilities such as the Injector Cyclotron and control room, experimental vaults for nuclear physics research, the South African Isotope Facility, the Tandetron Laboratory for Material Science and Nuclear Astrophysics, and the Radiation Biophysics project, where researchers study the cellular impact of spaceflight on the human body as well as the cancer resistance of elephants.

Itinerary

09:00 Pick up at the hotels / Cape Town International Convention Centre
09:30 Welcome at iThemba LABS and guided tour
11:30 Transfer to Stellenbosch University and the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study