REGIONAL LASER AND FIBRE OPTICS CENTRE (LAFOC) Abdus Salam-International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) AFFILIATED CENTRE The Laser and Fibre Optics Centre (LAFOC), is situated at the Physics Department, Science Faculty, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Lafoc is one of the ICTP Regional International centers for Advance research and training. The center was established in 1991 and affiliated to ICTP under the Office of External Activities (OEA). Prof G. Denardo formally commissioned the center on March 26, 1993 . LAFOC has been providing training for researchers, engineers, science teachers, and other allied professionals in the field of Optics and Fibre Optics technology as applied to Medicine, Agriculture, Communications and Environmental studies. The center specializes in four major areas, Image processing techniques applied to materials, Optical Metrology and Applied Spectroscopy and Fibre Optics for communications. DEVELOPMENT ASPECTS (Impact on local research and /or development activities): The work of the Ph.D students has industrial bearing locally. The use of laser-induced fluorescence on crop plants has helped the centre to collaborate with Crop Science Department of our university to study both breeding and post harvest losses. The Electron Speckle Pattern Interferometry on African woods is a means to assist in the wood industry to evaluate some of the mechanical properties using optical techniques. The DOAS equipment from ISAC-CNR from Bologna will be installed at the Tema Oil Refinery to monitor gaseous pollutants. The new fibre optics kit from ICTP to LAFOC has helped to initiate some collaboration with Volta River Authority to study signal transmission problems on fibre transmission lines. Measuring of optical properties of phantom tissues is being developed to aid medical diagnostics. GENERAL COMMENTS The Centre turned out 3 Phd's and 9 M.Phil students in Lasers, Optics and Fibre optics. New Experiments, mostly industrially oriented, are being promoted. Efforts are being made to promote training sessions in Fibre Optics to promote closer collaboration with other Optical Fibre communication companies. Other experiments in applied spectroscopy are currently being explored. CONTACT Dr. Jojo Moses Eghan Coordinator Laser Centre Physics Department University of Cape Coast Cape Coast, Ghana Handy: +233-244-255642, Fax # : +233-42-32446 e-mails : eghan_jm@yahoo.com , lafoc@ghana.com