Prof. M. Maaza, an Algerian, holds undergraduate degrees in Solid State Physics and Photonics from the University of Oran, Algeria; and Paris VI, France. He holds a PhD in Neutron Optics from the University of Paris VI. He has about 20 years of experience in nanosciences with focus on nanophotonics applications. Previously, he investigated surface-interface phenomena, low dimensional systems and nanomaterials using optical based spectroscopies. His work was carried out at large facilities such as synchrotrons and neutron research reactors in countries such as France, Austria, Russia and Germany.
His scientific and technical fields of expertise are: (i) Nanosciences, nanotechnology & advanced materials, (ii) Renewable energy & smart devices for solar energy applications, (iii) Infrared and UV-VIS solar modulation systems, (iv) Photonics & laser based techniques, (v) Advanced & multifunctional materials & materials characterization techniques, (vi) Modeling of surface & interface phenomena, (vii) Neutron, X-rays scattering and nuclear techniques, (viii) Neutron research reactors & synchrotron radiations, (ix) Vacuum technologies & nano-synthesis techniques, (x) ICT based education, (xi) Marketing & S-T public awareness, African nanosciences S&T landscape and (xii) Public relations and technology marketing.
He has co-initiated the South African National Laser Centre and was instrumental in initiating and implementing the African Laser Centre, a continental scheme supported by the International Commission of Optics (ICO) and the ICTP. Likewise, he has initiated the South African Nanotechnology Initiative (SANi) as well as the Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET) supported by ICTP-UNESCO and ICS-UNIDO among others. He was Vice-President of the National Council of Scientists & Engineers of France; South-Africa Section. Currently, he is involved in numerous international co-operation programs in nanosciences with an obvious focus on nano-photonics and novel optical materials among them the FP7 programs: ICPCNANOET and COST Action 702. He is a regular associate of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics-Trieste (ICTP), Chairman of the NANOAFNET, Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and member of the jury of the l’Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science.
Prof. M. Maaza has published extensively and he is a regular peer reviewer for various APS and Elsevier journals. Among the recent outstanding contributions, one could quote (i) the development of the first tunable ultrafast nano-plasmonics: highlighted in SPIE newsroom section, 2006; and the Top 25 Hottest articles@ScienceDirect, 2nd/25 co-authored by S. Ekambaram & K.C.Patil in 2005. He is member of the editorial boards of the International J. of Nanotechnology and the African Physical Reviews.
Prof. M. Maaza has received the Cambridge award: Outstanding scientists of the 21st century in Nanophotonics; ABI proclamation award: Great Minds of the 21st Century in Nanosciences-Nanotech; the American International Scientist of the Year award in Nanosciences, Nanotechnonlogy Photonics; Global School for Advanced Studies-Global Nanotechnology Network Award by the GNN, and co-shared the Mellon, the Khambule & the Friedel Sellschop Awards.
He was elected a Fellow of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences in 2009.