Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s School of Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE) conducted a workshop on 27th June, 2023 at Golf Hotel-Kakamega, which intended to encourage its researchers to write more grant proposals in order to create collaboration opportunities, as well as attract more money to the individual researchers and the University. The theme of the Workshop was ‘Industry Academia Partnership; Opportunities for Research Collaborations’.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo, who officially commenced the Workshop, urged the scholars to carry out quality research, embrace paper writing and take part in networking activities, so as to transform communities. “As scholars, we need to change how we conduct our research so as to attract more funding,” he said, adding that engineers are very important because they facilitate the development of infrastructure.
Director of Research Vihiga County, Ms. Winnie Sendi, discussed ‘Collaboration of County Government and Academia.’ In her presentation, she explained that the collaboration between Universities and County Governments is crucial to developing solutions faced in the communities. She also talked about challenges in the County, such as lack of technical skills by the staff, late disbursement of funds by the National Government, as well as lack of new knowledge especially on grants and reports. She asked the University to intervene in order to help tackle these challenges.
Other presentations during the Workshop were; Civil and Structural Engineering Department-Dr. Bernard Omondi and Dr. Edwin Kanda presented on Structural Material Engineering- Development on Sustainable Sugarcane Bagasse Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete for Construction Industry, Development of Rebound Hammer Strength Curves or Emerging Structural Concrete, Highway and Transportation Engineering- Analysis and Design of Sustainable Moment-less Arch for Bridges and Tunnel, and Water and Environmental Engineering-Ground Water Assessment in Bungoma County among others.
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department; by Dr. Peter Cherop and Dr. Ebinga Emmanuel Osore presented on Optimization of Bio-digester for Remote Sensing and Monitoring, Telemedicine which is a multidisciplinary project between MIE Department, Public Health Department and SCI Department, SMART Solar Box, and Electrical and Communication Engineering Department projects by Dr. James Owuor.