The workshop which took place at the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom included Deans and Scholars from School of Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), School of Computing and Informatics (SCI) and School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedical Sciences (SONMAPS).

This follows a meeting held by the Vice Chancellor and Researchers on 7th April 2022, where it was agreed that Research teams be given an opportunity to respond to Research calls. The workshop was aimed at driving the University’s Research agenda with a view of strengthening its core mandate.

Speaking during the workshop, Prof. Shibairo urged the deans of respective schools through the division of Planning, Research and Innovation to ensure that by the end of each semester every department submits a proposal. Additionally, the team proposed the establishment of 2 (two) centers of excellence in renewable energy and water respectively which should be up and running by September. “The only way our University can be visible in the academic and research spaces globally, is through intensive high level cutting edge research,” he stated.

Prof. Francis Orata makes his presentation during the workshop as DVC A&F Prof. John Kuria Thuo chairs one of the sessions.

Some of the proposals presented and critiqued during the intensive sessions included, ‘Resilience, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate change through enhancement of Carbon of Sequestration and Nature Based Solutions’ by Prof. Francis Orata, ‘Exploring Anti-Cancer Potential of Selected Mushroom and Plants Indigenous to Western Kenya, their Formulation and Propagation’ by Prof. Danstone Lilechi Baraza and ‘Data Assimilation Algorithms for High-Dimensional Non Linear State-Space Models with Applications’ by Dr. Angwenyi David.

Director Quality Assurance, Prof. Lilechi Baraza makes his presentation

MMUST engages in research as part of its mission and has benefited from active research programs. Research on timely and important topics attracts attention, which in turn leads to greater institutional visibility and reputation. As a University becomes known for its research in certain fields, they become magnets for students, faculty, grants, media coverage, and even philanthropy.

By Charity Idaya  and Caren Mutoro
Photos by Wilberforce Shiundu