MMUST hosted the First Biophysical Society Conference, which focused on Harnessing Scholarly Biophysical Potential in Africa, on 6th July 2018. Biophysics is an interdisciplinary Science that applies the approaches and methods of Physics in the study Biological Systems. The interim President of the Biophysical Society (Kenya), Mr. Philip Amuyunzu Mang’are, a lecturer and researcher in the department of Physics (MMUST), gave an overview of the Biophysical Society. “This Biophysics discipline covers all scales of biological organization, from molecular to organismic levels, through to populations and ecosystems at large” he said.
While setting off the event, the Dean School of Natural Sciences (SONAS) Dr. Joseph Owino, welcomed the participants to the event and rallied support to establish the Biophysics field in MMUST. He said that Biophysics is key in bridging academic, research and innovation activities between the four departments in SONAS, as well as forming networks with other sections such as the Schools of Agriculture, Medicine and Public Health among other sectors.
In his remarks, the Director Corporate Communications and Marketing, Dr. Dennis Ochieno said that research in Biological Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture and other Life Sciences requires mechanistic approaches in explaining various phenomena. He encouraged the upcoming researchers to embrace Biophysical concepts to enhance the quality of their research. “Apart from Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology that MMUST has been growing strong in, the current focus on Biophysics will fill a major gap in enhancing capacity for mechanistic approaches in research and innovation” he said.
In attendance were the Moi University Physicist Prof. Samuel Rotich, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Forest Ecologist Prof. Mugatsia Tsingalia, Chuka University Biophysicist Dr. Paul Kamweru, MMUST Physicist Dr. Bonface Ndinya, Entomologist Dr. Millicent Ndong’a, and the Chemist Mr. Fredrick Lisouza, who were among the Keynote Speakers of various topical issues in Biophysics. “We look forward to more inventions, innovations and patenting in our University after this Conference since these are key to the development of any academic and research institution” said Dr. Ndong’a. The conference was co-sponsored by MMUST and the Biophysical Society located in Rockville, Maryland in the USA. MMUST Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eng. Fred Otieno, in a follow-up, commended the event as a milestone in research and innovation, considering that the first conference in Kenya was hosted by this University.
