27 July 2018Official weekly newsletter of NUST

Namibia University of Science and TechnologyNUST_Namibia

@NUST_Namibia

NUST BRIEF website: www.nust.na

An award-winning university• Rated Best Higher Education Institution in Namibia (PMR 2014, 201 5, 2016, 2017)

• Rated Most Innovative Institution in Namibia (PMR 2014, 2016)

Applications for 2019 admisssion are open until 31 August 2018. Visit www.nust.na for more information.

At the time of his passing, Juma was a professor of the practice of international development at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and director of the Belfer Centre’s Science, Technology and Globalisation Project. Prof Juma also co-chaired the African Union’s High Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation and served as a high-level policy adviser to governments, the United Nations and other international organisations on science, technology, and innovation.

“Without science, technology and immersion in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Africa will lag behind the rest of the world. I have always emphasised the fact that the only way Africa will attain its aspirations, as outlined in the AU Agenda 2063, is to make a quantum leap. Great thinkers, including Prof Juma, remain torchbearers and catalysts for that quantum leap and the transformation of Africa,” remarked H.E Dr Geingob in his tribute.

South African Minister of Higher Education and Training, Hon Naledi Pandor, read out a letter that was written by Prof Juma to the South African Head

of State in 2010, in which he tactfully challenged the presidency to appoint a Science and Technology Advisor. She admitted that at the time she thought he was presumptuous, however, she eventually acknowledged that Prof Juma’s continued belief in the importance of presidential science advisers was sincere and of vital significance for the future of Africa. Before his passing, Prof Juma was working on a paper titled ‘Science and Technology Advice to African Presidents,’ wherein he highlighted the importance of evidence-based leadership in the age of exponential innovation. Dr Tjama Tjivikua provided an elaborate synopsis of the paper, highlighting the fact that the sage advice outlined can be used as building blocks for establishing a dedicated Office of the Chief Scientist in the Office of the President.

The event was attended by a high-level delegation, which included the Founding Father, Dr Sam Nujoma, the Speaker of Parliament and NUST Chancellor, Prof Peter Katjavivi, Chief Justice Peter Shivute, Minister of Justice, Sacky Shangala, and the Kenyan Ambassador to Namibia, H.E Isaac Njenga, amongst others.

Assessing Public Policy Options for Science and Technology in Africa…in honour of Professor Calestous JumaA memorial lecture to honour the late Professor Calestous Juma, a world-renowned African professor of science and technology, was held at NUST last week. His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, delivered the key tribute focusing on the hard work, dedication and intellectual journey of Prof Juma. Honourable Naledi Pandor, the South African Minister of Higher Education and Training, delivered the public lecture.

The event kicked off with welcoming remarks by the Dean of the FCI, Dr Anicia Peters where she focussed on the current trends and the need for Namibia to invest more in Research and Development, especially in ICT. She also reiterated that as a growing University, NUST should increase its research output, especially on national priority areas and in credible and high impact research areas.

The opening presentation was made by Prof Heike Winschiers-Theophilus titled ‘NUST Research Strategies and FCI Projects.’ Prof Winschiers-Theophilus is a past recipient of the prestigious National Researcher of the Year and National Scientist of the Year awards, hosted annually

by the National Commission of Research on Science and Technology (NCRST). The Faculty’s four research focus areas, which are Smart and Secure Environment, Big Data: Infrastructure and Analytics, Indigenous Knowledge in the Digital World and Digital Transformation formed the basis of the event. A panel discussion under the theme, “Strategies to Increase Research Grants: Issues and Challenges,” was also held. The panellists were from the mobile service provider company, MTC, NUST’s Project Service Unit, and staff from FCI.

The Research Day concluded with the awards given to the best research presentations selected by independent evaluators.

Smart and Secure Technologies for National Resilience

The Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FCI), held its annual Faculty Research Day on 17 July 2018 under the theme “Smart and Secure Technologies for National Resilience.” The one day event showcased 17 research and project papers, including two for the Doctoral nine for Master’s degrees.

and Earth Observation launchedMaster of Geo-information Science

Task 303 aimed to develop a regional postgraduate programme in Earth Observation, Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing led by NUST, in partnership with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), the University of Botswana (UB) and the University of Zambia (UNZA).The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UB, Professor David Sebudubudu, officially launched the programme. He reiterated the importance and uniqueness of the programme and urged the partner universities to collaborate through co-teaching and research supervision. During the launch, the Executive Director of the SASSCAL Regional Secretariat, Dr Jane Olwoch awarded scholarships to nine students. This is in addition to the 26 that were already awarded scholarships towards completion of the Master’s degree, and a PhD for one of the students at CPUT. The Programme Coordinator, Frikkie Louw, expressed appreciation to SASSCAL for the support offered in developing the programme and the continued commitment towards the success of this initiative.

The launch of Masters in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation programme was held last month in Botswana. This initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through Task 303 of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) Programme.

Executive Director of SASSCAL, Dr Jane Olwoch (5th from left); Dr Joyce Maphanyane, Task 303 Coordinator in Botswana (9th from left), and Mr Frikkie Louw, Programme Coordinator (8th from left), posing with other delegtes and SASSCAL, government, and self-funded students of the Master’s programme.

Call for Abstracts and PostersThe Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation (MHETI), in collaboration with NUST, the University of Namibia (UNAM), the International University of Management (IUM), and the National Commission for Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), will host the 1st Annual National Student Research Symposium (NSRS) from 18 – 19 October 2018.Visit http://nsrs.nust.na for more information.

Dr Anicia Peters, Dean: Faculty of Computing and Informatics (third from left, front row), pictured with senior staff and students at the Research Day event.

TOP LEFT: Prof Calestous Juma.

TOP RIGHT: H.E Dr Hage Geingob: President of the Republic of Namibia.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Hon Naledi Pandor: South African Minister of Higher Education and Training. Dr Tjama Tjivikua, NUST Vice-Chancellor (left), welcoming the

Founding Father, Dr Sam Nujoma, to the public lecture.

Photo credit: STATE HOUSE