Nust to host 7th International Conference on Appropriate Technology

Dickson Mangena, Business Reporter
THE National University of Science and Technology (Nust) will host the 7th International Conference on Appropriate Technology in Victoria Falls from 23-26 November.

Nust, who will be hosting the conference for the third time, will be in partnership with Practical Action — Southern Africa, and Gibela and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), working under the theme “Sustainable Technologies to Empower Communities — Bridging Theory with Practice”.

According to Nust’s Communication and Marketing Officer Mrs Lindiwe Nyoni, the conference is a platform for multi-disciplinary researchers, practitioners and industrialists to share knowledge and technologies.

“The conference is a platform for multi-disciplinary researchers, practitioners and industrialists to share knowledge and technologies that promote Appropriate Technology (AT) knowledge creation, documentation, sharing and transfer to support practice grounded in sound theory, focus on AT contributions that will empower communities while remaining environmentally sustainable, particularly among historically oppressed communities and provide a forum for networking on AT solutions for the 21st century through sustainable mechanisms and models for empowering disadvantaged populations,” said Mrs Nyoni.

She said that already students, researchers and lecturers from six countries from around the globe have registered to attend.

“As the conference draws near, students, researchers and lecturers from six countries namely Canada, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Zimbabwe and even USA have registered to attend. But registration is still open and all those who are interested can get in touch with us,” said Mrs Nyoni.

Mrs Nyoni said Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Jonathan Moyo is expected to be guest of honour as the conference.

“The conference seeks to complement the STEM drive propelled by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development which encourages the adoption of Appropriate Technology (AT) to empower people,” said Mrs Nyoni.

Mrs Nyoni also said an Appropriate Technology Expo will run concurrently with the conference, where primary school, high school, polytechnic and university students will exhibit their projects, whilst researchers and professionals alike will also conduct mini-workshops on various Appropriate Technologies in a bid to share knowledge to all participants.

Nust has been taking part in the series of the conferences from 2004.