adminSifelani Tsiko Senior Writer
As the third edition of the Research and Intellectual Expo readies to open next week on October 2, expectations are high that it will encourage and support research innovations which can make more contributions in promoting economic development.
The three-day research extravaganza will run under theme “Research Partnerships for Wealth Creation” and will be held from October 2-4 at the University of Zimbabwe.
The Expo is an initiative of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.
It seeks to harness research and intellectual work by Zimbabweans both at home and in the Diaspora for national development.
It also provides a platform for sharing knowledge, networking and collaborating by stakeholders in higher and tertiary education in Zimbabwe — Government and State agencies, industry and commerce, strategic regional and global bodies, local civil society networks, the public and higher and tertiary education institutions.
Participating institutions include all universities, research and extension centres/institutions, polytechnics, technical colleges, teachers’ colleges in Zimbabwe and research institutions and individual researchers and academics from the region and the Diaspora.
The thrust is to provide a platform from which Zimbabweans would find out about the new research outputs being produced at our national higher and tertiary education institutions.
The inaugural RIE Expo was held in 2011 and has established a reputation as a focal point for new ideas and new practices in research, learning and technological and socio-economic development.
The third edition of the country’s premier research and intellectual showcase will be full of fun, presentations, exhibitions and punctuated with dance and musical performances.
“The 2013 RIE Expo builds on the successes of the two previous editions,” said Prof Christopher Chetsanga, the RIE Expo Organising Committee chairperson.
“The support we have received from the Government of Zimbabwe and all other stakeholders and partners has been overwhelming. We believe we have been able to achieve both a bigger and better event.
“We guarantee the RIE 2013 Expo will once again take exposition of Zimbabwean innovations to a new level and is a must see for all people of all ages.”
Colleges, universities and independent research institutions will showcase diverse outcomes of their research.
The Research Council of Zimbabwe says it will unveil the National Research Database Zimbabwe, a multi-disciplinary online database that aims to give broad access to and provide extensive information on Zimbabwean research.
The council says the research database will help to raise the visibility of research and help to maximise its input.
“They complement the traditional academic publishing and scholarly communication channels. Live demonstrations on use and functionality of the NRDZ will be done at RIE 2013,” the council said.
On the technological front, Midlands State University will exhibit a realtime face tracking and recognition system, a flue-heated brooder system, a humidified mushroom house, strawberry hanging troughs, a hydroponic unit and the Emona Telecommunications trainer, which provides an innovative way of teaching telecommunications.
Other exhibitions include the “Karimbamutatu” a three-in-one mbira invention and various innovative food products developed to help address food security challenges facing the country.
Exhibits from the highly acclaimed Department of Music and Musicology will complete the university’s exhibition with the marimba and mbira ensembles, electric band, jazz band and choral ensemble taking to the stage to showcase their musical creativity in the visual and performing arts category.
The Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic will showcase its Tshi-Venda, TjiKalanga and SeSotho courses which aim to preserve the country’s indigenous languages.
The public will have a chance to learn the language at the stand while its technical, education faculty, tourism and hospitality and fashion design departments will exhibit a wide range of products such as macimbi biscuits, African Snackpack and fashion designs.
Gweru Polytechnic will also leave its mark by exhibiting new innovations such as the automatic dipping circuit incorporating an anti-hijack system while its cosmetology section will feature fabulous facets of beauty therapies such as full body massages, facial massages, manicures and pedicures.
The polytechnic’s award-winning drama and electric band will show why it won first prize at the Tertiary Institutions Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe this year.
The Catholic University of Zimbabwe will share information about its Business Management and Information Technology programme which is helping to empower graduates and transform young minds into invaluable resources for business and industry at large.
Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic’s clothing and wood technology innovations will be something to look forward to. The polytechnic is renowned for its ethnic and contemporary clothing designs and hard pine bedroom suite furniture products.
Mkoba Teachers’ College rising and award-winning poet, Tarirai Pugeni, will showcase his poetic antics with a winning poem “Munhu Pavanhu”.
Other colleges and universities are also expected to give top-drawer performances and exhibit unique and diverse range of innovations.
President Mugabe is expected to officially open the RIE 2013 Expo.
The overall thrust of the 2013 showcase is to build partnerships that widen and unleash opportunities for wealth creation and will address a wide range of critically important themes in the various fields that make up the humanities, science and the expressive arts. Plenary speakers will include some of the world’s renowned thinkers in various disciplines, as well as numerous papers, workshop, poster and other presentations by researchers.
Keynote speakers from Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and the US will provide cutting edge presentations on various thematic topics covering African leadership and transformation, intellectual property rights and wealth creation, indigenisation, research partnerships, industrialisation, religion and spirituality, research into local arts and culture, the health sector and wealth creation among others.
In the visual and arts performing segment arts, the fun-filled moments will showcase raw, untapped and unseen talent from colleges and universities.
Visual exhibitions, traditional mbende dance, marimba, African folklore, drama, poetry, choral music, mbira — Nyungwe-Nyungwe and Nhemamusasa mode and captivating live Electric Band will all enliven the three-day event.
There is no doubt that the 2013 RIE Expo will showcase research outputs and intellectual prowess by Zimbabweans both at home and abroad to help tap the wealth of knowledge and creativity produced by its own citizens to achieve its development goals.
Online Reporter