adminLeonard Ncube
TECHNOLOGY and innovations in schools and colleges are likely to be kept in the institutions’ science laboratories where they gather dust and are easily forgotten if they are not developed as relevant solutions to communities both urban and rural’s needs.
The introduction and promotion of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as an education programme in schools in the country is however, going to provide the much needed impetus for the development and use of appropriate technologies which feeds into the national development discourse.
This was amply demonstrated when the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) last week hosted a five-day 7th International Conference on Appropriate Technology where researchers from six nations gathered to find ways of empowering communities through appropriate technology.
Appropriate technology is small-scale technology, simple enough that people can manage it directly and on a local level. It makes use of skills and technologies that are available in a local community to supply basic human needs, such as gas and electricity, water, food and waste disposal.
The discussions at the conference were centred on how communities can be included in science and technology programmes to empower them and ultimately enhance chances of a country attaining its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Researchers drawn from institutions of higher learning from as far as Canada, Kenya, Sudan, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe were left convinced the future of research is bright after students and pupils presented their projects. The toast of the conference were the exhibitions by pupils from a number of secondary schools and students from Nust and Bulawayo Polytechnic as they showcased Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) skills, in an apparent show of how successful the education programme has been so far.
The pupils were drawn from Entabeni, Kumalo, Senzangakhona Primary schools in Bulawayo, Cecil John Rhodes from Gweru, as well as Milton and Lobengula High Schools and students from Nust and Bulawayo Polytechnic who presented their unique projects, all capturing green economy and environmental friendly science and engineering initiatives.
Learnmore from Entabeni Primary presented on a plastic rubbish bins made by pupils at the Entumbane school aimed at reducing litter in Bulawayo. They recycle waste plastic which they melt to make bins.
Mabuhle Moyo from Senzangakhona in Emganwini said they were researching on cervical cancer, results which would help impart knowledge about the disease on both children and adults.
A 12 year-old boy Calton Nemutenzi from CJR in Gweru presented a project he had done on green economy and innovation where he encouraged use of biogas or methane gas from household waste.
His message is “stop deforestation and recycle waste from the kitchen to make gas.”
Pupils from Lobengula High School presented natural methods of preserving food, a little look back into the olden days where there was no electricity.
Frank Chirisa from Milton High School designed what he terms “Chirisa Water Treatment” formula.
“The concept focuses on three things – removing heavy material from water, killing bacteria and treating water with moringa seeds. Moringa removes heavy matter from water and softens it and now am working on how to kill bacteria,” he said.
Danai Ngwere and Sibongile Mavasa, diploma students from Bulawayo Polytechnic’s Applied Art department have come up with natural dyes and mordants that can be used in fashion and design.
Twenty-year-old Auto Engineering apprentice student Bulawayo Polytechnic, Dillin Macatier, from JR Goddard Contractors has designed a grinding meal concept using simple mechanism of bicycle.
He termed the concept the bicycle grinder which he said was capable of drying any seeds for consumption.
The grinder is mounted on the ground on some balancing metal and can be fitted on any bicycle especially the buffalo type and can be taken off. He says the concept is there to replace traditional ingiga system as well as empower rural communities who can’t afford money to go to the grinding meal. At the moment the bicycle grinder can make samp and Dillin said it needs a few modifications to be able to grind maize and other seeds into mealie-meal.
“I developed this for the rural community. I came up with the idea when I visited northern parts of the country when I noticed women travelling long distances to the grinding meal to make samp or mealie-meal. I thought of an easy project which would fit a normal bicycle wheel system. This is to replace ingiga and later the grinding meal itself but for now it grinds samp only and it needs a few modifications like on the sieve to be able to make mealie-meal,” said Dillin, who has showcased the idea at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. He said the bicycle grinder can make between 25kg and 50kg of samp in 90 minutes.
Dillin, who resides in Ilanda suburb, however said the machine can require excessive work though, as it relies on one riding continuously.
“Besides its purpose, the bicycle grinder keeps me fit as well,” he added.
The shaft is rested on the back wheel and as one pedals, the wheel rotates thereby moving the grinder inside, which is sealed to avoid dust getting in. Dillin says the tyre loses 20 percent of its lifespan because of the impact compared to when it’s on the road. The former Petra High School pupil said he was looking for partners to develop the concept commercially.
“I developed this mechanism and now am looking for partners who can pour some money as I am willing to sell the design. I am also at school and soon will be going back to work which means I won’t have enough time to work on it hence the need for a partner who will be full time on it,” he said.
The bicycle grinder can mean business for rural communities as they can use it commercially. Dillin said he was inspired by his Form Four Design Technology teacher a Mr Mutsiwa to start the idea and encouraged by his father to pursue it.
The conference was organised by Practical Action, a research organisation in Southern Africa region. Practical Action director Mr Kudzai Marovanidze said to develop the nation, there was a need to empower communities with necessary information on how to access and use appropriate technology.
He said “Appropriate technology is key to faster and greater reach and impact as it is more bottom-up and inclusive.”
Some of the presenters were from University of Johannesburg, Nust, Howard University in USA and Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. The conference was a rare platform for multi-disciplinary researchers, practitioners and industrialists to share knowledge and technologies that promote appropriate technology and offer solutions. Nust leads in research activities in the country and recently hosted another conference on climate change research in Africa.
Online Reporter