IAGAS participates in the Nacosti symposium

Abstract

The Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies participated in the week long Science and Technology Symposium that came to an end on Friday 15th May 2015. Various cadre of participants were feted for their exemplary performance in taking science and technology to another level. The event begun on Monday, 11-15, 2015.The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Dr. Belio Kipsang, who was represented by Dr. Mohammed Munyipembe, applauded the participants for the job well done. He urged the NACOSTI board members and those involved with copyright to move with speed to protect the innovations by the young scientists from being pirated.He further challenged the scientists to move with courage. "All the great inventions like the aeroplane by the Wright Brothers, started this way," he said. Apart from Intellectual Property protection, he urged the sponsors and the scientists to go into the commercialization of the scientific projects presented during the science and technology symposium.Prof. Njeri Wamae, one of the board members at NACOSTI urged the county governments to replicate the science and technology week at the county level to create public awareness and get more people involved. " It is only by developing our innovations that the country will be able to achieve Vision 2030," she said. She urged the government to consider increasing funding for NACOSTI because by doing that, they will be able to support more projects in the future. So far over 1,500 projects have been supported.The ceremony come to a close by presentation of gifts to various winners. The University of Nairobi, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Henry Mutoro, scooped several awards. The University won in the category of : Best Institution, Best Research Paper presented among others. Other winners included Meru Technical Institute , who won in the robotic competition. Kisumu Polytechnic won, the Best agricultural innovation and the best designed robot.Science and Technology week, is an annual event held by NACOSTI to showcase the best science and technology innovations Kenya has to offer. It is an opportunity to reward scientists for their work and their innovations.