Page 17 - ISSUE 29

Forum 17

otswana Institute for Technology mandate of coming up with sustainable
Research and Innovation (BITRI) and appropriate technology solutions.
Bis one of Botswana’s leading The now retired engineering Professor Did You
science and research institutions. shared the current successful
The man who is at the helm of all development happening within his
the productivity and breakthrough is establishment. “BITRI has currently Know !!
Professor Masupe. He was in attendance developed medical and dust masks
at the Engineering week and gave the using nanofiber tech material. These Professor Shedden Masupe assumed
keynote address on Engineering day. masks were subjected and certified the role of Chief Executive Officer of
He gave a brief rundown of what the at an accredited laboratory in South the Botswana Institute for Technology
days theme stands for and encouraged Africa and passed. Nelsen labs in Research and Innovation (BITRI)
engineers to participate in finding America tested the masks for viral with effect from 1st October 2017.
solutions to community and national filtration and exhibited 99.6 % to 99.9 Prof Masupe joined BITRI in 2014 as
problems. % of known bugs. BITRI In collaboration Executive Director – Technologies
with the National Health Lab they were from BIUST.
In relation to the engineering day theme successful in sequencing Covid 19 virus
“Build Back Wiser. Engineering the in Botswana . By studying that viral Prof Masupe graduated with a BSc
Future” Engineer Masupe said the day genome, we can develop diagnostic kits in Mathematics and Physics from
is conscious of the influence engineers and medication.” Mount Allison University, Canada,
have on the world. The theme is a direct and a BSc Eng., Electrical Engineering
acknowledgement to engineers. He let us build on challenges and build (Communications and Fields) from
urged engineers that when they come Botswana to make better life for our University of New Brunswick, Canada.
up wity solutions they must create communities and advancement through He also has an MSc in Electronics
sustainable solutions for generations to designs and inventions. In creating Engineering (Digital Systems) from
come. these solutions it’s important to remain Cardiff University, and a PhD in
authentic that is, to infuse our culture Electronics Engineering attained from
“Engineers are called to solve human in these innovations at the same time Edinburgh University in the United
problems and having spawned the being mindful of challenges such as Kingdom.
modern age keep making tangible global warming, climate change, poverty
inventions making human lives safer. and unemployment and slow economic Prof Masupe is a highly driven and
Engineers locally have done a good job growth all over the world experienced executive with a sound
and have made tremendous contribution track record acquired over 20 years
in mines, bridges, communication At the end of February 2022 a little leading academic and research
infrastructure and various structures above 8000 engineers out of over teams Prof Masupe is a versatile
around the country. In responding to 16000 practising engineers are not ICT professional who has the ability
Covid 19 pandemic we have witnessed registered .As engineering community to impact an organization through
engineering in drugs development and we need to take professional regulation Cultural Change and Enterprise
associated supply chains. Given the seriuosly.It is our duty to mentor ,recruit Architecture. He has provided
uncertain times how as engineers can and encourage the girl child to take up mentorship to professionals in the
we craft the way forward?” he asked. engineering. Only 14 percent are female ICT field, lead research and teaching
practicing and registered engineers. activities at UB as Head of Department
Engineering is a profession with a “ Let us go out there and build back wiser of Electrical Engineering Department
profound respect for math, science, and build New wiser” he concluded as well as Associate Dean of College
precision and problem solving. There is of Engineering at BIUST.
no aspect engineers cannot apply their
craft. It’s the work which links science Botswana Institute for Technology
discovery and society needs. Science Research and Innovation
builds on how the natural world works
and engineers build on that knowledge
to create solutions. Engineers and
scientists have to collaborate to provide
solutions. At BITRI it is their sole engineerbw.com
Engineering news & articles.

www.engineerbw.com Issue 29 - Apr /May 2022