Blog Archives

Kit Testing Complete!

8/31/2014

We are very close to sending our first kits to Uganda on dye-sensitized solar cells! SciBridge project volunteers met up at UT-Austin to perform the experiment (courtesy of UCLA/CNSI's High School Nanoscience outreach program) to make sure the supplies we have purchased will work.

The great news is that the 3 solar cells we made today all worked so the supplies that we have ordered are good! We will do packaging in 2 weeks, at which point the kits will be ready for shipment to our first SciBridge institutions in Uganda! A big thank you to all the SciBridge volunteers who came out today: Josephine, Tony, Tyler, & Alex!

L-R: Tony, Tyler, Veronica & Josephine measuring the conductivity of the FTO glass slides.

Alex doctor-blading the titanium oxide suspension onto a conductive glass slide.

Tyler & Tony testing their solar cells under the super-strong Texas sun.

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The Case for SciBridge

8/18/2014

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Some statistics about Uganda, from the U.N.: 38% of the population lives on less than $1.25 per day; the literacy rate is 73%; the life expectancy is 58; infant mortality is 9X that of the U.S. Only 15% of the population has access to electricity. So what exactly is the point of sending science experiments to a country like Uganda, a country that clearly has pressing basic health, education, and energy needs?

Some other facts: Africa, a continent of more than 1 billion people, was the origin of less than 2% of global scientific publications and 0.1% of patents granted by the U.S. Patent Office. And here are some other statistics from the U.N.: industrialized countries have between 20-50 scientists and engineers per 10,000 people. In developing countries like Uganda, that number is more like 1 scientist and engineer per 10,000 people. It has been said that developing countries do not have the critical mass of technically skilled workers needed to advance their economies.

There is an ever-increasing knowledge gap in the world. Developing countries such as Uganda are continuously placed in the position of importing equipment and technological know-how, ever-dependent on other countries. At the same time, universities in Uganda are filled with bright, eager students ready to learn the latest technological advances - and there will be more to come, as 48% of Uganda's population is under the age of 14.

Universities in Uganda are unable to provide opportunities for their students to learn the latest technological advances. The story is the same for the rest of the least-developed African nations. Universities largely lag behind in the latest research because they do not have the latest technology and infrastructure; these are expensive, and require significant training. Therefore, there is a glaring research gap between these universities and those of the developed nations. SciBridge would like to bridge this gap as much as possible by exposing students of African universities to the latest, novel science experiments. In addition, SciBridge aims at developing a strong collaboration network between African and U.S. universities.

Over the past 60 years, it has been estimated that on the order of one trillion U.S. dollars has been sent from the U.S. and Europe for aid-related projects in Africa. On the whole, however, countries in Africa have not been able to reap economic benefits from, and thus be able to move beyond, this aid. The SciBridge project aims for a different strategy for African development. Started as a U.S./Africa collaboration and headed by academic scientists, we aim to enable African scientists and engineers at the university level to innovate in their own countries. We believe this is necessary for sustainable development in a continent that is expected to contribute significantly to the global population growth in the coming decades, a population growth that will come with increased energy demands. It is in the global interest to ensure that no matter where they are geographically, brilliant scientific minds are allowed to innovate, particularly when it comes to the energy crisis. This is the reason for SciBridge.

World shares of scientific publications in 2001. Source: UNESCO Scientific Report, 2005.

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SciBridge and JUAMI Network In Action In Uganda!

8/17/2014

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JUAMI network in action in Kampala: (L-R) Dr. Adrian Hightower (Harvey Mudd College), John Paul Eneku (Makerere University/SciBridge), and Peter Keller (Aid Africa).

SciBridge is gearing up for the maiden launch of its 1st workshop come September 2014 at Makerere University in Uganda, after nearly one year of piecing together many constructive ideas and fundraising.

Here, I'll share with you the networking event in support of the above arrangements that happened recently here in Uganda between SciBridge and the Joint U.S.-Africa Materials Initiative (JUAMI). You may remember that the SciBridge project is an off-shoot of the 1st JUAMI Materials Research School in Addis Ababa, Africa, in December 2012.

In the months of July and August 2014, Dr. Adrian Hightower of Harvey Mudd College (USA), JUAMI member and lecturer at the 2012 JUAMI School, was on a visit to Uganda. Despite his tight schedule, he was kind enough to spare time to promote SciBridge. The Department of Physics at Makerere University hosted him on two different occasions, first on July 28th and second on August 6th. He was accompanied by his friend Peter Keller of Aid Africa. He came to deliver some crucial supplies and make useful inputs to SciBridge. This was a wonderful gesture which hugely enhanced our efforts and preparations for the upcoming SciBridge workshop to be held at Makerere University in September 2014.

Here is what happened on the first day of his visit:

He donated TiO2 paste to SciBridge. The TiO2 is crucial for the planned solar cell workshop at Makerere University.
We held a fruitful discussion about SciBridge activities and agreed to meet again for a joint trial solar cell experiment in preparation for the upcoming workshop.
We also discussed the viability of developing kits for laboratory-based battery experiments using natural fruits as another activity for the SciBridge. The idea was acceptable after discussing available trial results done earlier by a Physics undergraduate student. The contents of the experiment kits were proposed, including multi-meters, and through Peter Keller one multi-meter was mobilized and more additions are planned.
We also met with the head of the Department of Physics (Dr. W. Tumps Ireeta) at his office and discussed a couple of issues. Thereafter, Dr. Tumps Ireeta led a tour of the departmental lecture theaters, laboratories, and research activities.

And here is what transpired on the second day of his visit:

Dr. Adrian Hightower and Peter Keller were hosted by Prof. Tom Otiti, a senior member of staff in the Department of Physics. Tom Otiti is also a member and African regional coordinator of JUAMI.
Soon after the meeting with Tom Otiti, we came together for a trial experiment of dye sensitized solar cells. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete the experiment because we lacked a crucial electrolyte. A purchase order for the electrolyte has since been made and it’s expected to be delivered here by the end of August 2014.

SciBridge and I would like to thank Dr. Adrian Hightower for the great visit and for the supplies and valuable input. We also acknowledge the great beneficial company and contributions by Peter Keller. You will always remain our life-long friends and are very much welcome to the SciBridge project.

Please, watch this space for more updates including the big upcoming dye sensitized solar cell workshop!

-John Paul