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NUST is proud to congratulate Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering at NUST, Ms Hilda Kaitano, who has won two prestigious national awards at the 13th Zimbabwe International Research Symposium, held in Harare yesterday.
Ms Kaitano’s research on microwave purification of graphite for use as an anode component in lithium-ion batteries won the grand prize, Robert Gabriel Award for Outstanding Research. She received a trophy, certificate and USD$15,000. She also won the Presidential Award to a Female Researcher for Outstanding Research and received USD$7,000.
“I feel honoured that my work is getting recognition and making a positive impact in the nation. It also puts our Chemical Engineering department in the limelight.
“This has opened doors for collaboration with other institutes and companies. Though it is still early, I have received calls from several companies who are willing to collaborate with the University,” said Ms Kaitano.
As the world moves towards decarbonisation, electric vehicles (EVs) and clean energy technologies offer a path toward a sustainable future.
But, these technologies are mineral-intensive, and the minerals they use are becoming increasingly valuable. Graphite is one such mineral and demand for high-purity graphite has markedly increased in the last decade with forecast to rise by 10% - 12% per year.
Ms Kaitano uses energy-efficient and environmentally friendly microwave irradiation to produce high-quality graphite.
“Using locally available minerals is advantageous as it cuts down on imports and saves on the much-needed foreign currency.
“Our long-term plan is to build a lithium-ion battery plant in Zimbabwe and if we are to use locally produced graphite, it will drastically reduce the cost of the lithium-ion batteries. Also, since the performance of lithium-ion batteries has increased when using microwave-treated graphite, the batteries will last longer and can be used in electric vehicles,” noted Ms Kaitano.
She is part of a team of researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering that is conducting research on producing lithium-ion batteries.
Ms Kaitano is a holder of a Master’s degree in Chemical, Environmental and Process Engineering and an Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering, both obtained from NUST.
Kaitano is serving as a Technician in the Department of Chemical Engineering at NUST.
On behalf of the NUST Council Chairperson, Prof. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mqhele E. Dlodlo, Council, Management, Staff and students, we wish to congratulate Ms Kaitano for flying the NUST flag high and for taking brand NUST to the global competitions arena. Congratulations, Amhlophe, Makorokoto
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Congratulations, Amhlophe, Makorokoto to two NUST students who have bagged yet another international innovation award. Wellington Gombarume, a 4th Year Electronics Engineering student and Kudzaishe Bhuza, a 4th Year Computer Science student won the Llama 3.1 impact Hackathon for Sub-Saharan Africa, aimed at fostering Artificial intelligence innovation that addresses social impact issues across Africa. The prestigious Afrilabs event funded by Meta and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 8 to 10 October 2024 was hosted in Kigali, Rwanda.
Following their success, team NUST will join other winning teams on a mentorship and product development phase, where they will gain valuable insights from experts at Meta, BMGF, and AfriLabs. This phase will enable teams to refine their prototypes, prepare for market validation, and develop effective business strategies. Ultimately, the program aims to empower AI innovations from Sub-Saharan Africa to flourish and provide impactful solutions to the region's most critical challenges.
ZIFA Bulawayo Province Division Two log leaders National University of Science and Technology (Nust) are hopeful of playing in the Premier Soccer League someday.
This was revealed by the institution’s spokesperson, Thabani Mpofu in an interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub on Friday.
With eight matches to go, the Students find themselves at the apex of the table. They have 47 points from 22 matches.
In second position is Eagle Life who are coached by Philani Mabhena. The church team has 45 points while in third and fourth place are Chicken Inn and Khami United with 44 and 42 points respectively in what looks like a competitive championship race which is still wide open.
Plumtree Wanderers are fifth with 38 and still mathematically in the race. While revelling at being at the top Mpofu said the team’s existence and participation in the league is part of the institution’s strategy to contribute socially and economically to the country.
“Our participation in football is part of the University’s broad strategy of contributing to the social and economic development of the country. We believe we have a role to play in the development of sport in general and football in particular,” said Mpofu.
He said having a team in competitive football sits well with the university which has a Sports Science Department. It is a chance to put into practice what would have been theorised.
“As you already know, we run a Department of Sports Science and Coaching. However, we do not just spend our time theorising, but we are very practical in our approach across all sporting disciplines,” said Mpofu whose university has also had athletes of repute like Nyasha Charandura and Daliso Khambule dominating in athletics at both college level and in the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe level.
“Nust FC is more than a Division Two team, it is the university’s football laboratory where we identify raw talent and nurture it for the growth of football in Zimbabwe. So, yes, we are ready for Division One,” he said.
Mpofu also appealed to the corporate sector to invest by partnering with the team. He said they would love to see the team playing in the elite league like other teams that have been associated with universities. Pretoria University, Stellebosch and Wits all of South Africa come to mind.
“We are inviting the corporate world to partner us in this journey. Our wish is to play in the topflight league, the Premier Soccer League. In South Africa, for example, clubs associated with universities like Wits and Stellenbosch play or played in the top flight. Their boys have done well. We believe we have the talent to compete at that top level.
“Our plan is to form a football academy under our Sports Science and Coaching Department and produce soccer players, coaches, referees and other technical experts. We have qualified and experienced sports lecturers,” said Mpofu.
He said resources are the stumbling block. The varsity team is made up of students from various academic programmes.
“Our approach is that only students can play in the team. Staff members are in the executive where they assist with the day-to-day running of the team. I must say we have a very strong support base from Nust students who follow the team home and away,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu acknowledged that their Department of Sports Science and Coaching plays a big role in the growth of the club which was previously coached by now Zifa education officer Joseph Sibindi.
Mpofu emphasised that the team is a university project hence the participation of the whole institution. Some of the players are studying programmes in the Department of Sports Science and Coaching.
Former Bosso and Caps United striker Gabriel Nyoni, Greenfuel’s Gift Saunyama, Gift Mandaza of Sheasham, Bosso 90’s Shawn Marara, Bulawayo Chiefs’ Lucky Ndlela and Chicken Inn’s Dominic Jaricha are some of the players that were at the institution.
Francis Motsi was identified at the institution and given an academic and sporting scholarship in the US. Other former graduates of Nust are Clemence Matawu (Chicken Inn) and Abraham Mbaiwa (Highlanders) who both hold degrees in Sports Science and Coaching.
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