Water Research Resource Centre (WRRC), Institute of Technology and other five colleges of Arba Minch University have started research proposal defense for the academic year 2014-15. 

Research proposal defense programs are being organized by the research coordination units at respective campuses. WRRC Director Dr Mekonen Ayana was first to chair the program held at Main Campus on Oct 20, 2014, in which seven proposals from WRRC were defended.

Subsequently, in the second program at Chamo Campus, around 8 proposals on inter-disciplinary issues of social sciences and humanities were defended in the presence of College Dean, Dr Teshome Ergo and Research Coordinator, Ato Tesfaye Gebeyehu.

In the next few days similar proposal defense will be organized at Nechsar, Abaya, Kulfo campuses and Institute of Technology wherein overall 50 proposals are likely to be defended, informed Research Directorate Director, said Dr Fantahun.

‘‘Our research proposals being defended are based on selected 14-thematic areas which are mandated to solve community’s problem and their urgent demands, Dr Fantahun added.

AMU’s 14-THEMATIC areas are:

• Innovation and adaptation of appropriate technologies
• Water Resources assessment and management
• Improvement of agricultural productivity and management of agricultural products
• Renewable energy resource assessment and development
• Infectious diseases and reproductive health
• Nutrition and healthcare
• Sustainable natural resource management
• Cultural and biological diversity & tourism
• Social, cultural and language studies
• HRD and change management
• Computational modeling and database management
• Development policies and business strategies
• Urban and rural infrastructure planning and development
• Climate change and environmental integrity

By Corporate Communication Directorate (Philips Joseph)