The symposium, ‘Science for Sustainable Development,’ generated much-needed synergy as participants from 25 universities intensely deliberated upon the importance of science from 19th to 20th June 2015 at new auditorium, Main Campus.
This two-day symposium was jointly organized by AMU’s three colleges, College of Natural Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Medicine and Health Sciences purported to create a forum for exchange and discussion on sustainable development through science between scientists and researchers. Click here to see Pictures.
AMU President, Dr Feleke Woldeyes opening the event, drew the attention of the gathering towards enormous global challenges. He spoke about mushrooming global population touching 8.5 Billion marks by 2025 and increasing energy demand. The new industrialized nations with thriving economy confronting various environmental problems, climate change and denudation of forest causing great distress can be resolved by working towards sustainable development, he averred.
Symposium Organizing Committee chairman, Mr Habtom Gebrekios, legitimizing the grand theme of the symposium, said it’s in line with Ethiopian effort to gain middle-income status by 2025, while developing a green economy through scientific ideology; and it’s only possible when supported by the scientific research.
AMU’s 16 research papers revolved around issues like synthesis of biological molecules, soil carbon sequestration, geology & gold mineralization, groundwater, remote sensing, traffic flow, HIV issues, community forest management etc. The abstract of 44 papers, including 18 featuring natural sciences, 12 health sciences and medicine and 14 agricultural sciences issues were distributed to the participants.
The deliberation began with Berhanu Belachew, Kotebe University, giving the lowdown over the significance of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to Ethiopia as a whole. His interesting presentation was interspersed with humor and intelligence caught the fancy of all.
Prof Teketel Yohannes of Addis Ababa University in his findings on ‘Solar energy,’ revealed that current global demand of 5TW energy is fully fossil-based that is causing carbon dioxide emission resulting in Earth temperature rising by 1 degree in last 10 years. Renewable energy i.e. solar, wind, geo-thermal, bio-mass tide, ocean current is the answer, he said adding, if it’s rightly converted into electricity.
Dr Tewodros Birhanu of Arba Minch University in his paper titled, ‘Multi-component reaction approach as a tool for the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules,’ said modern society also sets strict environmental needs for any industrial production process. For that, multi-component reaction has attracted significant attention from the synthetic community due to its flexibility for the rapid generation of complex molecules with often biologically relevant scaffold structures.
The research findings collated and deliberation that ensued exchange of ideas, intellectual dissent and constructive inputs will be used for the welfare of the society, the forum assured.
Vice President for Administration, Dr Yechale Kebede in his valedictory speech, called upon young researchers to get engaged in more researches that will resolve the impending problems of the nation. He said, ‘‘Science has always been indispensable as it capacitates and gives us the roadmap for sustainable growth, hence such symposiums are relevant.’’
The speaker of Gamo Gofa Zone People’s Council, Mr Shambel Shagne, assuring support, urged AMU to continue to carry out water-related researches for the development of this region.
In the second half of the last day, participants were taken on excursion to Chencha. During the farewell dinner at Tourist Hotel, all participants were honored with the certificates for participation.
(Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)