Arba Minch University’s Research Directorate has hosted 8th Annual Research Review workshop at Main Campus beginning from 5th to 6th March, 2021. Four completed projects were presented in the presence of AMU top officials, thereafter review was conducted at respective institutes and colleges.  Click here to see the pictures

At the outset, Research Directorate’s Executive Director, Dr Teshome Yirgu, apprising gathering about total research endeavor, said, since last 5 years, 847 projects are ongoing of which 266 are completed; 241 begun and 68 completed in 2021 whereas 40 were cancelled. And of current 541 ongoing projects, 12 are mega those have 2nd phase to resolve identified issues each incurring over ETB 1 Million, 165 (35.5%) are behind the schedule due to uncertain reasons and remaining 376 (69.5%) are running on time.

Delineating band-wise data, he informed that 92 projects come from Water Technology and Institute of Technology, Natural Science, 156, Medicine & Health Sciences 204, Agricultural Sciences, 142, Business & Economics, 44, and Social Science and Humanities has 226. He said, including both PhD and Master degrees holders are 1,084 and 36 full-time researchers of which 683 (57.5%) are involved in research.

Opening review workshop, University President, Dr Damtew Darza, said, AMU staff members are making significant contribution in research that has built our capacity to run post-graduate programs and conduct research. In the wake of AMU getting categorized as Research University, we are entrusted with great responsibility to enhance number of programs, improve quality of education and research endeavor.

He revealed that post-graduate administrative structure will be restructured that will bolster our research endeavor at global level and strengthen visibility. He said it’s important to know that increasing population and environmental constraint in our vicinity demand a well-organized research and community-oriented service and, in this regard, AMU will upscale research by both academic staff and all research centres to improve research outputs that will strengthen our overall community outreach.

Lauding increasing engagement of academic staff in research, Research and Community Service Vice President, Mr Behailu Merdekios, underscored that in order to serve the community in true sense, there is a need to walk extra miles. At this juncture, each researcher must be ready to explore new areas, explain and teach others; otherwise, research is futile without application and dissemination. We are collaborating with regional bureaus on thematic areas where you will have chance to contribute in real sense for it’s all about quality research and innovative technology dissemination.

Expat staff, Dr Daniel Reddy, in his study on ‘Assessment of water quality and identification of pollution source at Kulfo River’, found that Kulfo River is polluted by urban untreated wastewater and sediment inflow, Chamo Lake gets contaminated by Kulfo, Sile and Elgo inflows that carry domestic wastewater and sediment with it while Hare, Shafe and Basso rivers’ inflow pollute Abaya Lake. Consequently, poor water quality index of Kulfo River and Chamo Lake make them unfit for drinking and aquatic life, but it can be used for agricultural purposes.

Dr Kebede Jobir investigating different rootstocks on agro-morphological characteristics of Crispin and Granny Smith apple cultivars in Chencha found that all vegetative growth parameters were higher on MM.106 than that of M.26, wherein Crispin on MM.106 rootstock is proper compound to achieve the largest vegetative growth under low soil pH, 4.8, at Chencha.

College of Medicine and Health Sciences staff, Mr Behailu Tsegaye, in his study found high endemic level of Hepatitis B virus infection among consumers of alcoholic beverage – cheka in Konso where laborers between age of 35 to 44 were very susceptible and he asked for more research to pinpoint link between cheka consumption and Hepatitis B cross-infection.

AMU top officials, scientific directors, directors, deans of colleges, staff and full-time researchers, Master students and others were in attendance; Dr Tesfaye Habtemariaum anchored the proceedings.

(Communication Affairs Directorate)