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Workshop on STEM Education, Women in Science and Technology
Debre Birhan University, Debre Birhan Ethiopia
Jan 1-2 2019
Contact: Dr. Newayemedhin Abera email: Newayemedhin@yahoo.com
I. Advanced Methods in Materials/Technological Research for Health Applications- : Research and Development Mulugeta Alemseghed President of Frtl Creative Labs)
Advancements in Polymeric material Science have afforded us many possibilities for groundbreaking product development and research particularly in the preventative healthcare sector. The transition from development to product must be considered with the utmost attention to sustainability and focus to health and happiness. At the At the heart of all scientific research is both valuable information and the potential to improve quality of life. In this discussion we will outline some recent developments in material science, technology and the applied benefits of creating new ways to improve the health of humanity in a sustainable way. This discuss will outline some innovative methods in investigation, design and implementation
II. Design for Zero Waste in Materials Science/Industry: [How Can We Invest in] Initiatives to Design for Zero Waste?- Environmental Engineering/Sustainability (Nicole Chardoul, RRS)
As the use of packaging and disposable products continue to grow, managing these waste streams and developing methods to recover and recycle our resources becomes more important. “There is no waste in nature” is a simple way to describe the reuse and recycling Circular Economy around a common goal of sustainability. Through the collective action of local champions and proactive Public/Private initiatives, we can plan and implement materials management and zero waste solutions that can prevent further pollution of our environment, improve public safety, generate jobs, design infrastructure for the reprocessing and recycling industry and develop end market opportunities. This session will explore initiatives that can bring together these partners in the value chain with a single shared purpose of sustainability and zero waste.
III. Computational Materials Discovery of 2D materials for Energy Application (Dr. Tekalign T. Debela-, Jeonju University, Republic of Korea)
Tekalign Terfa Debela is a Research Professor at the Institute for Application of Advanced Materials, Jeonju University, Republic of Korea. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Zhejiang University in December, 2014. He then moved to Northwestern polytechnical university as a postdoctoral researcher, and partly worked at Moscow Institute of Physics (MIPT). In 2017, He was awarded the Korea Research Fellowship program of the National research foundation of Korea. His research is focused on first principles calculations for energy application of layered materials including secondary batteries, electrochemical water splitting, etc.
Without new materials there would be no new technologies. Recently, the crystal structure prediction algorithms combined with DFT calculations are speeding up the discovery of new materials with superior and desirable properties. In this talk, I will introduce the crystal structure prediction technique, and how it can lead to discovering of new materials with ‘forbidden’ chemistry. In addition, our recent works on two-dimensional WS2@Nitrogen-Doped Graphite for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries (Experiments and Molecular Dynamics Simulations), Phase polymorphism and electronic structures of TeSe2 will be discussed.
References
1. Debela et al, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2018 10 (44), 37928-37936.
2. Debela et al J. Mater. Chem. C, 2018,6, 10218-10225.
V. Ethiopian Astronomy Indigenous knowledge- Developing conventions for translations and transliterations: Approach to Astronomy and Space Science Vocabulary Conventions (Promoter: Abebe Kebede)
The Ethiopians have a tradition of star lore s and legends. In the distant past the knowledge of astronomy and mathematics was abundant. Books such as the mysteries of heaven and earth, the book of Enoch and Abu shaker are devoted to this knowledge. There is a large body of indigenous knowledge of astronomy that people use to keep time. This presentation proposes the development of carefully studied conventions for adoption and transliteration of scientific terms including those used in contemporary astrophysical and special studies. The proposed conventions include:
Convention-Tangible (CT): Identification and adoption indigenous names for celestial object Cosmology, celestial processes and events drawn out of Ethiopian experiences, languages and cultures.
Convention Intangibles (CI1): Ethiopia possesses historical landmarks, historical and mythological figures, festivals, scripts and alphabets. Upon agreement such intangibles can be used to name celestial objects and special physical characteristics of stars.
VI. Workshop on inclusion: skill and Human development in Astronomy: Inspiring stars (Maria Rosaria D’Antonio, Lina Canas, Wanda Diaz and Abebe Kebede)
Ethiopia hosts successful initiatives for inclusion targeting skill development . Astronomy as a science related to all individuals has an inherent potential to motivate the curios-exploration leading to skill development and immersion in the work-field. At the same time work and educative environments have to provide for participants with disabilities and/or impairments to use their own skills at their own maximum and provide a fair environment promoting progress and fairness at both didactic ( from school to University) and professional work field). Through this workshop aimed mainly at teachers and university lecturers, Inspiring stars aims to foster the inclusivity network started at the Gondar Space Science school in 2013 and through that pursue a change of mindset aiming for equal and egalitarian participation in the sciences.
VII. Workshop on Women in Science and Technology
VIII: Workshop on Ethiopian Scientific and Academic Network: A model to Revers Brain Drain and to Enhance Scientific Research in Ethiopia (Promoter: Abebe Kebede)
Ethiopia has several higher education institutions with a variety of experiences and priorities. The primary objectives of these institutions are to produce white-collar workers, teachers, and the work force for mining, textiles, construction, agricultural industries. Higher education and scientific research is young. Following the deliberations of higher education meetings and the literature on African higher education there is a growing advocacy on structural changes in higher education, North-South institutional linkages, mobilization of the African/Ethiopian Diaspora and funding. The growing internet use and the quality of information exchange among borderless expertise may allow in a limited way to enhance the virtual mobility of the intellectual asset; effectively reversing brain drain. We propose an organizational model the Ethiopian Scientific and Academic Network (ESAN) that would facilitate and enhance international scientific partnerships between Ethiopian scientists, educators, students and their counterparts elsewhere. In our model we will focus on a possible networking mechanism where the Ethiopians and their colleagues will play a major role in addressing the financial and human resources needs of higher education in Ethiopia. In addition we will explore ways where such social network can become effective tool for positive social change.
IX. Workshop on STEM Education Resources: Introducing the BBC Micro Bit- Robotics for Ethiopia (Promoter: Abebe Kebede)
Information and communication technologies help students access learning materials that enhance their classroom learning. The most recent STEM learning tools and environments allow students to gain practical and pointed experiences for deep learning. These practical experiences engage the students in both hands activities that allow students to learn methods of measurement, plot graphs, and determine physical quantities interactively. The recently introduced BBC Micro Bit and products similar to it are widely used in STEM education. In this workshop we will review STEM and education resources and introduce the BBC Micro bit. Students will learn coding, operate autonomous robots.