The Principal Secretary Department for University Education and Research, Amb. Simon Nabukwesi on Wednesday commissioned the Gas Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer/Mass Spectrometer (GC-ICP-MS/MS) infrastructure at Chuka University, Main Campus.
The ultra-modern scientific equipment worth KShs 67 million is among the only 3 found in Africa, funded by the National Research Fund following a successful grant proposal by Chuka University in 2016 to establish the Academic and Research Excellence Centre (AREC) to enhance sustainable development, environmental conservation and renewable energy innovations.
The GC-ICP-MS/MS has wide applications across different disciplines that include analysis of biological plant and animal samples, detecting inorganic impurities in pharmaceuticals and their ingredients, plant breeding analysis, toxicology analysis in the medical and forensics field, analysis of nanoparticles in organic reagents and nuclear technologies.
Speaking during the event, Amb. Nabukwesi congratulated Chuka University for the great acquisition saying it was a historic scientific milestone.
He acknowledged the National Research Fund for granting funds for the research infrastructure which is relevant to the country’s development agenda under the Big Four Agenda and Vision 2030.
“I want to believe that this event has been organized due to our firm believe that science, technology and innovation play a key role in developing Kenya and the world. The government recognizes the key role that research, science, technology and innovation play in providing an enabling environment” – Amb. Simon Nabukwesi
He further emphasized on identifying lead sectors that will help the country expand the base for creation of wealth and compete within the world economy, urging universities to comply with the government’s requirements for such grants.
“There are new sets of challenges facing us as a nation to which we must respond. The most urgent one is how to convert our research into innovation to solve societal problems. Effective innovation has an impact on the reduction of poverty and the improvement of the quality of life of our people”- Amb. Simon Nabukwesi
Through collaborations, the facility is set to benefit the university, other institutions and individual innovators and researchers from across the region, with frequent maintenance of equipment scheduled to take place every 6 months.
The facility will be managed using the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
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