By Tshegofatso Teseletso
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)Project Management Officers (PMOs) for Botswana recently visited BIUST on a mission to review technical cooperation programmes with the project counterparts at BIUST, Ministry of Health, Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory, and the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute.
The visitation was fixated on reviewing progress on ongoing projects, Finalising the Country Programme Framework for 2023 –2027, reviewing and improving proposed project designs for the 2024 – 2025 cycle funding applications.
On the 25th of August 2022 the two PMOs for Botswana, Mr Neil Jarvis and Ms. Özlem Esengin, together with the Director of Botswana’s Radiational Protection Inspectorate (RPI), Ms Tshegofatso Zwikula, explored the BIUST Campus.
The expedition started with a courtesy call at the office of Prof.Abraham Ogwu,
the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Development and Innovation. Prof Ogwu
welcomed the team and conveyed his gratitude to the IAEA’s for their continuous funding support towards BIUST projects like the BOT1001 Design Project titled “Developing National Nuclear Science Training Programmes and Research
Capacities”.
Ogwu emphasised on the important role of nuclear science and technology in
addressing problems in the mining, agricultural, and health sectors. He implored
the project counterparts, Prof Gregory Hillhouse and Dr Oscar Kureba, to work
closely with the Ministry of Health in developing education/training programmes in radiography and medical physics for the next funding cycle.
The honorary delegates got to visit the proposed BINST site, followed by a meeting
with representatives of the Applied Nuclear Science and Technology Research Group to deliberate on the next steps of the BOT1001 Design Project. The outcome of the discussion includes procuring equipment for a multidisciplinary teaching and research laboratory in the area of Applied Nuclear Science and Technology; host workshops led by IAEA experts to develop new education/training programmes in radiobiology and chemistry and funding opportunities for specific nuclear based projects and develop the costed business plan for establishing BINST.
The informative event was cemented by an engagement where Prof Hillhouse and
Dr Kureba engaged with the IAEA representation and the RPI Director regarding
information required for the submission of a new proposal in Nuclear Science and Technology Education and Research for the 2024 –2025 funding cycle.