| Dean of the Faculty of Science's Welcome Message |
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Welcome to the Faculty of Science. The Faculty aims to contribute to a sustainable scientific society through education, research, consultancy and public service. Since becoming dean of the faculty in January 2011, I have been impressed by the staff members’ strong sense of basic and applied scientific educational mission and community service. The faculty offers students from different backgrounds and at different levels in career development, the opportunity to realize their academic potential and contribute to the social economic development of our global community through the knowledge and skills they attain. Our programmes span a wide range of scientific fields including biology, chemistry, food science, nutrition, family and consumer studies, geography and earth sciences, mathematical sciences, computer science and physics. The faculty maintains an enviable reputation of being a reservoir of seasoned scientists and researchers who contribute to the national development through research and consultancy in addition to the normal teaching services. Recently members of the faculty have been involved in public services which included sugar fortification with Vitamin A, ethanol-petrol blending, livelihood adoption strategies under pressures of climate variability, impact of human activities on parasitic diseases such as malaria, helmiths, onchocerciasis (river blindness), bilharzia and arbovirus; mapping of malnutrition prevalence and climate change adaptation just to mention a few. As we keep in mind the Faculty’s traditional strengths and values of the larger community, 2011 will see an intensification of the faculty’s information dissemination processes through introduction of bimonthly newsletters, career talks in secondary schools, faculty seminars and consolidation of the Malawi Journal of Science and Technology. There will also be a continued process of lobbying for upgrading and maintenance of infrastructure and equipment for the attainment of an enabling environment for effective and efficient teaching and learning and scientific research. Departments will continue to work on the improvement of curricula as a commitment to ensure quality of teaching and learning. The faculty collaborates with several universities/research institutions worldwide through formally established links. It is a member of the NEPAD Water centres of excellence, WaterNet, DAAD programme in ‘Higher Education Excellence in Development Co-operation (EXCEED)) and many others. In the next two years (2011 – 2012) we will strengthen the existing collaborations, explore and establish more strong, demand driven and sustainable networks with other universities and research institutions. The dean’s office pledges to reaffirm the faculty’s research and educational mission in letting students realize their potential and opportunities available to develop their skills and contribute to society positively. Sincerely Associate Professor Samson M. I. Sajidu Dean, Faculty of Science |
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