In a bid to enhance research, innovation and industrialization, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) hosted a resounding inaugural Vice Chancellor’s Innovation Expo on Thursday 14 March 2024 at the University’s Fern Hill Campus in Mutare.
Hosted under the auspices of the Department of Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, the expo ran under the theme; ‘Innovation Nexus: Exploring the Intersection of Applied Sciences.’
The expo was held as part of the university’s drive to promote innovations that can be up-scaled and commercialised. A total of eleven (11) innovators showcased models of their innovations that can be used to solve problems in the community and country at large.
In his remarks, MSUAS Acting Vice Chancellor as well as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and Technology, Dr Benias Nyamunda commended the Expo for unleashing the culture of research, innovation and commercialisation entrenched among faculty members and University students.
“The Innovation Expo serves as a platform to showcase ground breaking work, share cutting edge ideas and explore the frontiers of scientific knowledge. Hence, MSUAS Innovation Expo which is a precursor to the Presidential Innovation Fair remains an exceptional event ingrained in our Education 5.0 approach. It also embodies the spirit of research, innovation and sustainable development as enunciated by our institutions’ mission”, said Dr Nyamunda.
Some of the innovators who were part of the expo articulated with optimism that their innovations could be used at a commercial scale in solving socio-economic challenges faced in the country.
Students from the Department of Mining and Mineral Processing as well as the Department of Metallurgy presented an innovative idea on gold recovery technology.
The project focused on percolation-leaching process for optimum gold recovery for the artisanal and small-scale gold mining projects
Through the implementation of this technology, students from the two departments reiterated that artisanal and small-scale miners can boost income through efficient processing and high recoveries. Therefore, the success of the idea will significantly contribute towards employment creation and foreign currency earning in addition to health and environmental benefits.
Apart from gold recovery technology, an array of project initiatives from the department of Information Systems, the department of Psychology, the department of Agricultural Economics and Development, the department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, the department of Applied Statistics as well as that of Innovation and Agro-Industrial Park were exhibited.
Among the projects students also demonstrated concepts which ranged from the Smart Irrigation System, the Driver (Sleep Detection) Monitoring System, Intelligent Emotion Recognition System, Green Banana Starch: Import substitution for baking and confectionary industry, Edible oil (cooking oil) refining: activated carbon as replacement of tonsil, Online Pay-per-view virtual tourism/museum system as well as Statistical Consultancy Unit (SCU).
The event was graced by members of MSUAS community that included Principal Officers, Executive Deans, Directors, staff and students.