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July Issue No.008

In this issue, you will find:

Message from the Director General: P1 MPs hail what COSTECH is currently doing: P2 COSTECH continues to nurture innovators: P3

Wireless recharging for mobile phones: P4 Brain drain: A blessing or a curse: P5

Dar hosts 20 world researchers: P5 Did you ever know: P6

IBM supports technology in Tanzania: P7 Scientific research report: P8

Pictorial: P9 Upcoming Events: P10

Message from the Director General

Welcome to the sixth offering of our monthly enewsletter. By any measure, the COSTECH has continued to achieve some notable goals despite challenges. In this month, a lot of events continued to happen but the very important one stem from the visit that was paid by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure in the month of May this year. Despite their familiarization with some of the activities that are carried out by the COSTECH, the Committee also provided us with invaluable advices, suggestions, contributions and challenges that we have to work on. The idea of knowing how we coordinate researches that are conducted in the country was one of prominent quests among many Members of Parliament. Through their contributions, we have recently managed to register the COSTECH Research Website (CRWeb) whereby all researches done in the country are going to be coordinated, recorded and monitored. The problem of coordinating, recording and monitoring of researches, especially with researches that are carried out by local universities and research and development institutions, was one of the challenges that the Commission faced but with the utilization of CRWeb, we hope that this problem will be solved. Being able to coordinate, record and monitor researches will also make it easy for the Commission to translate the research results into workable ideas so that we contribute in improving the quality and quantity of goods and services. The visit paid by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure in the month of May did not stop at the Commission. In the beginning of the month of July, the Commission had a pleasure of being invited to Dodoma showcase to the rest of the MPs what we are currently doing. One of the opportunities that the MPs were astonished to discover was the fact that the COSTECH is doing its best to nurture the Information Communication and Technology spirits to the youth through the Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi). This incubation program lay down a good foundation for the youth who are committed to solving local problems using ICT. As younger entrepreneurs this is a great opportunity with which young people address development challenges in our country, earn revenue and create employment opportunities to others. COSTECH in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology is in the process of establishing the ICT policy in order to create a conducive environment for people like those and all Tanzanians who want to invest in ICT. The establishment of the DTBi ICT incubation program has been well received by techno-entrepreneurs, parliamentarians and other ICT practitioners and this gives us the courage to do more of which we are now on the process of establishing a new incubation on agri-business. We hope that agri-business incubation will solve most of the problems that farmers in this country are facing. Finally, I would like to thank the people who have worked tirelessly in preparing this newsletter and would like to invite all of you to contribute to it in the future issues. I wish you a good reading. Dr. Hassan Mshinda.

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On July 24th to 26th, 2012, the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) participated on the exhibitions prepared by the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology during the presentation of the ministry’s 2012/2013 budget. The exhibitions, which were held at the Parliamentary exhibitions grounds, involved the COSTECH’s beneficiaries who showcased to the Members of Parliament how they benefit from the Commission. COSTECH’s beneficiaries included incubatees from the Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi), the Mpwapwa poultry project specialists, the Sokoine University of Agriculture sorghum project specialists, the Nelson Mandela Institute of Science and Technology coffee project specialists, Zanzibar crabs project specialist, the Water Efficient Maize for Africa project specialists under the Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, the soap manufacturing cluster, the agricultural machines manufacturing cluster, the natural dye manufacturing cluster, and others. Many MPs who had not had an opportunity to learn what the COSTECH can offer to the Tanzanian community were astonished to find out that there are a plenty of opportunities they as well as their voters can benefit from. More than 90 MPs attended the exhibitions and signed the COSTECH visitors’ book.

Below are some of the snapshots for the event:

Fig. 1: Some of the COSTECH beneficiaries getting ready to display their projects to the MPs.

Fig. 2: Said Mujulizi (left), the natural dye specialist, explains to an MP on various ways of using natural dye.

Fig. 3: Dr. Boa (left), the sorghum project specialist from SUA, explains to the MPs how draught-tolerant sorghum is being prepared, grown, harvested, and preserved.

Fig. 4: Godfrey Magila (right), from DTBi, explains to Hon. Said Said (left), on how he developed a safe biometric voting system that gives freedom and secrecy to voters, including the disabled during the elections.

Fig. 5: Dr. Mohammed Sheikh (right), from SUZA, explains to an MP (right) on how his project of saving the mud crabs around Tanzania coast is being run.

Fig. 6: Hon. William Ngeleja (2nd right), poses for a group photo with the DTBi entrepreneurs.

Fig. 7: Hon. John Cheyo (middle), being briefed by Ms. Victoria Rutakara from DTBi on how one can calculate the Tanzanian VAT, PAYE, and car importation tax through a software installed on one’s mobile phone.

Fig. 8: Hon. Tundu Lisu (left), exchanges ideas with Christian Mlay from DTBi. Mr. Mlay developed the MobileAfya application; an app that shows geographically-oriented diseases found in all parts of Tanzania.

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On July 31st, 2012 the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), through its Directorate of Center for Development and Technology Transfer (DCDTT) hosted four presentations from grassroots innovators who claim to have innovated different methods, techniques and tools for making life a lot easier to Tanzanian community. Speaking during the opening remarks, Dr. Dugushilu Mafunda, the Acting Director at the DCDTT said that since 1980s, the Commission has always been searching for grassroots innovators in order to nurture their innovative spirits by advancing their ideas in terms of providing them with education, advice, financial support and sometimes considering them for the Tanzania Science and Technology Achievements award (TASTA) and other awards. Dr. Mafunda pointed out that the panel for evaluating the innovators is made of highly skilled experts from higher learning institutions such as College of Engineering and Technology at the University of Dar es Salaam (COET), the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), expert from the Department of Physics at the UDSM, COSTECH’s DCDTT staff, and many others. The first person to present his innovations was Mr. Elias Msengi from Singida, a-2011-TASTA awardee who discovered an alternative tarmac from plant (mnyaa), growing in the central

zone. He has submitted a request to be facilitated to develop a machine for the extraction of the mnyaa juice for the tarmac. Based on a drawing, Mr. Msengi explained in principle how the machine works. The principle is purely mechanical and only uses gears. The purpose of developing the machine is the up scaling of his old discovery of using mnyaa for making tarmac materials for the roads.

Fig. 9: A panel at the Directorate of Centre for Development and Transfer of Technology (DCDTT) reviewing some of the grassroots innovators’ claims before they rule out if their innovations need to be supported or recommended for the TASTA Award.

The second innovator was the Retired Captain, Elias Mchore, who together with his apprentice Mr. Magige Elias had more than one innovations for consideration. Captain Mchore has innovated power inverter that can be used for training purposes in schools and vocational centers; he innovated the magnetic levitation machine that can be used to generate power using magnets; he also innovated an alternator which can be used to generate power by using used alternators and convert them into dynamos, which are generators. According to Capt. Mchore, this method will help

generate power using wind, hydro or any other form, which needs a dynamo or a generator. Another innovation by Capt. Mchore had to do with magnetic force power generator system. The system uses three generators which are equipped with magnets on their circumferences. The claim is that with single power generation, more power could be produced with the other two generators without additional input. The third innovator was Mr. Ali Mahmud Ali from Zanzibar who claims to have innovated a new type of power generating machine using the wind turbine principles. Mr. Ali claim to have developed his ideas from the Religious book, the Quran on chapters 72 and 90. He presented the principles of the machine using a sketch. The machine uses compressed air from the surrounding air breeze. The fourth innovator was Mr. Ali Mohamed who has innovated geography teaching aid for explaining the occurrence of day and night and on sun eclipse. After the presentations, the panel suggested that some of the innovations be sent to experts from higher learning institutions and industrial sector for more detailed analysis, for verification and validation purpose, and possibly for developing the prototype. Some of the innovations were recommended for the TASTA award and others were regarded as not worth promoting.

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By Danielle Demetriou in Tokyo 4:34PM BST 15 Sep 2010

Fujitsu, the Japanese technology company, has created a system capable of simultaneously charging multiple portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras and laptop computers without the need for cable connections. Electric cars users may also eventually be able to charge their vehicles wirelessly using the same technology according to Fujitsu, which unveiled a prototype system at an Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers conference at Osaka Prefecture University. Claiming to be the world's first of its kind, the technology works on the basis of the transmission of electricity using magnetic fields between the charger and the electronic device. The system enables wireless charging at distances of up to several metres, with the ultimate aim of installing public "charging spots" on the streets in order to enable easy charging around the clock. Scientists at Fujitsu Laboratories are planning to commercially sell products incorporating the new wireless charging system as early as 2012 but did not disclose how much they would cost.

Fig. 10: Mobile phones - a popular means of communicating. Photo CORBIS.

"This technology paves the way to integrating compact wireless charging functions into mobile phones and enabling multiple portable devices to be charged simultaneously without any restrictions on their position with respect to the charger," the company said in a statement.

The soaring popularity of portable electronic devices ranging from iPads to e-readers is expected to fuel a boom in wireless recharging technology developments over the coming decade. Mobile phone users in Japan can currently top up their batteries using disposable portable plug-in battery-operated devices – available at most train stations and convenience stores – although phone companies warn prolonged use can damage the phones. The new system unveiled by Fujitsu, however, is significantly more sophisticated and represents the next generation of portable recharging systems using highly tuned wireless technology. The company added: "We are also looking at applying the results of this work to fields other than portable electronics, including power transmission between circuit boards or computer chips, and providing mobile charging systems for electric cars."

Fig. 11: Messy wires and cables will soon be a thing of the past. Photo courtesy of internet.

Shortage of supervisors is a challenge for Africa. But with concerted efforts and government commitment it will be resolved, says Günther Manske, a partner in CODOC: “It will take time to build supervisory capacity but it can be done.” Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/8004377/Wireless-recharging-for-mobile-phones-by-2012.html

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Edited by Furaha Kabuje.

Continued from the previous issues

… but the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which they have had little control. The past governments failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience. Past leaders embraced orthodox ideas and therefore failed to offer many opportunities for drawing outside the line. I believe current leaders reset has been cast in the same faculties as those of his predecessors. If today I told him that we can build our own car, he would throw me out. Are you mad? Get out of here. Knowing well that those political leaders will not embody innovation at Walter’s level, let’s begin to look for a technologically active-positive leader who can succeed the current one. That way we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades, and harvesters. Let’s dream big and make tractors, cars, and planes, or, like Walter said, forever remain inferior. A fundamental transformation of our country from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior, African country requires a bold risk-taking educated leader with a triumphalist attitude and we have one in YOU. Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country. Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger, and disease. The number of graves is catching up with the population. It’s time to change our political culture. It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate an active-positive progressive movement that will change our lives forever. Don’t be afraid or dispirited, rise to the challenge and salvage the remaining few of your beloved ones. The end.

A Total of 20 researchers from eight countries in the world are in Tanzania for seven days to discuss issues pertaining to climate change, conduct research and assess the vulnerability of urban structures and lifelines in Dar es Salaam. From this they would develop a new methodology to be used to adopt and mitigate the impact of climate change in the country’s leading commercial city as well as other cities. The participating countries are German, Denmark, South Africa, Senegal, UK, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Italy. Acting Director for Postgraduate Studies, Research and Publications at Ardhi University Dr. Riziki Shemkunde, revealed this on Friday at the International Workshop on Climate Change and Urban Vulnerability organized by the university. “These researchers are in Tanzania to help us to do research in urban areas because many places in Dar es Salaam have been affected by induced hazards, floods, sea level rise, drought and land slide. He said that climate change has caused coastal erosion, emigration, poverty in some families, cyclones, while temperatures are also on the increase in the city, according to the researchers. Dr. Shemkunde also said that the researchers are in Tanzania to share ideas with their counterparts on how they could work together in terms of research and develop methods and knowledge to mitigate the impact of climate change in five African cities including Dar es Salaam, Douala, Port Louis, Ouagadougou, and Addis-Ababa. Last week, the researchers conducted a visit at Msasani-Bonde la Mpunga and Magomeni Suna, at beach areas affected by sea erosion as they began to work on methodological model to be adopted to mitigate induced impacts of climate change. Currently a research on social vulnerability to climate change-case study is being conducted at Bonde la Mpunga and Magomeni Suna. Dr. Julius Ningu, who is Director of Environment, Vice President Office said that vulnerability of African cities is influenced, not only by changing biophysical conditions, but also by the social, economic, political, institutional and technological deficiencies. He was speaking on behalf of Deputy Minister, Vice President’s Office, Mr. Charles Kitwanga. SOURCE: The Guardian, Monday July 16

th, 2012 pg. 2 col. 2.

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Did you ever know that tomato is the world’s

most popular fruit? Did you ever know that

storing ripe tomatoes in the fridge can lessen the

flavor in tomatoes? If never, keep reading.

Fig. 12: A pile of tomatoes. Photo courtesy of internet.

The tomato is the world’s most popular fruit.

And yes, just like the brinjal and the pumpkin,

botanically speaking it is a fruit, not a vegetable.

More than 60 million tons of tomatoes are

produced per year, 16 million tons more than the

second most popular fruit, the banana. Apples

are the third most popular (36 million tons), then

oranges (34 million tons) and watermelons (22

million tons).

Tomatoes were first cultivated in 700 AD by

Aztecs and Incas. Explorers returning from

Mexico introduced the tomato into Europe,

where it was first mentioned in 1556. The French

called it “the apple of love,” the Germans “the

apple of paradise.”

Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C and fiber,

and are cholesterol free. An average size tomato

(148 gram or 5 oz) boasts only 35 calories.

Furthermore, new medical research suggests that

the consumption of lycopene – the stuff that

makes tomatoes red – may prevent cancer.

Lycopene is part of the family of pigments called

carotenoids, which are natural compounds that

create the colors of fruits and vegetables. For

example, beta carotene is the orange pigment in

carrots. As with essential amino acids, they are

not produced by the human body. Lycopene has

the most powerful antioxidant in the carotenoid

family and, with vitamins C and E, protect us from

the free radicals that degrade many parts of the

body.

The scientific term for the common tomato

is lycopersicon lycopersicum, which mean “wolf

peach.” It is a cousin of the eggplant, red pepper,

ground cherry, potato, and the highly toxic

belladonna, also known as the nightshade or

solanaccae. There are more than 10,000 varieties

of tomatoes.

Tomatoes are used in many food product,

including, of course, tomato sauce (ketchup),

pasta and pizza. According to a Steel Packing

Council survey of 1997, 68% of chefs use canned

tomatoes for convenience, quality and flavoring.

It hasn’t changed much since.

A fruit is the edible part of the plant that contains

the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems,

leaves, and roots of the plant.

Cooked tomatoes have higher concentrations of

lycopene than non-cooked tomatoes.

Don’t store ripe tomatoes in the fridge. Cold

temperatures lessen the flavor in tomatoes.

Source: http://didyouknow.org/tomatoes/

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New initiative with Tanzanian Government includes utilizing ICT to broaden trade with landlocked neighbors

By A Correspondent, July 05, 2012

IBM has signed a collaboration agreement with the Tanzanian Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology to help accelerate the adoption of technology as part of Tanzania's ongoing development and strategy to increase its competitiveness in East Africa. IBM will work with the Tanzanian Government to help achieve its vision of becoming a hub for trade in the wider East Africa region and to enhance sustainable economic development as outlined in the Tanzania National ICT Policy. "This agreement supports the goals of the National ICT Commission to use innovative technologies and approaches to transform our infrastructures, build national data centers, increase cyber-security and invest in IT talent development," said Honorable Prof. Makame M. Mbarawa, the Minister for Communication, Science and Technology. "Working with IBM will help to ensure that our initiatives are in line with international standards while positioning us to become competitive regionally and internationally," he added. IBM and the government of Tanzania will co-operate to support the country's National ICT agenda developing simplified and more effective social and administrative systems for e-Government, e-Health and e-Education among other areas.

"IBM is a long-standing partner to the Tanzanian government and we are committed to supporting the country's economic growth and technical advancement," said Dr. Mark Dean, Chief Technology Officer and IBM Fellow, IBM Middle East and Africa. "A key part of our strategy in Africa is to build skills and a culture of innovation across the continent." One of the focus areas of the agreement will be the port of Dar es Salaam which is the main point for Tanzania's imports and exports. The port also serves the neighboring landlocked countries of Zambia, Malawi, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By working with IBM, the Tanzanian government will explore the use of innovative technologies and approaches to help the port to operate more efficiently transform revenue collection processes and strengthen regional trade links.

Fig. 13: President Jakaya Kikwete (middle) in a souvenir photo with Prof. Makame Mbarawa, the Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, Dr. Mark Dean, Chief Technology Officer and Fellow, IBM Middle East and Africa (2nd left), Mr. Jean-Christophe Knoertzer, General Manager IBM Central, East and West Africa and IBM’s Country General

Manager, Mr. David Sawe (left), and their team when they paid him a courtesy call at the State House in the city on Wednesday July 4, 2012.

The agreement underscores IBM's commitment to Africa and builds on a similar agreement signed in March 2010 between IBM and the Tanzania Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to support the adoption of IT in the areas of education, research and development. Significant progress has been made since that earlier agreement, including the provision of international guest lecturers, three academic awards, the donation of 37,000 technical reference books and journals to the University of Dodoma and the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, as well as international co-operation with Tanzanian academics.

IBM has also been actively engaged in Tanzania through its Corporate Service Corps program. Since 2009, 88 talented emerging leaders from more than 25 different countries have worked on one month assignments to Tanzania in projects aimed at social and economic development. Through this program IBM has dedicated over 10,000 hours of pro bono information technology and business consulting to Tanzania. For more information, visit: http://www.globalpublishers.info/profiles/blogs/ibm-supports-accelerated-adoption-of-technology-in-tanzania

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After being granted the permit by the COSTECH, to conduct his or her research, a researcher is supposed to provide reports on progress made after three months, submit three copies of the final report dissertation/theses derived from the research undertaken in Tanzania, and any other papers or publications based on the research done in the country. The researcher is also supposed to send a copy of publication to the local advisors appointed to assist him or her. Below is a summary of progress or annual report received from one of the researchers who have conducted research in Tanzania. PROGRESS REPORT RECEIVED

FROM JACKSON K. NJAU and

LESLEA J. HLUSKO

RESEARCH TITLE: VERTEBRATE

PALEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH

AT OLDUVAI GORGE

RESEARCH SUBTITLE: Progress

Report CST/RCA 2011/01/2011

and A Proposal for Research

Extension 2012 – submitted by

Jackson K. Njau and Leslea J.

Hlusko, January, 2012.

RESEARCH

SUMMARY/INTRODUCTION:

This research report intends to

dealing with the Olduvai

Vertebrate Paleontology Project

(OVPP). The project intends to

integrate research elements that

are contributing significantly to

human evolution.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND

GOALS: The long term objectives

of the project are: (1) to recover

vertebrates’ fossils from

underexplored erosion surfaces

at Olduvai through satellite

imagery-driven survey, (2)

compile comprehensive database

of existing Olduvai fossil, and (3)

promote education and public

awareness on

paleoanthropological heritage in

Tanzania.

The project has also developed a

database to consolidate and

integrate information for all of

the thousands of vertebrate

fossils that have been found at

Olduvai Gorge since 1911 and

dispersed all over the world. The

documentation project is known

as CODI (Comprehensive Olduvai

Documentation Initiative).

According to the researches, this

project aims at creating a single

Olduvai fossil database, which

was previously lacking. The

researches have also

documented more than 3,500

vertebrate specimens through

this initiative to date. Access to

this electronic resource

(www.olduvai-paleo.org –

domain applied) will be available

to the Tanzanian cultural

heritage authority and scientific

community once the website is

published, estimated for April

2012.the researchers intend to

move the site to the Natural

History Museum in Arusha

(NNHM) and the National

Museum of Tanzania, Dar es

Salaam, where paleontological

collections that were excavated

by the Olduvai Landscape

Paleoantropology Project

(OLAPP) and the Leakeys are/will

be curated, and where OVPP

plans to deposit their collections.

FIELD OBJECTIVE: The field

objective of OVPP is to add data

to this rich assemblage through

tightly controlled systematic

fossil collection aimed at testing

fundamental hypotheses about

human origins. The researchers

started this campaign in 2011

with the aim of collecting and

salvaging specimens eroded from

new erosions.

RESEARCH

PROPOSAL/ANTICIPATION: The

researches propose to continue

their research at Olduvai Gorge

from June to August 2012. Their

filed methods will involve

satellite imagery-driven survey

and the tinted to focus on an

exploration of sediments that are

exposed between the First Fault

(3C00°00”S; 35C25°42”E) and FLK

Fault (2C59°22”S; 35C20°49”E).

the primary objective of the

OVPP is to increase

paleontological data of the

paleo-Olduvai basin

diachronically under tightly

controlled systematic inventory

of fossils from the mouth of the

gorge (First Fault) to Granite Falls

on the Main Gorge and Kelogi on

the Side Gorge.

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Fig. 14: A portion of the COSTECH staff listen to Dr. Nicolas Nyange (not pictured), the Acting Director for the Directorate of Research Coordination and Promotion during the COSTECH Research Website testing on July 12

th, 2012.

Fig. 15: Hon. Prof. Makame M. Mbarawa (right), the Minister for Communication, Science and Technology listens to Christian Mlay from DTBi, during the COSTECH exhibitions at the Parliamentary exhibition grounds on July 25

th, 2012.

Fig. 16: Hon. Mr. January Makamba (left), the Deputy Minister

for Communication, Science and Technology studies the Envaya’s Company profile during the COSTECH exhibitions at the Parliamentary exhibition grounds on July 25

th, 2012. Watching on

his right is Mr. Makange Mramba, the DTBi Finance Manager, Ramadhani Mgaya and Lilian Matari, the Envaya staff.

Fig. 17: A group photo featuring the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project spectialists, after they attended the final WEMA phase I review meeting on July 4

th, 2012 at the COSTECH

Conference Hall.

Fig. 18: The July 14

th, 2012 marked a new beginning for the

COSTECH staff member, Ramadhan Athuman, who tied the knot with Ms. Zainab Hamis. Their colouful wedding ceremony took place at Sinza, Palestina mosque and theafter followed a wedding reception at the Princess Hall at Sinza Mapambano, DSM. COSTECH management and staff body were well represented. We wish the Athumans the very best in their marriage.

Fig. 19: COSTECH staff Sarah Makoi (left), Rahma Bashary (middle) and Victoria Rutakara (third left) pose for a group photo during the IT Booth Camp 2012 training organized by Posh TechnoSkills. The training took place in Arusha from July 16

th, 2012 to July 22

nd,

2012.

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Upcoming Events

Global 2013 Smart Partnership Dialogue Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

JOINT WORKING ARRANGEMENT (JWA)

GLOBAL 2013 INTERNATIONAL SMART PARTNERSHIP DIALOGUE

(East, West and Southern Africa)

Dar Es Salaam, TANZANIA

Date: 24th - 28th May 2013

Joint Secretariat:

Tanzania Secretariat

& CPTM Smart Partners Hub, London

So, what do you think of this e-Newsletter?

If you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve this newsletter, or any feature story please email the editor at

mrutechura@costech.or.tz