The Department of Physical Sciences held it first workshop on water quality focusing on the role of science in promoting SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation on 22nd September 2023. Access to clean water and proper sanitation is a global challenge and statistics show that almost a third of the global population does not have access to clean water, while almost half does not have access to safe sanitation.
There is a global commitment through the SDGs to ensure by 2030 everybody is catered for in terms of clean water and proper sanitation. The achievement of this goal can be fast tracked through research and this workshop was held to brainstorm on the progress towards achieving this goal and the various ways in which researchers are contributing to the goal. The workshop was opened by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Linkages), Prof. Peter Mwita on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joyce Agalo, who joined the workshop later in the day.
Invited key note speakers included Ms. Elizabeth Diego-Lusimba an expert in community engagement matters water resources, Dr. Patricia Gitari, a chemical safety and security expert and Mr. Jacob Hare, a water quality expert from KEBS. The workshop also included presentations from two MSc. Chemistry students whose research has been supported by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) grant awarded to Dr. Veronica Okello and another presentation by an MSc student from JKUAT. The Department acknowledges OWSD for partial sponsorship of the workshop and Machakos University management for continued support.
