The Technical University of Kenya is hosting an international scientific training programme aimed at equipping young African researchers with advanced computational and materials science skills to drive innovation and address the continent's development challenges.

The training is supported under the APhRICA (Advanced Physics Research in Collaboration with Africa), an initiative that seeks to bridge African scholars with world-class research institutions while building a new generation of scientists capable of applying cutting-edge knowledge to local challenges.

Speaking during an interview, Prof. George Amollo, the Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, said the initiative is part of a long-term effort to build home-grown scientific expertise capable of driving innovation across the continent.

"For many years, Africa has looked to Europe and America for technological direction. What we are doing now is transferring knowledge so that our researchers develop these capabilities here at home. The new generation should have the skills to create solutions for Africa instead of depending on others."

The training, delivered to two cohorts, brings together participants from Eastern Africa, with additional researchers joining virtually from other African countries.

According to Prof. Amollo, the programme has evolved over nearly two decades through partnerships with leading international research institutions, including CNR Rome, CNRS Paris and other global collaborators committed to advancing scientific research in Africa.

He noted that the training focuses on understanding materials at their most fundamental level, enabling scientists to predict their properties before production.

"We teach basic science because once you understand materials fundamentally, you can determine whether they are suitable for applications. For example if a material is good at absorbing energy, it can be used in solar panels, if it doesn’t corrode it is suitable for construction or manufacturing. So, instead of producing materials through trial and error, which is expensive, you can predict their performance, significantly reducing production costs."

Although the training was initially designed around materials science, it has since evolved into a multidisciplinary programme supporting research in nutrition, health and medicine.

According to Prof. Amollo, scientists from different disciplines are applying computational science, machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyse complex datasets and develop practical solutions to real-world challenges.

One such initiative is the development of a mobile application that uses African dietary data to help people living with Type 2 diabetes make informed nutritional choices by analysing the carbohydrate content of foods. The project brings together nutritionists, physicists, computer scientists and software developers, demonstrating how interdisciplinary research can deliver locally relevant innovations to improve health outcomes.