 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND |
In 1947-48, an off print for the Institute for Scientific Research in Central
Africa (IRSAC) was established in Butare, Rwanda
under the trusteeship of the Kingdom of Belgium.
The main mission of the institute, then called
the Astrida Institute (named in memory of the
mother of King Baudoin of Belgium), was therefore,
the foundation of the current Institute of Scientific
Research and Techonology (IRST).
After independence in 1964, the mandate of IRSAC
got terminated by the majority of Central African
countries. The former Astrida Institute was renamed
the National Institute of Scientific Research
(INRS). This new institute was established under
the law of the Republic of Rwanda. However, a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between
the Government of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Belgium
to cater for the transitional phase of the newly
established institute. In 1989, the INRS became
the Institute of Scientific Research and Technology
(IRST in French).. The vision behind the establishment
of this third version of the Institute was to
create an institution that would be driven by
the societal problems of Rwanda rather than by
what was considered as colonial or neo-colonial
interests. It was felt that Western scholars to
serve Western interests did social and anthropological
studies at the INRS. The social and anthropology
section of the former INRS was considered as the
handmaiden of colonialism and it was seen to analyse
and provide information toward the effective control
and exploitation of the Rwandan society. Bill
N°06/1989 of March 15, 1989 established the
IRST as well as its organizational structure.
| MISSION
OF THE IRST |
1) To undertake basic and applied research aimed
at addressing the real needs and priorities of
the country, especially in the areas of traditional
medicine, human sciences and energy
2) To contribute to the validation of research
results
3) To promote appropriate technologies for the
development of the country
4) To contribute to the training of science and
technology personnel
5) To publish and disseminate research results
| STRATEGIC
APPROACH |
To achieve the aforementioned mission, the institute's
legal framework highlights the need to establish
three major research centers:
1) The research center for Energy
2) The research center for Human Sciences with
emphasis on Rwandan civilization and literature
3) The research center for traditional medicine
pharmacopoeia and essential oils
The institute's legal framework also made provision
for the major research centers to enter into collaboration
and partnership with the National University of
Rwanda and with other national and international
institutions for undertaking joint and collaborative
research activities.
Summary
of the Institute's strategic program table
| RESEARCH
CENTER FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE |
The center was established in 1972 under the
aegis of the faculty of medicine before being
transferred to the newly established institute
in 1989. the center's main mission is to undertake
studies on traditional medicine in bid to promote
it.
One of the major breakthroughs of the center
was the introduction of biotechnology, a new orientation
taken on program 6. The rational for refocusing
the center's thrust on biotechnology is based
on the premise that 99% of the Rwandan populationis
living in rural areas. The center has already
developed appropriate technologies that could
be easily transferred to rural areas for the production
of essential oils. Furthermore, the transformation
and valorisation of agricultural bi-products could
generate additional income to the rural people.
| PHARMACOPOEIA
CENTRE |
MISSION
The main missions assigned to the Pharmacopoeia
are:
- The study and exploitation of traditional medicine
- The phytochimic and pharmacological research
of the Rwandan medicinal plants
- The production of the medicines from medicinal
plants and other products of economic interest
starting from local raw material
- The contribution of the drafting of the Rwandan
pharmacopoeia
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
- Development and promotion of traditional medicine
- Botanical and agronomic studies of the medicinal
flora
- Medicinal plants and infectious deseases
- Medicinal plants and non-infectious deseases
- Aromatic plants and essential oilsDevelopment
of technologies of production of medicines and
other products of economic interest based on vegetable
extracts
ON-GOING RESEARCH PROJECTS
-Essential oils: techniques of extraction, use
in beauty care and conservation of the foodstuffs
- traditional Medicine:
o diarrhoeal diseases and amoebiases
o Skin diseases
o Hepatitises
o Ethnobotanic surveys on the Rwandan medicinal
flora
o Microbiological support with research in traditional
medicine
PRODUCTS AND MEDICINES MANUFACTURED
1) Syrup cough mixtures
Bantankor: Containing the extract of Plantago
lanceolata (Ikibatama)
Tussinkor: Based on oil of Eucalyptus and tincture
of stramonium (rwizinringa)
2) Syrup anti-spasmodic and antacid
Gfurina: Containing tincture of stramonium, thyme,
eucalyptus
3) Liquid solutions
Kanwalina: based on oil of Eucalytpus
Timitusilinga: based on tincture of stramonium,
thyme and Eucalytpus
4) Pomades
Calendular: Based on extract from Calendula officinalis
Tembatembe: Based on extract from Neorautanenia
mitis (igitembatembe)
Rusendina: Based on extract from Capscum frutescens
(urusenda)
5) other products
-Ethanol
-Fruits of Capscum frutescens (urusenda)
-Thyme herb teas, citronelle, rosemary and petals
of flowers of Calendula (soucis)
-Essential oils: oil of citronelle, cypress, geranium,
eucalyptus, etc.e
|
| TRADITIONAL
MEDICINE PROMOTION |
-Installation of a dispensary of traditional
medicine, under the supervision and the control
of a doctor and a nurse
-Organisation of seminars on traditional medicine
-Collaboration with the organisation tradipracticians
| THE
ENERGY CENTRE |
Background
· 1973
Creation of the Centre for Energy Studies and
Applications in Rwanda (abbreviated as CEAER)
Dr. Gérard SAUNIER
· Beginning of 1974
Elaboration of project to create the CEAER and
submission of project to the authorities of the
National University of Rwanda (UNR) and to the
Government
· 25th May 1974
Unanimous support for the project given by the
Faculty of Sciences of the National University
of Rwanda
· 28th May 1974
Creation of the CEAER within the University recommended
to the University Council
· 18th June 1974
Decision to create the Centre within the UNR
· 27th July 1974
Support of the Minister for National Education
through his letter No. 1304/2088 concerning steps
undertaken by the University Council
· 5th November 1974
Appointment of the Director (Gérard SAUNIER),
1st Director of the CEAER, by the Ministry of
Planning, including awarding of a grant provided
for in the development budget, Article 24110017.
· From 1974 to March 1989
CEAER functions independently from the UNR
· 15th March 1989
Creation of the Energy Centre (abbreviated as
CE) within the Scientific and Technological Research
Institute (IRST) by Law No. 06/1989 of 15th March
1989 in the Official Gazette No. 9 of 1st May
1989
2. MISSION OF THE CENTRE
2.1. Carry out applied and fundamental research
adapted towards the national Energy Requirements
2.2. Enhance the value of different natural resources
for Energy-oriented and agricultural purposes
2.3. Participate in environmental protection
2.4. Publicise the results of the research
3. RESEARCH PROGRAM
3.1. Energy-related and agricultural enhancement
of the Biomass
3.2. Solar energy applications
3.3. Appropriate technology
4. PROJECTS
4.1. Project I
4.1.1. Project title
Enhancement of Energy by biological means
4.1.2. Achievements
a) Mastery of a certain number of physico-chemical
parameters (temperature, PH, size of particles)
b) Perfecting of mechanisms for the purification
of biogas
c) Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the
components of biogas
Two publications
4.2. Project II
4.2.1. Project title
Agricultural enhancement of the mechanised substratum
(manufacturing of organic fertilisers)
A publication
· 4.2.2. Achievements
a) Identification of local products for the transformation/enhancement
of effluents
b) Characterisation and/or determination of nutritional
elements in each identified product
c) Preliminary trials for the manufacturing of
fertiliser
d) Application of the fertiliser on certain crops
(potatoes, sweet potatoes and tomatoes)
4.3. Project III
4.3.1. Project Title
Enhancing the value of the biomass through thermo-chemical
means
4.3.2. Achievements
a) Construction of improved charcoal stoves
b) Perfecting of improved cooking stoves made
from saw-dust, wood shavings and rice husks
c) Perfecting of mixed cooking stoves that use
biogas or other alternative combustibles, adapted
to accommodate large cooking pots
d) Conception and construction of a pyrolysis
device
e) Preliminary trials/experiments
4.4. Project IV
4.3.1. Project Title
Solar energy applications through thermal conversions
4.3.2. Achievements
a) Conception and construction of adapted devices
b) Experimentation and functioning of devised
mechanisms
4.5. Project V
4.5.1. Project title
Energy applications through photo-voltaic conversions
4.5.2. Achievements
a) Supply of basic photovoltaic material
b) Experimenting on certain basic electric photo-voltaic
material
c) Calculation of dimensions for pilot photo-voltaic
installations (KANSI, RUNYINYA, and MBAZI)
4.6. Project VI
4.6.1.Project title
Appropriate Technology
4.6.2. Achievements
a) Teacher training kits for the teaching of Physics
in Secondary School A' Level
For more information, contact
ENERGY CENTRE
P.O. Box 227 Butare RWANDA
Tel No. (250) 530 875/280
Fax No. (250) 530 939
|
RWANDA
Back
