The IRST was created
in 1989 to enhance scientific research and promote
new technologies for the develop of the country.
After 13 years of operation, what have been the
major achievements of the institute?
The Institute was replaced in 1989 another research
institute called INRS. The main mission of the
newly created Institute was to actively participate
in the socio-economic development of the country,
especially in the following sectors:
-Promotion of traditional medicine that is currently
used by almost 80% of our population and pharmacopoeia;
-find solutions to create new sources of energy.
As in most African countries, our population mainly
lives in rural areas and have recourse to wood
and biomass for their needs in energy. The main
consequence is the degradation of the environment
and a reducing soil fertility. So, our mission
is to focus on new energies, mainly renewable
energies such as the thermic use solar energy,
the bio-methanisation.
-Also, we have a role in promoting our culture,
our language with the purpose of enhancing national
unity and reconciliation.
-Of course, it is our duty to promote the results
of our research and innovations and apply them
to the most suitable areas. As well as support
the transfer of technologies aiming at developing
rural areas.
During the war in 1994, the Institute incurred
a great number of destructions and losses in terms
of equipment and human resources. Everything had
to be reconstructed. First, we recruited some
new staff, second we rehabilitated our facilities,
bought laboratory equipment and third, we had
to intensify our relations with foreign institutions
and strengthen our cross-border co-operation.
Can you tell us more about the people working
for the institute? How did you manage to renew
your staff after the war?
We have 32 searchers. Our searchers are Rwandan,
coming from various fields related to science
and research, but most of them are actually quite
young and come from the National University of
Rwanda in Butare?
How did you proceed when it came to rehabilitate
your facilities?
The government provided most of the funds that
enabled us to restart our activities. First, we
rehabilitated the equipment that could be repaired.
Second, regarding the equipment that had to be
renewed, we managed acquire some of it through
our relations with foreign institutions.
What type our relations do have with national
and foreign institutes?
First, we co-operate with the National University
of Rwanda in terms of exchanging our teaching
staff. We have been working with the KIST since
it was created in 1997.
At the international level, we have strong relationship
with institutes and universities from Germany
and especially from Rhineland's Palatinate such
as the university of Mayence. We send our searchers
over there so that they can upgrade their skills
or complete their Ph.D.
Besides, we are continuously searching for new partnerships.
We are in contact with a few institutions such as
the universities of Nottingham in Great Britain,
Stuttgart in Germany, Louvin in Belgium and some
others we wish to develop further collaboration
with. |
Currently, what are
your priority research programs?
Regarding the traditional medicine, one of our priorities
is the preservation of medicinal plants through
the creation of botanical gardens, which involves
significant studies in botanics and on the possibility
to transfer them from their natural ecosystem to
an artificial environment in order to use them for
medicinal purposes. Within this framework, we have
a program for the promotion of medications stemming
from those plants and that can be used against infectious
and non-infectious illnesses, focusing on children
illnesses. But those program need to be associated
with the implementation of suitable technologies,
which is our main focus.
Regarding the provision of energy, we have an "energy
center" where we develop projects related to
the electrification of rural areas. One of our main
projects is the biomass transformation: through
the bio-methanisation, we produce some biogas that
can be used for generation of electricity. We now
focus on the production of new fertilizers that
could be used in the agricultural sector. Some tests
have been carried out and at this level we collaborate
closely with a Belgium agronomic university that
helps us with the analysis of soils. Within this
research program, we also make use of human excrements
available in hospitals, prisons, schools to produce
gas.
Within our research center for human resources,
we have a project related to the use of suitable
technologies for the teaching of new sciences. Observation
and experiments are essential to the work of our
human resources.
Also, besides our commitment to promoting our culture,
our history and our language, we have a program
related to socio-economic development in rural areas
based on our cultural patrimony.
Talking about energy production, it seems that
an Israelian company has the project to produce
methane gas from Lake Kivu. Do you plan to play
a role in this project?
The IRST has already carried out feasibility studies
and research works in collaboration with the university
of Savoie in France on the extraction of this bio-gas.
A few companies have shown interest in producing
this biogas. However, at some point, those companies
will need the collaboration from research institutes
like ours in order to evaluate the economic impact
of such production. Also, we can play a significant
role in the process of separating carbon dioxide
from methane gas. At various levels, our institute
can provide services to foreign investors seeking
to produce gas from Lake Kivu.
On a general level, our research works have an interest
if we manage to collaborate to some extent with
the private sector. Of course, one of our objectives
is to create the interest for private companies
in having recourse to our services. Our products
must enable the private sector to become more efficient.
Today, we have developed some expertise in few fields
but need the presence of private investors to develop
it on a larger scale.
Looking further in the future, what would be
your personal ambition in terms of the objectives
you would like the institute to reach over the next
ten years?
I would like this institute to develop applied research
on the field. It is important that the results of
our research do not remain on shelves but be used
to serve the population, that it be visible, especially
for those living in rural areas. Our main focus
is to solve the problems related to the lack of
energy and the lack of proper medicine.
You mentioned earlier that you studied in Belgium.
Can you tell us what been your main professional
achievement until now?
I studied sciences at the catholic university of
Louvin where I became research assistant. Then,
I worked as a professor in Zaire. In 1995, I came
to Rwanda and became professor at the National University
of Rwanda. And since then I have been managing the
IRST. Currently, I am also a member of the Belgium
Association of chemistry teachers, a member of the
Third World Academy of Sciences
NB : Winne shall not be responsible for
unedited transcriptions |
