Outreach activities, spin offs and partners
Nanofilter – A typical case for the outreach activities This project is taking unconventional approach. It is very unique because, unlike many other purely academic programs, it is focused on hands-on /practical training on how to develop and implement Nanotechnology based inventions. The project will replicate the success stories of Nanotechnology-based low-cost sustainable water purification system (Trademarked as Nanofilter: ) invented at NM-AIST / the lead applicant of this project. Nanofilter has won 17 awards, including the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation – funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering-UK and the World Health Organization (WHO) award this two links : 1 and 2 . Nanofilter increases access to clean and safe water to reduce water bone diseases; and its inventor is determined to impact millions of lives, as demonstrated in this video. The filters are directly sold to households and to institutions but also hosted in kiosks that become water stations that create jobs for local entrepreneurs. Nanofilter has created jobs to hundreds of people and is now impacting hundreds of thousands of people is Tanzania, Kenya, and Zambia. Nanofilter is unique because it can “target” and “selectively” remove any contaminant found in water (bacteria, chemical-contaminants, turbidity, organic-matter) and produces 20 liters/hour of clean and safe water. It also removes chemicals like Fluoride which cause teeth and bone fluorosis. Nanofilter’s cost is lower – it does not use electricity (it simply depends on gravity). Rapid adoption of Nanofilter and similar Nanotechnology-based inventions will positively impact millions of lives around the world and make Africa’s contribution valuable. Internship placement at the associate partner / Gongali Model Co.Ltd (www.gongalimodel.com) (manufacturer of Nanofilter) directly inspire and empower students and staff to imitate the Nanofilter initiative as they develop their own Nanotechnology-based innovations / inventions. More about the Nanofilter innovation is found online (a simple search on Google will give hundreds of links), eg. WIPO Magazine