Prof. Elijah Wanda
National Commission for Science and Technology, Lingadzi House,P.B B303, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Cell :
+265 880 686 325
+265 880 686 325
E-mail :
ewanda@ncst.mw
elijahwanda@gmail.com
PROFESSOR ELIJAH MALINGA MENARD WANDA (PhD)
Professor Elijah Wanda (PhD), a Malawian male citizen, is a holder of a PhD in Chemistry specialising in Nanotechnology and Material Chemistry, which he obtained from University of South Africa in 2018. He has 17 years of experience as an Associate Professor and Director General of the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) in Malawi, providing strategic leadership in the development and implementation of corporate strategies, policies, work plans and management of human, financial and other resources for the achievement of objectives of NCST. He is responsible for promotion, supporting, coordination and regulation of the application of science, technology, and innovation (STI) and other knowledge systems in the fields of: Engineering, Energy Systems, Design, Industry, Natural Sciences, Agriculture, Health Systems, Humanities, Social Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, ICT, Digitalisation, Documentation, and Indigenous Knowledge systems towards the implementation of Agenda 2030, SDGs as well as the MW 2063. He is also responsible for supporting and regulation of the UNDP accelerator Lab, an innovation unit of UNDP, working with six public Universities namely: University of Malawi, Mzuzu University, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Sciences to boost local production of PPEs and other supplies needed to fight COVID-19 in Malawi. He successfully participated in the 41st Session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference (Paris, 9-24 November 2021), where he represented Malawi in the Division of Scientific and Reinforcement of Capacities SC/PCB to determine the policies and the main lines of work of UNESCO, setting the programmes and the budget of UNESCO and electing the Members of the Executive Board of UNESCO.
He is the currently serving as the Vice President for the Africa Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC) Bureau, an arm of the African Union responsible for mobilization of African research excellence, science, technology and innovation (STI) as well as dialogue and voice for the scientific community in building and sustaining continental research-policy nexus with the aim of addressing Africa’s socio-economic development challenges. He is also the current National Resource Person for the CalestousJuma Executive Dialogue on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (CJED) by AUDA-NEPAD through African Union High Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET), which acts as a “catalyst” to assist the process of STI mainstreaming in Africa. He is also a representative member and National Coordinator for: (1) the International Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI); (2) the International Science Council; (3) the Global Research Council; (4) the Commonwealth Society of Chemistry Congress;(5) the Malawi Water Partnership and arm of the Global Water Partneship (GWP); and (6) the World Academy of Sciences (UNESCO-TWAS). Previously, he served as a Mzuzu University (MZUNI) Senate representative on MZUNI Council as well as Faculty of Science, Technology and Innovation (FoSTI) representative on MZUNI Senate. He also previously worked as Head of Department of Chemistry, (FoSTI) of Mzuzu University, undertaking teaching and supervision of both undergraduate and postgraduate students in in Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry including Petroleum Studies, General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Chemical Toxicology, Material Chemistry and Nanotechnology.
Elijah Wanda has experience in working with various analytical instruments such as GCxGC-HRTOFMS, GCxGC-TOFMS, UPLC-QTOF-MS, Nano LC-MS/MS, HPLC, AAS – both flame and electro thermal, ion chromatography (IC), UV-Vis, ICP (both OES and HDC-ICP-MS, AFM, SEM, X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), instron® tensile tester, porometer, Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermal gravimetric analyser (TGA), surpaselectrokineticanalyser and contact angle analyser. His main areas of research interests are: energy systems and policies, applied chemistry, science diplomacy, biotechnology, water quality, environmental and analytical chemistry, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), material science and membrane research, nanotechnology and nanoscience, nanomaterials, faecal sludge treatment and management, green chemistry, hydrogeochemical modelling, citizen science, water-energy-food-environment nexus, waste management, food technology, chemical/bioremediation and analysis. He is a recipient of the following awards: (1) 2016 Ghandi Inspired Research and Innovation 5th Annual Student Showcase -Natural and Physical Sciences (Best Long Paper Category) – University of South Africa; (2) 2015 Ghandi Inspired Research and Innovation 5th Annual Student Showcase -Natural and Physical Sciences (2nd runner up -Oral presentation Long Paper Category) - University of South Africa; (3) 2007-2010 Malawi Environmental Endowment Trust Award to pursue Master of Science in Environmental Sciences, University of Malawi; and (4) Professor LandsonMhango Award for Best Science Students Finalist of Mzuzu University-2004.