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Four Researchers Bag the Computer Science, Information Systems and Engineering Multi-Disciplinary Mini-Grant
- Posted on: 4 March 2020
- By: admin
KENET has awarded a total of $ 60,000 Computer Science, Information Systems and Engineering Multi-Disciplinary Mini-Grant to four (4) research projects. After a rigorous selection process that lasted three (3) months, four top picks were selected in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT) in Agriculture and Health. The call was announced in August 8, 2019 and attracted 26 applicants from 18 Kenyan Universities and University Colleges.
The grant awarded to the four (4) lead researchers also extends to 15 other researchers who served as team members to the projects. At a cost of $15,000 for each winner, the grant will last a year starting February 1, 2020 to January 30, 2021. The researchers awarded are from six (6) universities, three (3) government institutions and one (1) research institute.
The winners in the two research categories are:
1.Internet of Things (IoT) in Agriculture
“Monitoring and prediction of domestic animals’ health using internet-of-things (IoT) technologies”
Team Lead: Dr. Evan Wanjiru, Lecturer, Mechatronic Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT)
Team Members: Dr James M. Mutua (JKUAT), Dr John Kagira (JKUAT), Mr. David Gakure (Microsoft Research) and Eng. Mathew Ndeto Kyalo (JKUAT)
“A Black Tea Fermentation Monitoring Model based on IoT and Image Processing Techniques”
Team Lead: Dr. John Tarus, Lecturer, Statistics & Computer Science, Moi University
Team Members: Mr. Gibson Kimutai (Moi University), Prof. Dr. Anna Forster (University of Bremen), Dr. Mathew Kosgei (Moi University) and Mr. Abdalla Tunya (Sisibo Tea Factory)
2. Internet of Things (IoT) in Health
“RF Radiation Activity of Mobile 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G+, Wi-Fi around the Human Body”
Team Lead: Dr. Peter Akuon, Lecturer, Electrical and Information, University of Nairobi
Team Members: Dr Lemy Oginga (GP-Ministry of Health), Maj. Andrew Nyawade(Department of Defense)and Tom Oloo (University of Nairobi)
“Smart Monitoring of Water Quality for Urban Irrigation and Domestic Supply by Exploiting IoT in Nairobi River”
Team Lead: Dr. Stanley Githinji Muturi, Lecturer, School of Science and Technology, United States International University
Team Members: Dr. Lawrence Mwenda (Kenya Methodist University), Beatrice Langat (Kenya Water Institute), Fabian Kaburu (KARLO) and Teresia Mucia (Ministry of Water and Sanitation)
The winners selected by CSISEE experts are expected to publish their work in reputable journals and grow a community of researchers in computational modelling. Through this mini-grant, KENET hopes to not only support individual research teams, but to facilitate institutional collaboration and formation of communities of practice in the research areas of focus, leading to enhanced research capacity in member institutions.
IoT creates an interconnected network of devices – both industrial and consumer – that can talk to each other, collect and transmit data. When such connected devices are combined with automated systems, it becomes possible to develop intelligent, data-driven solutions in a myriad of application areas. It is envisaged that the outputs from this area of focus will serve to open up wider adoption and integration of IoT in the local agricultural and healthcare contexts, by addressing key aspects along the IoT chain – network, devices, data management, decision-support, standards and policies. Led by KENET Research Associate, Dr. Wanjiku Ng’ang’a this mini grant promotes early stage research and development in current and emerging research areas, as well as strengthen SIG on CSIS and Engineering. KENET is currently supporting the Computational Modelling and Materials Sciences (CMMS) and Computer Science/Information Systems (CSIS) SIGs which have previously benefited from similar mini grants.