UG to host exhibition of innovation at National Library

Over forty ground-breaking innovative projects by students and staff of the University of Guyana will be on display as the tertiary institution hosts its inaugural exhibition of innovations and appropriate technologies from June 8 to 9, 2022, at the National Library in Georgetown.

A selected set of innovations will be displayed to stimulate scientific inquiry, promote business opportunities and publicise some of UG’s applied research work, which could impact national development.
Some of the innovations include agricultural applications, including phytogenic ameliorants to enhance gastrointestinal health in poultry; equipment pertinent to the coconut and other value chains; roll-on and roll-off forage applications for small ruminant feed; several types of food production, including mushrooms such as indigenous varieties; renewables such as applications for concrete blocks; DNA typing of sweet potato vars and its application to industry, and bioethanol applications.
The two-day event is free of cost and open to the public from 12 noon on June 8, 2022.
A streaming gallery is going to be open with selected aspects of the projects daily, streaming from the University of Guyana’s Facebook page.
The Opening Ceremony, which will also be streamed, is scheduled for Wednesday, June 8 and will feature presentations from Vice-Chancellor, XI, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Director of University of Guyana’s Institute of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UGIRIE), and Professor of Practice, Pat Francis, among others.
Prof Pat Francis expressed the University’s excitement at being able to host the event since it is the first time that key stakeholders and members of the public will be afforded the opportunity to get an up-close look at the ground-breaking and innovative applied research work being done by students and staff of the University of Guyana.
“The University of Guyana produces more than 100 applied research pieces every year in collaboration with several agencies and other universities. We are particularly pleased to commence the process of making these findings available to Guyanese entrepreneurs and householders.”
The UGIRIE is a Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) that provides a platform for researchers and innovators within the University of Guyana and allied institutions/individual researchers to share new products and services with the industry. The programmes and courses offer practical approaches to establishing, accelerating and scaling up businesses. The Institute focuses on concepts that are grounded in good science and technology.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana Prof Paloma Mohamed Martin related that “Apart from the applied research and innovation projects, UG staff publishes an average of 200 peer-reviewed articles annually. The student research culture is powerful and has been continuous for decades, it’s time our university showcased this, and we are delighted that Prof Francis and her tiny dedicated team in UGIRIE have been able to bring this exciting first showing into the public space. They have also invited schools and partners. I think this is just fantastic!”
The UGIRIE was set up in 2019 with a mandate of bridging the gap between knowledge generation and utilisation through strategic partnerships, thereby facilitating start-ups and product improvement.
Ultimately it intends to facilitate the utilisation of Guyana’s vast natural resources to help generate new products and services, thereby playing its part in stimulating Guyanese innovation and technologies driven by rigorous scientific research and practice which is happening inside the University.
The UGIRIE said it hopes to help transform our economy through the development, documentation, dissemination and marketing of research findings and innovations in science, arts and humanities to industry.