Texas A&M Agrilife Research Team Visits UB to Explore Areas of Collaboration
A delegation from Texas A&M Agrilife Research Team paid a courtesy call on Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris recently to explore possible areas of collaboration or partnerships in research.
The delegation comprised Texas A&M AgriLife Research Director, Dr Cliff Lamb, Vegetable Breeder at the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Centre, Dr Kevin Crosby, Agricultural and Development Economist, Dr. Kashi Kaf, Grassland Ecologist Texas A&M AgriLife-Stephenville Research and Extension, Dr. James Muir, Chair of the Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – Animal Science, Dr. Ky Pohler and Public Health Nutrition Researcher, Texas A&M AgriLife-El Paso Research and Extension, Dr. Beth Racine.
Speaking at the meeting, Professor Norris said UB was now on a strategic direction of intensifying research that was impactful to society. He also said the university had contributed positively towards the improvement of agricultural activity in the country. Professor Norris further stated that the university prioritised research on areas such as water management, water harvesting, water recycling and conservation.
He added that other research areas of focus included natural resource management, climate change, renewable energy and sustainable development. Furthermore, Professor Norris said UB was engaged in research work on biological sciences and chemistry on medicinal properties of indigenous plants. However, Professor Norris said the challenge was to turn such research into finished products. He advised the Texas delegation to assist in core supervision of post-graduate students.
In response, Texas A&M Agrilife Research Agency Director, Dr Cliff Lamb, highlighted that the Texas A&M System was the second largest in the US with 11 universities and a total of 60 000 students. He noted that every university had a research portfolio. In addition, he said there were eight state agencies funded by State of Texas.
“Texas A&M has a lot of research and it has an engineering experiment station, Texas Department of Emergency Management and Medical Diagnostic Lab,” said Dr Lamb.
He further stated that Taxas A&M system was the largest non-federal research entity that conducted research on agriculture, live sciences and natural resources. Dr Lamb noted that the system had over 600 faculty members and support in research i
nfrastructure either based in 20 departments that included agriculture and live sciences.
He explained that there were 13 research centres around the state with faculty members strategically placed to do research that was of specific importance in those regions of the state.
Meanwhile, UB Deputy Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Professor Georges Ekosse, said the partnership between the two institutions would assist in the transformation of Botswana from a mineral to knowledge-based economy as well as adapting solar energy.