News

The University of Botswana (UB) recently joined stakeholders from across the country at the launch of the 2026 Month of Science, asserting its commitment to promoting science, technology, innovation and research as key drivers of a knowledge economy.

Launched on the 4th of August 2026 in Gaborone, this year’s Month of Science theme is “Harnessing Science, Technology, Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge to Drive Economic Diversification for a Prosperous Botswana”, underscoring the importance of leveraging scientific knowledge, technological advancement and indigenous expertise to address contemporary development challenges.

The Month of Science activities will culminate in a Science Week to be held in Shakawe from 17 to 21 August 2026. UB’s annual participation highlights its important role in advancing Botswana’s knowledge economy through research, innovation, skills development and community engagement.

As Botswana’s premier institution of higher learning, UB continues to provide a platform for academics, researchers and students to generate knowledge and develop solutions that respond to national and global challenges. Therefore, its participation in the Month of Science provides an opportunity to showcase some of the research and innovation taking place within the university while encouraging greater public appreciation of science.

Further, the Month of Science also provides an important platform for strengthening collaboration between academia, government, industry and communities. This is because such partnerships are critical in ensuring that scientific discoveries and technological innovations are translated into practical solutions that can improve livelihoods and contribute to economic transformation.

In that regard, UB has in recent years strengthened its focus on innovation and entrepreneurship including through initiatives designed to support students and researchers in developing ideas into practical solutions. For instance, in June 2026, the University hosted the launch of the Ideas Test Lab, a collaborative incubation programme involving UB, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and Penn State University situated at the UNiPod. The initiative seeks to foster innovation, entrepreneurship and problem-solving among students and strengthen collaboration across Botswana’s public universities.

Furthermore, the University is also coordinating the Research and Academic Mobility for Promoting Drug Discovery in Africa (RAMDDA), a major collaborative research and academic mobility initiative involving institutions from Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa and Ireland. The project is aimed at strengthening research capacity, postgraduate training, academic mobility and collaborative research in drug discovery and related disciplines.

These are but some of the initiatives that demonstrate the University’s contribution to building a research and innovation ecosystem capable of producing knowledge and skills required to address Botswana’s socio-economic challenges.

In that light, the Month of Science further creates opportunities to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) while demonstrating the relevance of scientific knowledge to everyday life.

For UB, participation in the initiative is also an opportunity to encourage students to see themselves not only as consumers of scientific knowledge but as future researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers.

As the 2026 Month of Science activities continue, UB is expected to remain an important partner in promoting scientific literacy, research excellence and innovation, while contributing to national efforts to build a knowledge-based and diversified economy.