If you’re a scientist seeking out opportunities for innovation, then this article is for you.

If you’re not a scientist but still seeking for opportunities, then this article is a must for you.

As a chemical practitioner and a teacher, I once struggled to convince my students to see business sense in chemistry.

But I was trying to convince them of something I myself didn’t have a conviction in.

Just take a tour into the libraries of our local universities.

You actually don’t need to go there physically.

Just login to their portal and scan through the research work published by their scientists.

They put in a lot of time, energy and effort in their trade.

But what do they have to show for it?

Their literal works are academic but with little practical impact.

Just picture a postgraduate student researching on pollutants in a local river.

They’ll probably get funding to do that…

probably in the millions of shillings only to get to tell us how polluted a river is.

Then what?

That’s the dilemma scientists like myself have in a nation where education is not packaged to deliver the value it carries.

But picture the same student who unearths risky pollutants in our drinking water.

What if s/he not only talks about the problem but goes an extra mile to formulate a solution.

Probably s/he designs a house hold water filter or a system to treat industrial effluent.

Looks straightforward but it ain’t.

But that’s the whole reason why we bother with science – to solve daily problems.

That’s the whole deal behind chemistry.

It’s helps us solve multiple problems only if we use it to do the needful.

WATER

Climate change is magnifying the water challenge by the day.

Today, the frequency of drought spells is increasing due to increased desertification. 

So what does chemistry have to do with addressing the monumental climate change problem?

Some of the pollutants in water are chemical in nature, and others require chemical approaches to remove them.

A scientist could help recover wastewater from industry to rechannel it back for reuse.

Chemical technology could in the future help recycle wastewater allowing us to enjoy a resource that easily goes to waste.

ENERGY

The need for affordable energy is a relevant subject today.

The rise in the cost of fuel due to economic dynamics and conflict creates a huge problem for those at the bottom of the pyramid.

But chemistry holds a key to solving this problem.

How so?

Storage of renewable energy.

Solar, wind, hydroelectric power are all promising sources of renewable energy.

But they all have an achilles heel.

They need storage when produced in excess.

Batteries make this possible.

These chemical devices have served us so efficiently in the 21st century.

But chemical technology promises to improve on them making them formidable in storing renewable energy.

Picture the lithium battery, nickel cadmium battery and more recently, the vanadium redox flow battery.

All these are devices that have been built upon the knowledge of chemistry.

Research and commercialization of easily available battery materials such as carbon and metals such as iron and titanium make it an exciting venture for any researcher willing to innovate.

There are more areas of interest in energy where chemistry is concerned… solar power, hydrogen energy, bioethanol, and biodiesel to name but a few.

But let’s look at another field which is also worth focussing on.

FOOD

Ever since the invention of chemical fertilizers, chemistry has helped us make major strides in guaranteeing food security.

Take for instance the development of slow release fertilizers which avail sufficient nutrient to crops while curbing on soil and water pollution.

But chemistry could also create a link between waste and food in a very unique way

Take for instance composting which is conversion of rotting waste into agricultural nutrients.

These complex wastes are over time converted into nutrients which are easy for plats to assimilate.

But chemistry could also help reduce water pollution while at the same time boosting crop production.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are key culprits when it comes to degradation of water bodies.

But they are also useful agricultural nutrients which could be harnessed from waste water for reuse in the farm.

A number of materials have such a potential though most are still being researched on.

Chemistry could also play a key role in food preservation, food waste valorization etc.

Lastly, chemistry is also key in another key area.

HEALTHCARE

With the increase in cases of lifestyle diseases, chemistry could lend a hand in early screening.

Take for instance prostate cancer whose screening is done through monitoring levels of prostate specific antigen – which may take a day or two.

Research progress on methods of doing real-time detection are in progress, and chemistry is behind the scenes.

But also let’s talk about treatment.

Many disease treatment regimes require large dosages of drugs due to their short retention times in the body.

Some chemical substances are known to help retain drug agents in the body for longer periods, leading which allows low dosages and quicker recovery of patients.

All these are areas where chemistry could play a vital role.

IN CONCLUSION

So this is a word of encouragement to all those who have studied chemistry, sciences or seek to use science to innovate.

Opportunities exist.

But it only takes initiative to step out and help solve real-life African problems in the following sectors:

Water

Energy

Food

Healthcare.

And this list is not conclusive.