Page 4 - MRC Newsletter Ed-1 (2021)

Chief Editor’s

Note

Prof. Nelago Indongo
Director, MRC

DEAR READERS

It is indeed a great honour to be the Editor I am delighted to share with you the good
for the “Research Matter” Newsletter which news of researchers cracking glass ceilings,
was established by the Multidisciplinary some excelling from being staff development
Research Centre (MRC) of the University of fellows to prominent scientists of the lifetime.
Namibia some 8 years ago. It is an immense As researchers, we participated in high
pleasure to present to you the 8th edition of national discussions and we are also serving
in high level national committees like the High
our precious newsletter.
Level National Land Conference Committee,
and the National COVID-19 Committee. We
In this issue, we give you a glance of MRC also have members that are involved in
as we narrate our achievements and the high level steering committees including the
challenges that we faced in the past five African Regional Cooperative Agreement for
(5) years. We recount the various projects Research, Development and Training related
and activities in which researchers were to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA),
actively involved in for the past five (5) years. as well as the Thematic Lead for Research
We brought the face of UNAM into the light Themes on the steering committee for the
when we hosted a round table discussion ACU Higher Education and the SDGs Network
in all regions. We have also participated
on the concept of Urbanisation in Namibia. in international debates and discussions,
This attracted media and public attention notably the China-Africa cooperation on
and elicited open national discussions on production capacity and industrialisation in
Urbanisation in Namibia. In this issue, you will Africa under the China-Africa joint research
read about the 3rd multi/interdisciplinary and exchange programme.
research international conference and some
milestones from the conference proceedings Furthermore, MRC is well known for
that were published and are currently being interrogating current issues of national
cited by national and international scholars. interest and for providing policy and
My being at MRC has moulded me to believe programme interventions and solutions. In
this issue you will have a chance to read an
that Teamwork is the way to go. I remain article about the recent COVID-19 epidemic
inspired by the words of Kalu Kalu who said and how it relates to gender. You will also
that, “The things you do for yourself are gone be updated on the prompt involvement of
when you are gone, but the things you do for researchers on the locusts’ outbreak in the
others remain as your legacy”. Zambezi region and how teamwork made it

04 RESEARCH MATTERS VOL 8. 2021 MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CENTRE