10th and Concluding Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture on 5 June

10 lectures in 7 months, and We are Concluding...

Ethiopia's first ever academic lecture series, Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture Series on Environment, Development and Society concludes on 

5th June (Friday) World Environment Day!

From 5th December 2014 (Nelson Mandela Memorial Day), it was a journey through the roads of wisdom!!

Concluding Lecture, Speaker: Prof. P. Natarajan, Department of Biology, Ambo University

Topic: Sustainable Technologies for Ensuring Food Security: An Approach to Livelihood Enhancement

Time, Date: 9.30am, Friday, 5 June (World Environment Day, 28 Genbot, 2007 EC)

Flyer for 10th and Concluding Lecture by Prof. P. Natarajan. 

9th Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture on 26th May

A session that history buffs cannot desist! 

A gift from the Land of Rising Sun!!

Speaker: 

Prof. Mami Yamada, Professor Extraordinary, Meiji Gakuin University, Japan

Topic: 

Power of Women: Case of a Japanese noblewoman who engaged to the Prince of Ethiopia in 1934

Time, Date: 

9.30am, 26 May 2015 (18 Genbot, 2007)

Venue: 

Library Hall, Micro Business College, Ambo campus

Flyer for the 9th Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture by Prof. Mami Yamada on 26th May at Ambo Campus of Micro Business College. 

8th Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture on 16th May

Welcome to all those who are interested, to the 8th Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture

Speaker: 

Dr. Akhila S. Nair 

Asst. Professor, Environmental Science Programme, Department of Biology, Ambo University

Topic: Gender facets of Climate Change

Time and Date: 9.30am, 16 May 2015 (Saturday) {8 Ginbot, 2007 EC}

Venue: Gedo campus of Micro Business College

Flyer for the 8th Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture by Dr. Akhila S. Nair at Gedo Campus of Micro Business College on 16th May (Saturday). 

Value of this gift touches the sky!

Gift for star gazers: Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema presenting three Galileoscope telescopes to President of Micro Business College, Mr. Abera Tilahun. Community reach programme Head, of Entoto Observatory and Research Centre, Mr. Alemayo (R) and Coordinator for research, development and communication, Mr. Sivakumar K.P. are also seen. PHOTO: TESHALE CHALUMA, MICRO BUSINESS COLLEGE

It was a matter of elation and ecstasy for Micro Business College, when Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema gifted three telescopes for the college. President of the college, Mr. Abera Tilahun, received the telescopes. While handing over the exceptional gift, Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema said that the telescope was a gift for the Micro Business College community for making basic levels of star gazing and sky watch. Each of the three Galileoscope telescopes, developed by leading astronomers and optical designers, have 50mm (2 inch) F/10 refractor kit, 20mm eyepiece and Barlow lens. 

Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema reiterated the Ethiopian Space Science Society’s (ESSS) and Entoto Observatory and Research Centre’s (EORC) commitment to see that the science of space is made popular all over the country. He added that a branch of the ESSS can be opened in Ambo under the auspices of the college, provided stipulated terms and conditions are accepted by the parties. Head, Community outreach programmes of the EORC, Mr. Alemayo was also present.

Towering honour...

As honour towers...: President of Micro Business College, Mr. Abera Tilahun presenting an image of sky-kissing Auxum tower of Ethiopia to Dr. Solomong Belay Tessema as a mark of honour at the conclusion of the latter’s lecture that marked 7th Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture at Ambo campus of the college on 15 April.  Head, Community Outreach programmes of Entoto Observatory and Research Centre, Mr. Alemayo is also seen. PHOTO: TESHALE CHALUMA, MICRO BUSINESS COLLEGE.

Space for questions...

Dr. Akhila S. Nair

What is special with Lalibela to be your place for installations? 

International and Ethiopian studies could find that the atmospheric features like less cloud and height etc make Lalibela an appropriate venue. Factors like wind speed, cloud formation, temperature difference etc are also favourable there. 

Ms. Deepsikha Saikia

What kind of awareness do you provide for university students? 
Do you provide any forecasting service?  Solar/Lunar eclipse?

We provide awareness programmes like one-day basic astronomy training. Also donate telescopes. We are able to forecast solar and lunar eclipses. No weather forecasting now. 

Mr. Abera Tilahun

Can our students enter the space science branch?
I felt women presence is scanty in Ethiopian space science? 

Demand is so high for space science now. It can integrate many schools of knowledge like space commerce, space business, space law and so on. Women have due presence. For example, one of our founding memebrs was Ms. Addiswoth Girma. Many girls join our training (Quotes names). 

Mr. Nahum Gezahun

Currently Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) is using a foreign satellite. Can the EBC make use of EthioSat once the latter is realized? 

Presently EBC is spending more than 1 billion USD per year for using foreign satellites. Once our EthioSat is realized, of course EBC can save this considerable money. 

Mr. Megersa Nuresa

What is the relationship between technological development and space science? 
Any collaboration between EORC and Ministry of Technology? 

EORC is ambitious of setting a model and international curriculum for others by not taking away space science from mainstream subjects. The MoT is financing our observatory. In turn we are advisor for the ministry in its policy making.

Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema (R) answering to questions from audience. President of Micro Business College, Mr. Abera Tilahun looks on.
PHOTO: TESHALE CHALUMA, MICRO BUSINESS COLLEGE

About challenges of science education

President of Micro Business College,
Mr. Abera Tilahun during his
Opening Remarks, prior to
the 7th Wangari Maathai Memorial
Lecture by Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema
at the college’s Ambo Campus
on 15 April.  PHOTO: TESHALE CHALUMA
MICRO BUSINESS COLLEGE

Opening remarks by the President of Micro Business College, Mr. Abera Tilahun, as usual gifted a worthy prelude to the 7th Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture by Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema. This time, Mr. Abera Tilahun was viewing at science education as chieftain of an educational institution. Though science education and scientific wisdom were essential for the emancipation of humankind, providing scientific education needed huge lot of investment. “I am sure that regarding science education, developing countries like ours is facing certain stiff challenges. Science education is one of the branches that demands pretty more infrastructure [...] and rapid updating of the syllabi”, he said. 

Mr. Abera pointed that specialization has become the order of the day.  Astrophysics, for example, is a specialization that has found many followers. “All such specialization demands huge investment of human resource and money” he reiterated. Mr. Abera said that being a costly subject, investment on space science by developing countries usually raised many questions as to why a poor country should go after such expensive exploration. “Of course, sentiments behind those questions are right. But equally right is the sentiment for investing in the areas of space science, considering the immense of benefits the space could reap”, Mr. Abera opined.  

He said that it has been agreed in principle that the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi would be supporting the college to establish a science and environment faculty at Uru-Gamo. Mr. Abera Tilahun expressed hope that once realized, probably within a year, the Uru-Gamo campus would start producing a rural network of able young scientists in the field of environment and natural science.