The National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) together with the University of Zambia, National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) and the Ministry of Health Zambia (MoH) have partnered to collaborate on the project “validation of a shortened protocol for Dose to Mother Technique of Measuring Breast Milk Intake and the Assumptions in the Calculation of the Breast milk intake”. The project is sponsored by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) . The project is currently carried in two countries, India and Zambia. In India, the project is carried at St John’s Research and in Zambia at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) in collaboration with the University of Zambia, the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) and the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The afore menthioned institutions conducted a study aimed at reviewing, perfecting and simplifying the method to assess breast milk intake and exclusive breastfeeding for use in various settings on 13th to the 15th October 2021, at National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR The purpose of the study is to measure how much breast milk children consume from birth to when they are about two years (0 -2years).

NISIR's MWAPE MUSONDA AWARDED MANDELA WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP

Congratulations Mwape Musonda for being awarded the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Mwape is the Acting Financial Accountant at National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research where he is also the Chairperson for staff Union. Mwape is among the 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa. who have been awarded the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship, with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. college or university with support for professional development after they return home.
The Mandela Washington fellowship is the flagship program of the U.S. government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

NISIR’s Water and Environment Research Team entered into an MoU with the Groundwater Resources Management Support Programme (GReSP). The MoU will see the two parties conduct a review of the existing water quality studies and data of Lusaka in order to compile the available data and describe the overall status and trends of water quality in Lusaka. The review is necessitated by the need for the many studies and existing data to be collated into a single and easily accessible article for improved decision-making in the water sector.
The main output of the study is a review article to be published in an open access international scientific journal. This will enable various stakeholders have knowledge of water quality studies of Lusaka and derive a state of knowledge about water quality in Lusaka. The review will also contribute to Improved understanding of water quality issues and identification of trends and specific knowledge gaps in Lusaka.

NISIR on 1st May 2021 participated in the Labour Day celebrations in-house due to the covid 19 restrictions and as per the Ministry of Labour guidelines. The theme of this year's "Labour day was industrialization through productivity descent work and sustainable economic development amid Covid 19",
The Executive Director, Dr Henry Kambafwile' highlighted on the theme to be in line with the mandate for NISIR , stating that it resonates well with NISIR''s mandate to contribute to national development through industrial research and development, therefore NISIR should spearhead the Industrial Scientific Research amid covid 19.

The Board of the National Institute For Scientific And Industrial Research (Nisir) wishes to inform its sister institutions, partners and the general public of the appointment of Dr. Henry Kambafwile as its new Director / Chief Executive Officer effective 3rdMarch, 2021.
Dr. Kambafwile comes to this new appointment with over13 years of experience in the Research and Development (R&D) arena having served in various capacities in the Republic of South Africa and the region.Dr. Kambafwile’s postgraduate studies were at University of Cape Town, South Africa where he obtained PhD in 2012, in Medicinal Chemistry, MSc in 2008 in Chemistry.
He obtained BSc in 2000 in Biology & Chemistry from the University of Zambia after Grade 12 at Mpelembe Secondary School. Dr. Kambafwilejoins NISIR with a wealth of experience inPolicy Planning for Science, Technology and Innovations (ST&I), Strategic Planning & Implementation for growth and advancement in R&D as well as project, programme and operations managementin industry, private and public sector,including consulting.
Dr. Kambafwile also worked for Zambia Revenue Authority from 2001to 2005before starting postgraduate training andcareer in R&D in 2006.
The Board wishes to congratulate Dr. Kambafwile on his appointment and also wishes him every success, God’s guidance and vision as he assumes this new role of directing the affairs and mandate of NISIR to greater heights within the National Science, Technology & Innovation landscape and beyond.

Zambia on Friday 18th December 2020 launched a nuclear policy meant to provide guidance to the country's national nuclear program. Dr. Mushimba stated that nuclear science was a prerequisite as it was worldly approved and applied in various economic sectors and the launch of the document was a clear testimony for the provision of direction on how to maximize economic benefits for Zambia to remain competitiveness through a sustainable implementation roadmap.
Honorable Mushimba said as a member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Zambia will embark on nuclear energy principles for peaceful use and adherence based on established core values, and accepted norms during the development process.
Honorable Mushimba was speaking today 18th December 2020 when he launched the Nuclear and Science Policy in Lusaka.
The Minister further Implored Ministry officials and stakeholders to ensure recognition of Nuclear Sciences in the 8th National Development Plan (NDP) which the Government is developing in order to operationalise the policy successfully.
“The policy will go a long way to ensure its procedural adoption and uptake is a success”. Said Minister Mushimba.
And Higher Education Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame said the launch of the policy was a very important moment in the history of Zambia because as the policy is rolled out, she believed its applications will play an important role to various economic sectors of the county.
Moving a vote of thanks Director Science, Technology and Innovation Jane Mubanga Chinkusu expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the Ministry leadership efforts exhibited to produce the nuclear policy destined to do better for Zambia.

A new NISIR board committee was appointed in 2020 by the Minister of Higher Education in exercise of the power entrusted in him as Honourable Minister responsible for Science and Technology and according to part IV of the Science and Technology act no. 26 of 1997, constituted the management board of NISIR. He congratulated and wished the team all the best as they superintend over the affairs of NISIR. Honourable Mushimba was happy especially that it was a unique board with an addition of 5 qualified competent ladies who have recorded competence in their qualifications. Minister Mushimba noted that the crop of think tanks hired are coming with a sound backdrop of finance and accounting, engineering, and the business sector.

The New board members are Judith Lungu, Hildah Silavwe, Mizimo Musokotwane, Filipo Zulu, Jane Chinkusu, Happy Musumali and Namakau Siyanga.

Among the participants that took part in the training on “enhancing capacity to assess environmental radioactivity in Africa” through IAEA training on sample collection and pre-treatment in Kenya is Mr. Phillimon Shaba working under the Energy Development Research Center (EDRC).“Zambia is a landlocked country with many freshwater rivers and lakes.
However, the country’s economy relies heavily on mining and both old and new mines are a potential steady source of radioactive waste,” said Phillimon Shaba from the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research in Zambia. “If not managed properly, this contamination can have a drastic effect on our precious environmental resources and public health.” There is limited capacity in this region to measure and monitor radionuclides in the marine, coastal and terrestrial environment. Through building the capacity in these skills, it will be possible to produce reliable quality data to help protect local populations that heavily depend on agriculture and seafood.
This hands-on field and laboratory-based training equipped the participants and technical professionals with knowledge how to correctly collect and pre-treat environmental samples for measurement of radioactivity. Trainees learned how to correctly sample, handle and pre-treat water, biota and sediment samples in the laboratory prior to any further radioactivity measurements. CONGRATULATIONS Phillimon Shaba on your new skills