Mech. Eng. Dept- AUST Holds Webinar On Barite Research In Nigeria & Africa: Pitfalls, Prospects, and Next Steps

The Mechanical Engineering Department of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja successfully hosted a webinar on atomistic modeling and simulation of energy minerals and materials systems.

The webinar, had 28 participants spread across the globe. Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, President of AUST, delivered a welcome address, highlighting the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning approaches in studying minerals and materials.

He outlined the numerous African problems begging for solutions that can only be unraveled through atomistic modeling and simulation of minerals and materials systems. The guest speaker, Dr. Nelson Yaw Dzade, from the Energy and Minerals Engineering Department, Pennsylvania State University, USA, presented a paper on the topic "Atomistic Modeling and Simulation of Energy Minerals and Materials Systems."

Dr. Dzade pointed out the importance of atomistic modeling in materials design for energy applications, mineral processing of critical materials, and green energy storage technologies.

He shared groundbreaking research fear conducted by his group at Pennsylvania State University, addressing global needs in materials design, mineral processing, and energy storage. Dr. Dzade emphasized the need for African researchers to support computational work with experiments, warning against relying solely on modeling and simulation.

The renowned energy researcher called for collaboration with AUST researchers to drive innovation in energy solutions and major breakthroughs in science, engineering, and technology for Africa. The presentation sparked a lively question-and-answer session, with participants inquiring about developing computational skills required to solve similar research problems.

Dr. Dzade graciously offered his expertise and encouraged collaboration. The webinar was an eye-opener for the AUST community, and participants were thrilled to have Dr. Dzade, an alumnus of the university, share his insights. The speaker expressed gratitude to the university for the opportunity to share his thoughts with participants.

He also appreciated the support of the Acting Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Dr. David Afolayan, the Head of Research Groups, and the CEO of AfriMaterials & Ores Consults Ltd for sponsoring the webinar series. The successful event demonstrated AUST's commitment to promoting research and collaboration in the field of materials science and energy solutions, with a focus on African perspectives and solutions.