10
A. Lateef et al.
8.2 Manpower Development and Training via Workshops
and Short Training
The curriculum of studies in microbiology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels does not address sufficiently the needed exposure to materials science
and nanotechnology. However, various investigations in microbiology employ the
use of series of techniques that are basic tools in nanotechnology research; these
include spectroscopy (UV–visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy) and electron microscopy (scanning and transmission) which are well
covered in the curriculum. The handling of other techniques such as X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis would require some level of competence in these techniques
whose coverage is beyond the scope of microbiology discipline. Thus, acquisition
of knowledge about them can be accessed by advanced scholars of microbiology
through short training and workshops on nanotechnology that are handled by core
specialists and researchers in nanotechnology. These workshops and training are
available at international, regional and national levels in different countries. In addition, the training can also be organized at institutional level by cognate departments:
typically chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, metallurgical engineering and mechanical engineering. Similarly, through interdisciplinary research,
specialized workshops can be organized for the participating members to acquaint
them of these techniques and import to microbial nanobiotechnology.
The aforementioned methods have been found to work with encouraging results.
At the institution of the lead author, a multidisciplinary research group that consisted
of microbiologists, botanist, zoologist, physicists, biochemist and mechanical engineers has worked out basic workshop modules with theoretical and practical exposition on the synthesis, characterization and applications of nanoparticles. The group,
LAUTECH Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO
+ ) has organized workshops
on nanotechnology in 2017, 2018 and 2019 with good attendance (www.lautechna
notech.com). The success story is that many of the attendees at these workshops
have become proficient in nanotechnology and initiated researches in this area in
not less than twenty universities within Nigeria. The group also instituted an annual
conference on nanotechnology with broad themes and audiences to provide discourse
platform for nanotechnology engagement in a broad-based manner. Thus, opportunities can be easily created to provide a learning environment to acquire the needed
knowledge to conduct research in nanotechnology by non-specialists in materials
science. Such trainings have also been advanced by scholars (Wang and Hsu 2004;
Fonash et al. 2006; Furlan et al. 2013; Malsch 2014). Moreover, stimulating lectures
by nano-biotechnologists can be organized for students in life sciences to introduce
them to the concepts of nanobiotechnology and its relevance to their disciplines
and research endeavours (Lateef 2020). With the advances in ICT, such talk can be
delivered via webinar.
A. Lateef et al.
8.2 Manpower Development and Training via Workshops
and Short Training
The curriculum of studies in microbiology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels does not address sufficiently the needed exposure to materials science
and nanotechnology. However, various investigations in microbiology employ the
use of series of techniques that are basic tools in nanotechnology research; these
include spectroscopy (UV–visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy) and electron microscopy (scanning and transmission) which are well
covered in the curriculum. The handling of other techniques such as X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis would require some level of competence in these techniques
whose coverage is beyond the scope of microbiology discipline. Thus, acquisition
of knowledge about them can be accessed by advanced scholars of microbiology
through short training and workshops on nanotechnology that are handled by core
specialists and researchers in nanotechnology. These workshops and training are
available at international, regional and national levels in different countries. In addition, the training can also be organized at institutional level by cognate departments:
typically chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, metallurgical engineering and mechanical engineering. Similarly, through interdisciplinary research,
specialized workshops can be organized for the participating members to acquaint
them of these techniques and import to microbial nanobiotechnology.
The aforementioned methods have been found to work with encouraging results.
At the institution of the lead author, a multidisciplinary research group that consisted
of microbiologists, botanist, zoologist, physicists, biochemist and mechanical engineers has worked out basic workshop modules with theoretical and practical exposition on the synthesis, characterization and applications of nanoparticles. The group,
LAUTECH Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO
+ ) has organized workshops
on nanotechnology in 2017, 2018 and 2019 with good attendance (www.lautechna
notech.com). The success story is that many of the attendees at these workshops
have become proficient in nanotechnology and initiated researches in this area in
not less than twenty universities within Nigeria. The group also instituted an annual
conference on nanotechnology with broad themes and audiences to provide discourse
platform for nanotechnology engagement in a broad-based manner. Thus, opportunities can be easily created to provide a learning environment to acquire the needed
knowledge to conduct research in nanotechnology by non-specialists in materials
science. Such trainings have also been advanced by scholars (Wang and Hsu 2004;
Fonash et al. 2006; Furlan et al. 2013; Malsch 2014). Moreover, stimulating lectures
by nano-biotechnologists can be organized for students in life sciences to introduce
them to the concepts of nanobiotechnology and its relevance to their disciplines
and research endeavours (Lateef 2020). With the advances in ICT, such talk can be
delivered via webinar.