Upon the invitation of the Dean of the College of Science of Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia) to offer a Keynote Speech at the 5th Annual Science Conference with the theme “Scientific Thinking and Research for Solutions”, Dr. Temechegn Engida made the speech titled “Promoting Scientific Thinking as a Vehicle for Sustainable Development in Africa”. The presentation also discussed the 17 goals of SDGs. The one-hour long presentation was well received by the participants and several questions were raised and answered. The Conference took place in Bahir Dar University main campus from the 17th to 18th of February, 2017 and officially opened by the Ambassador of Israel to Ethiopia.

After the closing ceremony on 18 February, Dr. Temechegn visited the Bahir Dar University’s STEM Center.

Financed by Gelfand Family Charitable Trust (GFCT) and Bahir Dar University with a motto “Inside Every Child, There is a Scientist”, the STEM Center has the following facilities: 11 Laboratories for Physics, Optics, Space Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Electronics, Mathematics, ICT (Two Rooms), and Workshop, Mini Library, Meeting Hall, Staff rooms, toilets and outdoor biological gardens. In the past 5 years, the STEM Center has made several achievements:

1) developed 17 laboratory manuals that consisted of theoretical background and practical hands on experiments,

2) conducted summer training programs for 2,120 students drawn from grade 7 to grade 12,

3) trained in the summer program 98 University Instructors, 82 Laboratory Technicians and  60 upper primary, secondary and preparatory school teachers, and

4) conducted extracurricular activities such as educational tours to Blue Nile Water Fall, Koga Agricultural Irrigation Dam and Bahir Dar Textile Factory.