THE Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) began a two-day training programme at its boardroom at the University of Guyana (UG) campus, Turkeyen, ECD, on Friday. The aim is to introduce a cross-section of individuals from the private sector, academics from the university, and technical staff from a variety of science-related agencies to a suite of state-of-the-art analytical equipment the institute recently acquired.
Professor Suresh Narine, Director of IAST, and Dr. Laziz Bouzidi, a Senior Research Associate from Professor Narine’s Centre for Biomaterials Research at Trent University, are conducting the training sessions.

Dr. Bouzidi has volunteered his time to assist Professor Narine to install and train local personnel in operation and maintenance of the equipment, which is relevant to the analysis of parameters for materials (including food, industrial, petroleum and environmental) which describe the chemical and physical properties of the materials.
Professor Narine related that the equipment should enable IAST to develop more effective quality control tests for local industries, whilst at the same time design new and improved processes. The equipment is also useful in the effort to isolate and characterize bioactive compounds from our rainforest botanicals, a major focus for the institute, motivated by the Low Carbon Development Strategy.
The move to train a wider cross-section of individuals beyond just institute staff is aimed at maximising exploitative use of the equipment, which Dr. Narine claims to be the best of the best in the world for such analyses.
Professor Narine attributed the renewal of the equipment base at the institute and its rejuvenation to past President Bharrat Jagdeo’s vision and patronage.
According to Professor Narine, President Jagdeo was the main architect of the institute’s resuscitation, and deserves the credit for the institution now being counted among the top one percent of such institutions in the region.
Professor Narine posited that engagement of the private sector in public/private partnerships for commercialising research and development activities at the institute is a major focus for the institute. Recently, the IAST signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UG and Trent University of Canada to share human and equipment resources, and Friday’s training session is seen as one very tangible way of these partnerships bearing fruit. (GINA)