Jane Catherine Ngila

Jane Catherine Ngila is the head of the Chemical Sciences Department at the University of Johannesburg, her work focuses on applying nanotechnology for water purification. She is Acting Executive Director of the African Academy of Sciences and member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.She started her career as a tutor in the chemistry department at Kenyatta University in 1989, and was appointed as a lecturer in 1996. She later worked at the University of Botswana (1998–2006) and then as a senior lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2006–2011) before being appointed a professorship of applied chemistry at the University of Johannesburg in 2011.

Quotes

• I believe that African women have the capability to excel in the sciences and make Africa advance a lot in socio economic development.
• That is true Riara University, the storm shall pass as long as we keep social distance, wear face mask combined with frequent hand washing.
• I was born in Ithiani village, which is located in Kenya’s Kitui county, where I received my primary and secondary education before attending Lugulu Girls in Bugoma County, Kenya, for my advanced level qualification.
• I hope we can achieve gender equality where women and girls are empowered to ensure inclusive and quality education for all.
• I have research interests in water resource management. For nearly 30 years I have worked in academic institutions — Kenyatta University, University of Botswana and South Africa-based University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of Johannesburg until April 2017 when I joined Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas at Kenya Pipeline Company as the first deputy director in charge of training.
• Well, I climbed the academic ladder from tutorial fellow to full professor. In the university there are four to five key performance areas: teaching undergraduate and supervising postgraduate students; research, development and innovation; community outreach; international networks and management or leadership. I have had significant outputs in the five areas.
• I have also published significantly: about 300 journal articles, conference proceedings and book chapters. I have produced potentially commercial materials used as filters for water treatment.
• I am particularly interested in water research because water is simply vital. Nanotechnology has an essential role to play in purification techniques.
• Our current methods can filter water to levels that are safe for domestic use, or by up to 80%, but we want to refine them to filter [out] about 100% of water contaminants in one filtration cycle.
• I want us [Africans] to have access to safe drinking water, just as is the case in developed countries such as USA and in Europe.
• We drew water from a river about two miles [about 3km] away. The river where kids went to swim and women laundered their dirty clothes, was the same river we drew water from to fill our calabashes and plastic jerrycans.
• We are hoodwinked by some few towns that have piped water. But, actually, much of Africa is water stressed. And the few water sources that are available are contaminated with metals and organics and other impurities. So, many of our people are drinking dirty water if [it is] not treated
• We are exploring how we can functionalise these nano materials to trap metals, such as aluminium and lead, and to degrade pesticides and other organic materials that can be found in water.
• A number of commercial nanofilters (those that can filter water up to 80%) are already on the market for domestic water filtration. These nanofilters can also be used at the tail end of waste water treatment processes to filter tertiary treated water, enabling millions to access clean and safe drinking water. But few individual households can access filters because they are still pricey.
• We need these technologies, not just for industrial use, but also for domestic use, for everyday use. So that individual households can mount them in their homes.
• My dream is to produce a commercially viable water nanofilter that removes contaminants in one filtration cycle, enabling rural African families to install affordable water filters in their homes. It is to have a continent where everyone can access safe and clean drinking water.