Dr Emmanuel E.Etim, a Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, is one of three Nigerian scientists who attended an international forum, Lindau Online Science Days, LINOSD, that drew more than 1,000 young scientists and 40 nobel Laureates. In this interview with RAKIYA A. MUHAMMAD who was one of accredited journalists at the virtual event, Etim speaks on the forum. The TWAS-DF visiting Fellow and an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Munich, Germany also comments on how Chemical Sciences can contribute their full potentials in addressing the major global challenges of today in different areas including Water, Health, Energy, Environment, Food (WHEEF): Dr Etim who is part of the Covid-19 Omics Research Consortium (CORC), a global initiative aimed at finding a lasting solution to the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizes that everyone has a responsibility in addressing issues of coronavirus, climate change and global scientific practice “if we must make the world a better place.” EXCERPTS:
You are one of over a thousand young scientists attending the online 2020 Days Lindau programme, tell us your experience and how you feel being one of three Nigerians there?
Attending the online 2020 Days Lindau programme was a dream come true. It gave me the opportunity to interact with the very best experts in different disciplines that constitute my research interest and beyond. I learnt from the global experts, improved on my skills and knowledge across different fields. The experience gathered in this event will go a long way in reshaping my career as a scientist. It has given me a different perspective on how global issues should be addressed. Listening to our very own Literature Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka on the last day of the event was a proud moment for me as a Nigerian, I was once again inspired. As one of the three Nigerians attending this event, I hope to go back home as an agent of change, to share with our people my experience and chart a new course on re-orientation as it regards global issues be it scientific or non-scientific with the aim of making Nigeria and indeed Africa a better place even as I look forward to meeting and interacting with these people in persons by 2021 during the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings in Germany.
What did you bring to the event as a Physical Chemist
As a Physical Chemist with all the tools available to me, I went into the event well equipped to lend my voice in addressing the issues presented which are all within my purview as a chemist beginning from the Covid-19 pandemic in which chemists are searching for solution from natural products/phytochemicals, the climate change problem in which chemists are at the forefront with measures on how to mitigate this problem to the global scientific practice in which chemists are not left out. So indeed, the event was well suited for a chemist.
The Lindau programme covered urgent questions on the corona pandemic, climate change problem and global scientific practice, could you share your thoughts on the issues?
These are all global issues and as such they require global attention for a long lasting solution. Everyone has a part to play in addressing these issues. Definitely our roles will be different but our aim/target should be the same. For example, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, while I am in the lab searching for a solution with support from the funding agencies, you as a journalist/communicator should play your own part by giving the people the proper information. The same goes for the climate change problem with different people having different myths about it. But the truth is, both Covid-19 and climate change are real and their impacts are globally felt and as such we all have a responsibility in addressing these issues if we must make the world a better place. With respect to the global scientific practice, as a scientist, I strongly believe that scientific ethics, norms and culture should be encouraged and practiced at all levels.
How do you think chemical Sciences can contribute their full potentials in addressing major global challenges of today?
Chemical Sciences can contribute their full potentials in addressing the major global challenges of today in different areas including Water, Health, Energy, Environment, Food (WHEEF): Water: Studies have shown that three children die per minute globally due to water related diseases. Chemical sciences can help by
- developing new methods for water treatment
- developing new materials for applications such as purification membranes and pipework
- using analytical chemistry to create ways to rapidly test water quality.
Health: When it comes to human health there are many challenges such as combating infectious diseases, supporting healthy ageing among others. Chemical sciences play major role in improving therapies, diagnostics and modern medicine. Chemical sciences will help improve global healthcare by improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease, developing better means of diagnosis and optimising drug discovery and development.
Energy: As the world moves towards a sustainable energy future, the chemical sciences will have a role to play in harnessing environmentally sustainable energy supplies, and improving efficiency of power generation, transmission and use.
Environment: The significant developments made over the last few decades in the areas of energy, health and agriculture have contributed immensely to human well-being. These developments have however results in negative changes in the environment around us. The chemical sciences will therefore play a major role in mitigating these changes especially in the areas of air quality monitoring and climate change.
Food: In order to be able to feed a growing global population, we will need to improve our agricultural processes. As populations increase and resources such as water and nutrients become scarcer, it is imperative that we develop ways to improve food yields, cut food waste and ensure people have access to a plentiful supply of safe and nutritious food.
The chemical sciences will play a key role by:
- Developing new products to protect crops from pests and diseases
- Improving our understanding of soil so that we can better use this valuable resource
- Improving the efficiency with which plants receive vital nutrients
Why did you choose physical chemistry as a field and why did you develop interest in spectroscopy, astrochemistry and computational chemistry?
I chose physical chemistry because it’s the most difficult and I wanted to understand it. Yes, physical chemistry is the most difficult aspect of chemistry because unlike other areas of chemistry that one has to be good in “chemistry”, in physical chemistry you have to be good in mathematics and physics in order to be good in physical chemistry because Physical Chemistry is the application of Physics and Mathematics in solving chemistry problems.
My journey into Spectroscopy, Astrochemistry and Computational chemistry started in 2013 when I joined the group of Prof. E. Arunan at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for a PhD in Physical Chemistry. One of the research interests of the group is Rotational Spectroscopy and one major application of this spectroscopic technique is in the chemical examination of the interstellar medium (i.e the space between the stars). After my literature seminar on Interstellar Chemistry, I continued working in Astrochemistry using both experimental and computational techniques. Thus, I use computational chemistry to provide the spectroscopic parameters required for Astrochemistry research.
What would you say has been your most significant contribution to your field?
Astrochemistry is a young interdisciplinary field that blends chemistry into astrophysics and astronomy. As a chemist doing astrochemistry, my interest is in understanding the different “chemistries” of the different classes of interstellar molecular species. From my studies, I have been able to establish for the first time the Energy, Stability, Abundance (ESA) relationship existing among these molecular species. This is a unique contribution in the field as it explains why some related molecular species are astronomically observed in the interstellar medium while other are not. This relationship serves as a guide in searching for related molecules in the interstellar medium. Also, from my studies I have shown for the first time the existence and effects of interstellar hydrogen bonding. This explains a number of phenomena in Astrochemistry such as the presence of weakly bound complexes in the interstellar medium, the deviations from thermodynamics among other phenomena.
As a lecturer, researcher, what would you advice to improve physical chemistry education in Nigeria?
As a lecturer, the first advice I would give in order to improve physical chemistry education in Nigeria is for our present Curriculum to be reviewed at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels. There are courses that are important in physical chemistry that are not offered by our students and as a result of this, some of our graduates find it difficult to cope with their counterparts in other countries of the world. Equipping our laboratories is another important thing we really need to do in order to improve not just physical chemistry education but chemistry education as a whole in Nigeria. We may not be able to build the world class laboratories in every Nigerian University but we can start somewhere. A well equipped centre of excellence in physical chemistry in each of the geopolitical zones in the country will go a long way in meeting the research needs of our researchers and post-graduate students. Funding is yet another vital instrument that we need in order to improve physical chemistry education in Nigeria. Funding for research, collaboration, further studies, conferences and lots more will go a long way in improving physical chemistry education in the country.
What is most challenging about what you do?
Passion for what I do is my driving force and it’s also my biggest motivation, so keeping this passion alive, maintaining focus, forging ahead irrespective of yesterday’s results and encouraging myself everyday are really challenging.
What is most rewarding?
I love the collaboration that I enjoy from our team where everyone shares the same vision and everyone is dedicated to the same mission. I like the freedom to think outside the box, to innovate and try something new without any fear.
What are your goals and dreams for the future?
As a Lecturer/Researcher, I have always given priorities to research, teaching, mentoring, community development service and outreach activities. It’s my desire to keep improving in these areas. It’s my desire to address “The Chemical Origin of Life” from an Astrochemistry/Molecular Astrophysics perspective in the near future.
You’ve published several research articles, which of them touch directly on prevailing public concerns and the solutions?
I have published over 80 research articles and My articles have been cited over 620 times as at today according to Google Scholar. As I earlier mentioned the different global challenges that chemical sciences can address, my research work has addressed some of these challenges especially in the areas of Water and Environment. About a decade ago, we were one of the first groups to apply Water Quality Index in giving accurate qualitative information about the water quality in different parts of the country especially the Niger Delta region in which the different components of the environment (air, water and soil) are severely affected by the activities of the multinational oil and gas companies in the region. Implementation of a Low-carbon economy (LCE) has emerged as a possible solution at different levels to the problem of balancing the demands of combating climate change with those of maintaining economic growth and alleviating poverty. We have done a thoroughly examined the levels of awareness and performance relating to the promotion of a LCE among the general public in different parts of Nigeria. The study strongly suggests that the general public in Nigeria has the potential to be a major facilitator of environmental improvements in the country.
A brief on your family life
I am an Akwa Ibomite from Nsit Ibom Local Government Area. I am blessed with a wonderful mother and two amazing siblings (a brother and a sister). I’m happily single.