The Future is Science

After the demise of Steve Jobs, the chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple and Pixar Animation studios, I am curious to find out more about him. So, I sample some of the speeches he gave while still alive.

I come across one of the speeches he gave during Stanford University’s 2005 Commencement Address. He gives his address in form of stories about his life. In one of the stories he talks about connecting the dots. “It was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college, but it was very clear looking backwards 10 years later”.

This makes me review my journey through Daystar University. This being my final year of study, it feels good looking backwards. For now, let me not talk about myself but about a part of this place which continues to capture my attention.

My interest has always been communication. However, throughout my stay in Daystar I have noticed a department which has had significance within the University over the years. When I joined Daystar in 2008 it was the little known department within the institution. The department only had the first phase of the proposed complex complete.

At the time, the building housed labs for Applied Computer Science (ACS) and Management Information Systems (MIS) majors and the rest were used as classes. I remember attending several of the science general course classes in the labs. However, since then there have been several changes.

“Science is way to the future.” These are the words that start off my conversation with Dr. Martha Kiarie, the Head of Department (H.O.D) Science and engineering at Daystar University, on 11^th October, 2011 in her office at the Athi-River Campus. She speaks passionately about the strides made so far by the University.

“We want to set pace for other universities, especially private universities, by coming up with new accredited programs. As you can see we have completed building the second phase of the science complex.”

According to Dr. Kiarie, Daystar will soon officially open the second phase of the Science Complex. The tall section of the building is ICT (Information and Communications Technology) but it will house: Chemistry, Bio-Chemistry, Physics, Electronics labs, board rooms and class rooms.

As I take a weekend tour around the building I am received by a circular court next to the entrance. In the middle it has a well-designed fountain with an unfinished touch of rocks on its sides.

At the entrance I notice a CCTV (Closed-Circuit television) camera; a stair case leads me to the upper floors. On one side of the ICT building there is a ramp which connects it with the first phase of the science complex. You can also use it to access other floors of both buildings.

The theatre hall within the ICT building catches my attention. I glimpse through the glass window and I am amazed. The maroon tiles, the light-dark tint windows, the carpeted podium, and the air conditioning system give the room a relaxing ambience.

The building also has a balcony on the second floor facing the Lukenya Hills. It gives me a beautiful and wide view of the hills. “This can be a lovely place for relaxing,” I think to myself. 

The building is to be fitted with solar panels and windmills to serve it with emergency power supply. This will also be used for impact assessment by the students and for research purposes on the cost benefit analysis of this initiative, as told by Dr. Kiarie.

“The science department is due to introduce new majors, that is, biomedical science, Actuarial science, Mathematics major, Environmental health and Electronic engineering. These majors have already been approved by the Senate and the University council but still await approval by the Commission of Higher Education (C.H.E) to set them off.”

Electronic engineering is also awaiting approval from the Engineering Registration Board of Kenya (E.R.B.K). The approval according to Dr. Kiarie, will enable Daystar graduates get jobs and registration from day one after graduation.

Looking back through the years I have experienced progress. Daystar has helped me grow and I am pleased to see the science department grow over time. The beneficiaries to this growth are those who are still to come in future, and the future starts now.