Collaboration Alert
Majicom is delighted to announce a new strategic collaboration with The Open University (OU). The two organisations have joined forces to support the deployment of Majicom’s water kiosk model and to develop OU’s next-generation water purification tools.
OU is a global leader in higher education with a strong commitment to making a positive impact across the world. Water and sanitation are of particular importance to OU, which has created several initiatives designed to support new technology development and educational activities for the water sector, including the OpenWash initiative.
Majicom is working closely with Professor Satheesh Krishnamurthy’s Nanoscale Energy and Surface Engineering research group. Prof. Krishnamurthy is a material and surface scientist and his research is focused on the utilization of advanced materials to solve global challenges. Recently researchers in his team pioneered the use of a low-cost atmospheric plasma process for depositing materials that purify water. Specifically, the work focused on depositing photocatalysts - a novel group of materials that purify water via harnessing sunlight.
Irwing, researcher at OU, setting up a photoreactor purification system
Professor Krishnamurthy has this to say about the work:
“Our research group is committed to harnessing technology in order to create lasting positive change. We are excited to be working with a company like Majicom that shares that same mission. We believe that this will be the start of a long partnership that will positively impact the lives of people in East Africa and beyond.”
Through this collaboration, researchers at OU will use their novel plasma process to deposit several photocatalysts into frugal reactor systems, capable of purifying large volumes of water per day. Photocatalysts developed by the research team at Majicom will also be tested as part of this work, both in the UK and Tanzania. These novel reactors have the potential to be incorporated into Majicom’s purification toolkit in the future, offering an off-grid and highly affordable option for its water kiosk platform.
Ezrah, PhD student at OU, carrying out water purification experiments at Ardhi University
Alongside reactor technology development, OU is also working with the Majicom team to design and deliver its workshops in Tanzania. Ezrah and Irwing, researchers from OU, have joined the team in Dar es Salaam and are getting involved in all areas of the project.
Dr. Peter Knight had this to say about the collaboration:
“We are delighted to be working with the OU team and look forward to integrating their novel technology into our platform to accelerate our impact”