Workshop on Solar Dehydration of Fruits and Vegetables

The Faculty of Agriculture will organise a 3 day workshop from 23-25 July 2014 on solar dehydration. Prof Steele, from the US a fulbright scholar will be the lead trainer together with academic staff of the Faculty. The objectives  of the workshop  are (i) to provide an understanding on solar dehydration and its application in the food industry and (ii) to  empower participants with knowledge and skills to construct their own solar dehydrator. Solar dehydration of fruits and vegetables project fits very well in the MID concept of Mauritius. A technology which has not yet been fully implemented in Mauritius and which will be very beneficial for the small and medium food processor.Click here to watch the workshop video.

The completed solar dryer

Prof Steele at work. He is preparing the materials for constructing the solar dryer. Photo taken on 16 July 2014

Prof Steele with Assoc Prof D Goburdhun, one of the local counter part in the project

Fulbright Junior Staff Development -Call for Applications

Call for Applications for the 2015-2016 Fulbright Junior Staff Development Program
Deadline Extended to July 4, 2014

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Mauritius invites applications for the Fulbright Junior Staff Development (JSD) Program for the 2015/2016 academic year.
Grantees selected for degree study will be funded for a maximum of 2 years. All awards are con-tingent upon approval by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board (FSB), availability of funds, and successful academic placement.
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Call for Applications for the 2015-2016 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 4, 2014

The United States Embassy in Mauritius invites applications for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow-ship Program. This one-year Fellowship program is offered to mid-career professionals who have a proven track record of leadership, a public service commitment, and the capacity to take full ad-vantage of a self-defined program of independent non-degree study at a leading U.S. university. The program awards a certificate from the U.S. Government; it is not designed to deliver an advanced degree.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program brings accomplished professionals from designated countries around the world to the United States at a midpoint in their careers for a year of gradu-ate level academic course work and professional development activities. Fellowships are granted competitively to professional candidates with a commitment to public service in either the public or private sector.

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Source: IRC Newsletter, USA Embassy June 2014

Fulbright Scholar from Brigham Young University (BYU) at the Faculty

Dr. Frost Steele comes as a Fulbright Scholar from Brigham Young University (BYU) a private university in Utah, USA. At Brigham Young, Dr. Steele is an Associate Professor in Food Science with expertise and research interest in the areas of Food Microbiology, Food Safety and Food Preservation via solar dehydration. While at BYU Dr. Steele has been involved in working with local food processors in foodborne pathogen detection and routine microbiological analysis. He hopes to be able to initiate good food industry connections here in Mauritius as well and work with them in local food safety issues.

Dr. Steele received his PhD in Food Microbiology /Food Science from Purdue University. Much of his research has been directed toward the design and development of solar dryers that can be used in tropical and semi tropical regions of the world. Much of his work has been done in the Pacific Islands and in Malawi and Kenya. 

  He is excited about the opportunity of implementing solar drying technology here in Mauritius. Professor Steele is joined here in Mauritius by his wife Marie and their youngest son, Tanner (16). They have enjoyed the friendly Mauritian welcome and are excited to learn as much as possible about this wonderful culture and people. They are living in Tamarin

 We wish him and his family a fruitful stay in Mauritius.