Prof Habauka M. Kwaambwa

Brief Biography

Prof Habauka Kwaambwa is Professor of Chemistry at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and from 2014 – 2022, he was the inaugural Head of the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Physics previously called the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences Department in the Faculty of Health, Natural Resources and Applied Sciences. He now heads the School of Natural and Applied Sciences as Associate Dean. He has previously worked at the University of Zambia, Bristol University, University of Namibia (UNAM) and University of Botswana. He holds BSc (Chemistry major and Mathematics minor) from the University of Zambia, and MSc (Surface Chemistry and Colloids) and PhD (Physical Chemistry) both from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. Prof Kwaambwa has also been a Visiting Fellow/Professor to the then University of Swaziland (now University of Eswatini), Uppsala University (Sweden), Hof University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Wake Forest University (USA).

Since 2004, his emphasis has mainly been in studying the use of seed proteins of Moringa tree species for water treatment and is now also involved in the studies of the applications of different parts of the tree. The studies of Moringa include antimicrobial activities using different parts of the plant, animal feed and food formulation, plant-growth enhancing concentrates, nanoparticles preparation for antimicrobial activities, precious metals recovery, bacterial drug resistance, agroforestry, etc. Financial support from international organisations in last 4-5 years enabled him to also focus his research on various aspects of biomass circular bioeconomy and climate change mitigation such as biorefineries, production of wood plastic composites, biobased materials, carbon sequestration, activated charcoal production, etc. 

Prof Kwaambwa has published widely in international refereed journals, presented invited conference papers, received several external research funding grants and supervised successfully a number of undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

Research Focus:

• Moringa research

• Water and wastewater treatment

• Circular bioeconomy

• Biomass valorisation and biorefineries

Teaching:

• Undergraduate: Physical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry of Polymers and Colloids, Quantum Chemistry and Molecular Spectroscopy, Applied Colloids and Surface Chemistry

• Postgraduate: Research Methodology, Bioinorganic and Biophysical Chemistry

Community Development Activities: 

• Promotion of Moringa cultivation and utilisation

• Journal reviewer

• National Institute of Technology (NIT) Board member

• PyroNam Advisory Board member

• Advisory Board member of Bio Wealth Initiative - Biotrade Forum Zambia

• Colloid and Surface Science Board member 

Publications:  
Thesis:

PhD – Rheological studies of concentrated sterically stabilized colloidal dispersions with added low molecular weight polymers

MSc - Study of electrorheological fluids

Book Chapters:

Mogopodi, D., Mogotsi, K.K., Kwaambwa, H.M., Raditloko, S., Tanyala, G. (2023). Improving Food Security in Africa Through Sustainable Utilization of Selected Climate Smart Emerging Crops: A Case of Botswana and Namibia. In: Babalola, O.O., Ayangbenro, A.S., Ojuederie, O.B. (eds) Food Security and Safety Volume 2. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09614-3_15  

Non peer-reviewed articles (Selected):

Mutorwa, M. K., Kwaambwa, H. M. and A.R. Rennie, A.R. Cultivation of Moringa plant species for sustainable nutrition-sensitive and climate smart agroforestry, Conference Paper, August 2020, RSC Commonwealth Chemistry Posters – Building the Partners. https://ccposters.ipostersessions.com/