VALUE:
We improve lives through climate science, technology and innovation by transforming African materials and safer circular chemicals.
CSTI's work is an on-going project that started in 1998 with initial funding from UNESCO of US$25,000. Since then we have built a strong competency in translational climate science research focused on community driven applications. Donor funds are used to cover the costs of pilots, feasibility studies, data collection, stakeholder convening, and policy briefs.
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Our aim is to develop a globally relevant science, technology and innovation transformation for Kenya and Africa in a manner that is accessible and applicable to the non-scientific community.
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Discovering consensus between people, companies, investors, and regulators.
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Our research projects, deeply rooted in ethical and socio-economic considerations, not only lay the groundwork for transformative design and business models but also integrate cutting-edge capabilities. These capabilities are dedicated to reducing toxins across diverse sectors, empowering startups, communities, organizations, chemists, researchers, regulators, and investors. Through environmental science, ecosystem mapping, green chemistry laboratory capacity development, and innovative toxin reduction strategies, we are actively pioneering a sustainable and toxin-free environment.
POLICY FORMULATION: The objective of CSTI projects is to collect data and information from the stakeholders in Kenya and in the international literature with a view to assessing the Kenya Government's policy on science, technology and innovation.
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INDUSTRIALIZATION: CSTI serves as a facilitator and convener on science and technology helix projects that shape Kenya's industrial DNA and ecosystem towards sustainable growth (zero pollution, zero waste, zero conflict, zero toxins, zero harm)
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INTEGRATION: effective industrial innovation and policy development necessitates collaboration between community, industry, government and academia. Such collaborations are typically referred to as helix collaborations because there is a core focus (industrialization) which combines various entities that are critical to the complex formation that grows (example, you cannot have water without 1 Hydrogen and 2 Oxygen); similarly, you cannot have industrialization without 1 company and 2 partners - community and government). The tasks performed will vary (biomaterials, green chemistry, ICT for development, permaculture, genomics, community health, food security, renewable energy). The helix partners use a matrix formation to allocate the necessary expertise towards successful outcomes on specific tasks.
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Our ideation on academic-industry collaboration approaches comes from:
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Global Ectropy (San Diego, CA - USA)
CSTI supports translational research to enhance industrial ecochemistry growth capacity within:
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The Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS)
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The National Commission for Science and Technology Innovation (NACOSTI)
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Kenya State Department of Public Works
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Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI)
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Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE)
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Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)
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National Environment Authority
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University of Nairobi Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA)
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Kisii University Chemistry Department
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Kabete Polytechnic
CSTI is registered as a non-profit scientific trust in Kenya.
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We deliver bespoke research and development advisory services in the following areas:
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND TOXICITY RISK ASSESSMENTS:
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Chemicals in the environment can be both beneficial and harmful. Greenhouse gas emissions, although normally present in small quantities, become harmful when industrial process exhausts into the air lead to an atmospheric excess of what are normally trace gases.
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What we call air is a gaseous chemical mixture of of 78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, and other gases. The gases from industrial process exhaust that are changing this mix ratio include: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O), and particulate matter (PMs) also commonly known as fine dust.
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The ratio of greenhouse gas exhausts varies by type of industrial process, e.g. farming, cement manufacturing, food processing, energy production, transportation, data storage centers, etc. These processes also release other chemicals such as dioxins, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) and waste water effluents.
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Data collection on the net balance of these industrial process outputs must be carefully monitored to ensure the concentrations in air, water, and soil do not become hazardous to human health and biodiversity.
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We provide guidance that enables diverse stakeholders to become aware of the systemic impacts of industrial exhausts as well as the process alternatives. As an example, carbon credit trading is not just about tracking emissions, planning is also needed to ensure the mechanisms used to offset emissions do not have an adverse impact on local communities.
NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION FOR TRANSITION PLANNING:
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Transitioning to environmentally beneficial activities requires behavioral change, technology switching, enabling regulations, consensus driven policy, and evidence based analysis to ascertain activities are as beneficial as intended. The discussions between regulators and industry can be contentious. The social needs of communities often get lost in the quest for economic efficiency. ​
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Our researchers have experience in both basic and applied research. This experience enables them to explain why chemical processes in the laboratory need to be field tested in manufacturing facilities and with community groups (citizen scientists), in order to negotiate the financial gains, health priorities, natural resource conservation targets, that are preferred in a specific location. Modeling is also needed to assess the systemic impacts of these preferences. The impact of 3,000 tons per month of production is very different from the impact of 3 gigatons per month.
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Each stakeholder will obviously advocate based on their perceived benefits. We work with stakeholders to enable them to create a vision for shared benefits.
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