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Project Coordinator
Dr. Desmond Klenam
Research Lead & Supervisor
WITS
· South Africa
Biography
Dr Desmond Klenam is a materials researcher, Faculty Member in the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the Next Frontiers in Advanced Materials Laboratory.
As a leading figure in the BUCABUMA Wits Chapter, his scholarly work engages sustainable engineering, advanced materials design, and frugal innovation for developing-country contexts.
Desmond has held several distinguished academic and research appointments, including as an Africa Oxford Fellow in the Department of Materials at the University of Oxford (2022 - 2023 Cohort), Horizon Fellow of the Wits–Leeds Global Crucible Programme at the University of Leeds (2024 - 2025 Cohort), Global Scholars Fellow at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2021–2023), and Principal Investigator of the Research Response Unit at Academic City University in Ghana since 2021 to date.
Desmond is also currently a Visiting Scientist and International Advisory Board Member of the Global Center of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
Desmond's research focuses on designing materials for structural and functional applications through resource-efficient and socially relevant innovation, in strong alignment with BUCABUMA’s vision of circular natural building materials and sustainable construction through the integration of frugal, digital, and indigenous African engineering knowledge.
As a leading figure in the BUCABUMA Wits Chapter, his scholarly work engages sustainable engineering, advanced materials design, and frugal innovation for developing-country contexts.
Desmond has held several distinguished academic and research appointments, including as an Africa Oxford Fellow in the Department of Materials at the University of Oxford (2022 - 2023 Cohort), Horizon Fellow of the Wits–Leeds Global Crucible Programme at the University of Leeds (2024 - 2025 Cohort), Global Scholars Fellow at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2021–2023), and Principal Investigator of the Research Response Unit at Academic City University in Ghana since 2021 to date.
Desmond is also currently a Visiting Scientist and International Advisory Board Member of the Global Center of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
Desmond's research focuses on designing materials for structural and functional applications through resource-efficient and socially relevant innovation, in strong alignment with BUCABUMA’s vision of circular natural building materials and sustainable construction through the integration of frugal, digital, and indigenous African engineering knowledge.
