Tonny Okedi
Okedi explores the use of photosynthetic bacteria for generating low-carbon electricity from just sunlight as an energy source and water as an electron source. This has the potential to provide low-cost, small- or micro-scale electricity in developing regions, as well as reduce the energy demands for the remediation of wastewater. His research combines electrochemistry and machine learning to elucidate the factors that affect the sunlight-to-electricity harvesting efficiency of the bacteria.
Outside his core research, Okedi participates in his research group's CamRareEd program which seeks to raise awareness on rare diseases and the impact of climate change on those living with these conditions globally. He is also a trustee of a small charity called KICS, which focuses on delivering water and sanitation infrastructure for an underprivileged community in Uganda. Okedi highlights that a key obstacle facing Black early-career researchers in STEM is a stark deficit of Black senior academics whom they can approach for mentorship and support, particularly in areas unique to the minority experience in academia. He hopes for an increase in STEM research output from Africa and in particular, a diversification of the research beyond health to other key areas such as home-grown responses to climate change and artificial intelligence. |