By Leocadia Bongben
The Cameroon Physical Society is counting its achievements in research and contribution to development. This was during a meeting with science journalists on August 22. The society, on the occasion, resolved to share research results and other activities.
According to Prof. Paul Woafo, former president of the Cameroon Physical Society and a member of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, the notion that Cameroonian researchers stick to theories is unfounded Theory can be done for applied, experimental, or fundamental research., he said
He identified results in the valuation of local wood species in Cameroon’s forest, prospection and contribution to detecting cancer, water filters, food supplements, efficiency tests for medicinal plants, biofertilizers, cryptography for secured communication, and many technological innovations by young researchers.
On mineral resources in Cameroon—the type and the region located—Woafo regrets that those who exploit the resources use the results produced by researchers without acknowledgment.
“We regret that the Ministry of Higher Education does not publish the results of fundamental and practical research, ”the researcher stated.
“80 percent of researchers do not have a target objective, neither from the government nor companies. The government does not set expectations in terms of national challenges for scientific research, plus the weak funding for scientific research is one of the key challenges for researchers in Cameroon and the Cameroon Physical Society in particular. No country can develop without investing in scientific research, Woafo lamented.
However, there is a glimmer of hope as the Cameroon Academy of Sciences has taken steps to connect research findings to the government’s development strategy document, identifying sectors for their application.
According to Prof. Blaise Romeo NANA NBENDJO, the Cameroon Physical Society has many publications to its credit and is invited to international meetings abroad, contributing to research and development in the country.
The president of the Cameroon Physical Society says the government can use the researchers to achieve some development goals; for example, set a five-year goal for research. In this way, researchers would pick topics and produce results.
For a long time, it was difficult for researchers in Cameroon to dream about research with the notion that it requires a lot of funding. However, the Cameroonian Physical Society is changing this perception by organizing a biennial conference on high-level physics for development. The eighth edition is scheduled for the University of Bertoua in 2025.
Following presentations from Prof Nana Engo Serge on molecular, optique, and atomic physics, results in nuclear physics by Prof Saidou, material science by Prof. Zekeng Serge, and geophysics by Prof. Enyegue A Nyam Francoise., journalists sought to know the possibility of using artificial intelligence to treat tumors.
Nana Engo said with artificial intelligence there is the possibility of processing the tumor and obtaining better results. The experts work on the characterization of molecules and, by manipulating their structure, can determine what they can do.
In the case of a disease, thanks to the simulation with artificial intelligence, the experts can tell you which molecule is a good inhibitor of which disease.
Prof. Saidou stated that it is important to inspect the equipment to see if the standards are respected. In the case of radiology, there can be situations of overexposure or underexposure.
The Cameroonian Physical Society (CPS) was founded in 2007 on the initiative of a group of Cameroonian physicists. It works to develop and promote physics and Cameroonian physicists. Its initial structure consisted of divisions responsible for specific activities and local committees in universities and institutes. In 2012, it was restructured into ten (10) thematic sections to enable teacher-researchers and researchers with common scientific interests to work in synergy for greater efficiency. The society has nearly 150 members in universities and research institutes in Cameroon and abroad.