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Alpha Eritrean Engineers Magazine

FEBRUARY 2015
VOL 6 NO. 1

THE ROLE OF ICT AND SOFTWARE IN ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION


CONVERSATION WITH Dr. MEDHANIT

AEEC was gathered


for Display
Technology Trend
presentation on
Sunday October 26th
at MLK located in

Oakland CA

AEEC | October 2011

DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS


LIST OF ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES

AEEC
1

CONTENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

EDITORS

THE ROLE OF ICT AND SOFTWARE IN


ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

SEBLE GEBREMEDHIN, M.S. IN PSYCHOLOGY

BY

D R .Y ONAS M ERESSI &


D R . M USIE B EYENE

DR. ADIAM WOLDEGERGISH, PH.D IN


MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

CONVERSATION WITH DR. MEDHANIT


BY A LPHA & D R . M EDHANIT

SAMUEL FESSEHAYE, B.A. IN


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

FILIPOS ABRAHAM, M.S, IN


SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND

BY

AMANUEL GEBREBRHAN

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
BY Y OSIEF W OLDEMARIAM
& F ILIPOS A BRAHAM

AEEC | February 2015

YOSIEF WOLDEMARIAM, B.A. IN

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

A Message from one of the editors


I want to wish you a wonderful beginning of 2015 and I hope the remainder of the year
will be fruitious for all. As one of the editors, I have had the privilege of assisting and
supporting one of the founders, Yosief Woldemariam and the entire editors, in any
capacity so that AEEM magazine is a success. Since its inception, I have seen this
magazine evolve over time not only in the way it presents its articles but also the
number of people from around the world reading it. Knowing that individuals are
reading these articles is very exciting and rewarding as well as seeing its success grow. I
believe this magazine not only has attracted engineer readers but it also has appealed to
professionals in related fields of expertise such as mathematics, physics, chemistry,
biology, computer science and other related field. In reading many of the articles, as a
novice and not being in the field of engineering, I have observed my knowledge increase
in understanding what engineering means, what it does and its impact in our daily
lives. Not only does it have specific classifications but also it closely tie into and weaves
with other fields of expertise.
Engineers who contribute in writing articles for AEEM have various levels of academic
education. Each of the contributors come from a different expertise or background,
educational experience and live in many parts of the world such as Malaysia, Abu Dhabi,
Eritrea, London, California, Maryland and some other states. That is why, I believe, this
online magazine is efficacious. For me, I hope that these articles not only reach those
that have completed their education and are in the engineering working world but also
individuals who are in high school and college students and have goals of becoming
future engineers. Awareness, knowledge, education and empowerment is so powerful
that as an online magazine I encourage readers and contributors when they are reading
the magazine to share it with others, especially with those still continuing their
education.
As one of the contributing editor I look forward in continuing to read and support this
magazine. This magazine not only provides awareness in the vast array of knowledge in
the field of engineer but it also posts job opportunities, recognize individuals who are
contributing both professionally and socially and allows readers to post their views. I
want to say continue enjoy this edition of Alpha Eritrea and keep sending in your
articles.

The Success of
Teamwork
Coming together is a
beginning.
Keeping together is
progress.
Working together is
success.

~ Henry Ford~

EDUCATION
IS THE MOST
POWERFUL
WEAPON
WHICH YOU
CAN USE TO
CHANGE
THE WORLD

Sincerely yours,
Seble Gebremedhin

AEEC | February 2015

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The role of ICT and Software Industry in Economic


Transformation and Good Governance

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YM Gebremichael and M Beyene


Abstractit is nearly impossible to
imagine our lives without the information
and communications technologies (ICT)
we have come to take for granted, i.e.
smart phones, tablet devices, laptops,
desktop computers and in particular the
infrastructure that is the Internet. While
the impact of these technological
advances may be hard to quantify, the
effective usage of these as technologies
for
information
processing
and
communications
has
undoubtedly
transformed societies. Indeed many countries have identified ICT as a
key ingredient for economic growth and social transformation not only
through industrial output and increased productivity but also through
gains in administrative efficiency and its role in effective governance. As
commoditization of software and cloud computing becomes
increasingly wide spread, this paper explores the potential impact of
ICT and the software industry on fundamental economic transformation
and good governance in developing countries in particular. It further
looks at how the necessary environment and the required skills can be
created through strategic government interventions on building the
required infrastructure and educational systems.

I.

INTRODUCTION

A
he last 20 years have been characterized by an
E
information revolution driven by advances in software
E and computer technology. Information and Communication
M Technology (ICT) is used to broadly describe a cluster of
technologies (software and hardware) used for gathering,
~ storing, processing and communicating information
A electronically. The advances in ICT have facilitated
E economic growth through knowledge distribution and
E interaction via formal and informal computer and
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AEEC | February 2015

communication networks. Here ICT, both as a product and


as an enabling technology, has impacted various economic
sectors such as education, health services, industry,
governance and others. This trend will continue into the
future where almost no part of our daily life will be
unaffected by the pervasive nature of software and
hardware technologies. While this may be the case, it is
important to realize that the technologies in themselves are
not transformational. The socio-economic context of their
application is a decisive factor in the impact of the
technologies (Pruulmann, 2006).
II.

ICT AS AN ENABLING TECHNOLOGY

The advances and fast paced changes in networking


technologies and the penetration of the Internet has
revolutionized how economies interact with each other and
do business. As an integral component of ICT, software is a
key driver of economy in the developed world. It has
allowed systematic manipulation of data for better insight
and generation of knowledge. Indeed software has become
the prime industrial differentiator and a platform for
innovation, as such governments in Europe are realizing the
strategic importance of software as a key enabler in the
face of competition from emerging markets.
In the following sub-sections, the paper looks at the impact
of ICT and software as an enabling technology on
education, industry, eGovernment and social media.
A. EDUCATION
Education is one of the key pillars for the socio-economic

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growth of a country. It is widely recognized that the


effective and creative use of ICT in education can facilitate
universal access to education, improvement on the quality
of delivery and more efficient management and
administration of education. ICT in education has raised the
capacity of generation and accelerated diffusion of
knowledge. This has led to Knowledge and information
societies (Krystyna Grniak-Kocikowska 2007) which in
turn has led into the concept of a knowledge based
economy (KBE). For the purposes of this article, a KBE is
defined as an economy in which the production,
distribution and exploitation of knowledge and information
play a leading role in the creation of wealth. A KBE, first and
foremost, is driven by a work force that is highly skilled,
where a large and growing proportion of the workforce is
engaged in generating and processing information as
opposed to more physically tangible production output. In
such societies, computer literacy and access to network
facilities are as basic requirements as traditional literacy.
Furthermore, rapid changes in information technology is
making educated labour with a range of skills or types of
knowledge more valuable, and the need for continuous
learning and developing competencies in new technologies
even more critical.

A
E ICT technologies such as computer based training (CBT),
E webinars and online lectures have transformed the
M traditional classroom experience into one that is accessible
universally over wider geographical location and on
~
demand. This has brought huge benefits not only in
A
overcoming the instructor to student ratio of the traditional
E
E classroom setting but also enabled self-paced learning
M which in many cases is a much more efficient process of
knowledge assimilation. ICT has also enhanced learning
~ through interactive tools e.g. online homework and
A discussion forums. Additionally simulation packages for
E modelling complex scientific experiments and various
E physical processes are replacing traditional bench top
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AEEC | February 2015

instrumentation leading to better understanding of the


theories and principles at much lower cost by creating
virtual laboratories.
ICT has enabled information (previously in printed books
and scientific journals) to be readily available for sharing
through smart devices, e-libraries and the Internet at a
much lower cost. By its nature, ICT is a fast paced
technology and so printed material on the subject itself
becomes obsolete in a very short space of time, ICT makes
knowledgebase on new technologies available for
consumption almost instantly. This has significantly
accelerated diffusion of knowledge and thus improved the
standards of education and research.
B. INDUSTRY
Economies in developing countries are mostly built on
light industrial manufacturing output and export of raw
material. In the drive towards KBE, knowledge becomes a
primary resource in production by adding value to raw
produce or enhancing/replacing capital and labor intensive
processes and thus creating value added production. This
value addition is an intangible asset with substantial
benefits. ICT has also enabled industries to increase their
production through efficient and fast processes, improve
their products through better analytical tools, designs and
quality control at reduced environmental cost. As
sophisticated machines replace human labor, ICT has aided
the provision of better working conditions in hazardous
environments such as mining, chemical processing, nuclear
plants etc. ICT is critical in developing KBE by creating
enabling environment for industrial innovation and
attracting foreign investment in many growth areas as well
as expanding international trade by facilitating distribution
channels for industries to sell their products and services to
a much wider customer base as well as making 24 hour
banking services available.

C. THE EGOVERNMENT
Government institutions can benefit significantly from
A
effective use of ICT technologies to provide efficient,
E
E accountable, transparent and economically viable services.
M The digital interaction between governments and citizens or
between government agencies is referred to as
~ eGovernment. In such governance, ICT improves the
A relationship between the government institutions and their
E constituencies in service delivery promoting social equality
E and democratic inclusiveness. In particular rural
M communities, where government services may not be easily
accessible either due to lack of effective transportation or
~
other bureaucratic systems, governance can benefit greatly
A
through use of ICT. The transparency and good governance
E
which comes with properly implemented eGovernment
E
M systems, where information required to make decisions is
readily available has the potential to reduce corruption and
~ attract foreign investment leading to greater economic
A growth.
E
E D. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT
M The term social media refers to web applications that
enable people to communicate and share information.
~ Some examples of social media include Facebook, Twitter,
A and YouTube, LinkedIn blogs, discussion forums, chat rooms
E and wikis. Most of these technologies did not exist 15 years
E ago, indeed they are still evolving not only due to the
M
advances in ICT but also as a direct result of the way we
~ have come to use them. While their impact is yet to be fully
A felt, the potential for these technologies to promote
E informed citizenry and civil organization, with profound
E implications for democratic participation, is clear.
M Increasingly social media has been used to great effect in
providing up to date information in emergencies and
~ disasters facilitating communication in organizing
A assistance, issuing early warnings, pictorial reporting of
E damage and general situational awareness. The relief
E efforts to support Haiti following the 7.0 earthquake that hit
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AEEC | February 2015

Port-Au-Prince in January, 2010 can be cited as an example


here.
ICT has impacted entertainment by enhancing the different
ways in which we spend our leisure time. With the use of
these technologies not only have the ways in which we
entertain ourselves dramatically increased but also access
to the digital content (music, movies, games etc.) has been
become free or at much reduced cost for a wider audience.
The popularity of entertainment technology has spawned a
gaming industry that is now a multibillion dollar industry
which has created a huge number of highly skilled jobs
worldwide. The industry also has a skill and product feed-off
effect to other industries. While there are claims that digital
entertainment such as games promote physical inactivity,
there is no natural causal relation and, like any human
activity, there is plenty of scope for benefiting from good
practice and habit.

III.

SOFTWARE AS A PRODUCT

Today software permeates every aspect of our lives, from the


news, social media, e-commerce and government websites we
visit multiple times in a day to the sophisticated office tools and
programs that many of us use for work on a daily basis. Indeed
each of us interacts with and consumes thousands of lines of code
written by other people whether it is paid for or freely available.

There are several key industries and processes which heavily rely
on software technologies and intelligent hardware systems for
A their competitiveness, productivity and the quality of service they
E provide. These include, among many others, the defense industry
E and communications infrastructure, industrial products ranging
from medical instruments to home appliances, government
M
institutions, research programs, education, social services and
others. In addition software itself, as an industry in its own right,
~ is relatively low investment, environmentally friendly and high
A growth industry with huge export potential. The software industry
E potentially offers developing countries the opportunity to
E compete at the highest level with much less investment when
compared to traditional industries as shown in some Asian tiger
M
economies. Here it is important to differentiate low skill
outsourced activities, such as call centers, that have little impact
~ on long term economic growth from skilled software industries.
A Increasingly, new and existing critical infrastructures will depend
E on software (embedded systems and Internet services). In such
E critical software, non-functional requirements such as reliability,
M security and availability will become more crucial (ISTAG 2012).
To effectively exploit this trend, economies need to produce
highly skilled work force with the appropriate technical skills.

configuration required to create the platform on which clients can


build their applications over the internet. This service can be
customized with features that meet individual user requirements.
Web hosting services belong to this category.

A
IV.
ICT AS A SERVICE
E
Many organizations of various sizes are becoming conscious of
E the value of using computing resources remotely and are thus
M adopting cloud services. Cloud computing is a phrase used to

V. CAPACITY BUILDING AND THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT

describe different modes in which computing resource (hardware


and/or software) is delivered as a service over a network. The
service relies on sharing a pool of physical and/or virtual
resources, rather than deploying locally.

A
E
E In general, cloud services are offered in three modes: Software as
M a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as
a Service (PaaS). SaaS refers to the software delivery model in
~ which applications are hosted remotely and accessed through the
A Internet. Many web applications such as web emails, social media
and other enterprise applications are delivered this way. IaaS on
E the other hand refers to the virtualized computing infrastructure
E accessed as a service through a network, e.g. storage spaces,
M networking components, servers etc. The resource is pulled from
a pool of servers distributed across data centers under the
~ providers control, the user is then granted access to this resource
A in order to build their own IT platforms. PaaS is an extension of
IaaS. In addition to the fundamental computing resource supplied
E
by the hardware in IaaS, PaaS also includes the software and

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AEEC | February 2015

One of the key characteristics of cloud computing is the flexibility


that it offers. The service is able to adapt and scale to changes in
response to demand. It also provides the ability to lower
expenditures by not having to invest in purchasing and
maintaining hardware and software. Such resource sharing allows
multiple customers to use the service and share the payload,
reducing the tasks at the customers end. In addition, cloud
computing can lead to reduction in staff headcounts in the
hardware or platform maintenance. Enterprises can use the
freed-up resources in other productive activities.
With the growing number of web-enabled devices used in today's
business environment (e.g. smartphones, tablets), cloud
computing makes access to data even easier. Sharing data and
resources makes collaboration and communication more efficient
and thus simplifying the development process for teams working
across geographical locations.

Governments, in developing countries in particular will


require acknowledgement of the fact that technical
progress, generation and accumulation of knowledge are
critical in the drive towards a knowledge based economy.
Of key importance here is the role of ICT in the distribution
of knowledge, gains in administration efficiency and the
long term economic growth. To take advantage of this,
consistent and predictable government policies are
required in relation to commitment in the use of the
technology and also make the required investment
available for the proliferation of ICT technologies. The
priorities must lie in the following:
A. EDUCATION AND HUMAN CAPITAL

As generation, storage and access to data becomes easier


and less expensive, the skills and competencies relating to
the profitable use of the data become more crucial. The
workforce will require both formal education and the

mental dexterity to continuously acquire, select and apply


new theoretical and analytical knowledge and skills to
A
extract useful information from vast stores of
E
heterogeneous data. Therefore education and continuous
E
M life-long learning and training are central to the KBE,
enabling tools for individual and organisational
~ advancement.
A
E Producing graduates to fill the jobs created in the
E knowledge based economies requires an education system
M that is able to cater for this growing demand. Traditionally,
the schooling system has always placed importance in
~ mathematics and languages such as English as core subjects
A to be taught from an early age. In order to meet the
E demands of the future and drive knowledge based
E economies, the schooling system should include ICT as a
M core subject aimed at generating future graduates who
have strong IT skills (irrespective of their chosen academic
~
stream). In the UK for example, the year 2014 has been
A
E labelled as a year of code in which coding is introduced
E to the school timetable for every child aged 5-16 years old,
M making the UK the first major G20 economy to implement
this on a national level. This alone is not enough, in
~ addition, ICT skills must be taught past this level
A systematically and teaching methods have to change and
E utilise innovative ICT technologies to meet the needs of
E students and employers.
M

B. COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION

Universities are central to educating and training the


A workforce for KBE. Recognizing the diffusion of knowledge
E is just as important as its creation, thus collaboration
E between educational institutions and industry must be
M
facilitated. Such collaborations provide opportunities to
~ increasing the relevance of a Universitys education and
A provide a means for efficient transfer of economically useful
E knowledge and skills required in industry. Although it may
E be possible to argue that industrial collaboration may lead
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AEEC | February 2015

fundamental research seeking immediate returns, some of


the most important scientific insights have come from
solutions to actual industrial problems. It is therefore
important for higher educational institutions and academic
establishments to find a balance between close
collaboration with industry (for economic as well as
innovative purposes), and their essential role in
fundamental research and education. Here there is a role
for technology parks to act both as catalysts for growth of
high-tech industries. As well as creating the clustering effect
where concentration of technology and experts can lead to
efficient knowledge transfer, the parks can also promote
professional training and skills development. Technology
degrees and vocational courses must incorporate
mandatory work placement into their programs so that ICT
students in particular can gain important insight into a
practical working environment before they graduate.
C. ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Productivity gains through the use of technological changes will
necessitate training of the work force in the use of new
technologies and organizational flexibility in adopting new
technology. Here it is important to stress the need for
government policies that place more emphasis on upgrading
human capital through promoting access to a range of skills and
providing the enabling conditions for organizational change to
maximize the benefits of technology for productivity.
D. THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE
Access to broadband communications system has been viewed
as a consequence of economic growth and thus given a lesser
priority in developing countries. This is not only inaccurate but
also a huge hindrance to the desired socio-economic
transformation. Modern telecommunication infrastructure

must be viewed as a cause and stimulant of socio-economic


development. It is also by far the most critical physical
infrastructure in developing a KBE. As an infrastructure, the
importance of this network must be viewed on equal
footing with building roads, bridges, railways and electricity
provision. Broadband network creates an enabling

environment for knowledge transfer, innovation and

~ provision of efficient eGovernment services. It will also

A
enable businesses and utility industries to provide cost
E
effective services by facilitating e-commerce and accurate
E
data collection. Additionally this technology will make
M
interactive education systems accessible. Key to this is
~ investing on robust terrestrial fiber optic communication
A infrastructure for high bandwidth communications system.
E This network can be readily connected to the global
E submarine fiber optic communications network for fast
M Internet services aiding collaborative research, expansion
of international trade and attracting foreign investment in
~ many growth areas.
A
E
VI.
CONCLUSION
E
Advances in ICT, in the developed world in particular, have
M transformed the way we consume government services, learn as
well socialize and interact. It has provided transparency, improved
accountability and efficiency in governance. ICT has made instant
A business transactions possible across wider geographical
E locations. Education is one area where ICT continues to impact
E greatly not only in the transmission and sharing of information
M but also in the way education provision and delivery is aided by

modern ICT technologies. ICT devices are increasingly becoming


more and more powerful, increasing information sharing,
processing and knowledge diffusion. It is estimated that over 50%
of GDP in the major economies is now knowledge-based. This is
bound to rise with the commoditization of software and the cloud
computing infrastructure where the ICT services provided are
considered basic utilities in par with electricity and water. Against
this background, economies will need to enhance their
educational systems to produce a highly skilled workforce with
the appropriate technical skills by exploiting new developments in
ICT.
REFERENCE
[1] Krystyna Grniak-Kocikowska, (2007),"From computer ethics
to the ethics of global ICT society", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 25,
Issue 1, 2007, pp. 47 57.
[2] Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt, (2006) Exploring Social Theory
as a Framework for Social and Cultural Measurements of the
Information Society, The Information Society: An
International Journal, Vol 22, issue 5, 2006, pp. 303-310.
[3] John C. Bertot, Paul T. Jaeger, Justin M. Grimes, Using ICTs to
create a culture of transparency: E-government and social
media as openness and anti-corruption tools for societies,
Government Information Quarterly 27 (2010) 264271.
[4] ISTAG, Toward a Strategic Agenda for Software Technologies
in Europe, 2012.

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ALPHA ERITREAN ENGINEERS MAGAZINE

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FEBRUARY 2015 ISSUE

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Comments & Suggestions

Page

First of all, I would like to thank you for sharing the June issue of Alpha Eritrean
Engineer's Magazine. I would like to sheepishly confide with you that it was my
first time hearing about it.

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Let me tell you my impression about it: it is beyond words for me to express my
admiration. I perfectly understand the amount of hard and consistent effort that
was put in it- starting from net-working, maintaining and developing the
commitment among devoted Eritrean engineers and finally putting it all together
in a journalistic style with substance and quality presentation: Eritrean
Engineers Magazine - a pioneer of its own. It is quite an achievement and speaks
for itself.
I simply want to say I am proud of you guys and keep going!!!

Senait Amanuel, Structural engineer


Brain experience on Days in a month question:
Some months have thirty (30) days and some months have thirty-one (31)
days. How many months have twenty-eight (28) days? Please send your
response to meharigrw@yahoo.com

ALPHA ERITREAN ENGINEERS

AEEC | February 2015

CONVERSATION WITH Dr. MEDHANIT

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First and foremost we would like to thank you for Alpha: You are the youngest in your family and
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accepting our invitation for this conversation and
what was it like to be the youngest of the
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your participatory time with Alpha.
family?
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Alpha: Would you briefly tell us about yourself?

Dr. Medhanit: Yes, I am and I consider myself one of

~ Dr. Medhanit: My name is Medhanit W. Bahta an the luckiest person to be part of such a wonderful

family. I am much younger than my siblings and grew


up under the wings of each one of them. I grew up
spoiled and everyone in the family looked out for me.
I am always the baby to my family but I was taught
Medicinal
and
Organic that there is no limit to success. I have learned a lot
Chemistry. After obtaining a from each of my siblings and who I am now is
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, I because of my family.
worked at the National Alpha: Which college or university did you go to?
Cancer Institute, NIH as a
Dr. Medhanit: I received a B.Sc. in chemistry from
postdoctoral fellow where I
the University of Asmara and then I worked as a
was involved in the gram
teaching assistant for a year at the same university
scale synthesis and drug
under the department of chemistry. I was then
discovery techniques such as
offered graduate-research assistantship position
Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) studies. I am
from the University of Tennessee and obtained Ph.D.
now employed under US Patent and Trademark
in Organic Chemistry. The research I conducted in
Office as a patent examiner in the chemical art unit.
graduate school focused on the total synthesis of
As a patent examiner, I review patent applications
naturally occurring product analogs, specifically
and if they comply with the basic rules and legal
called hydramycin. These natural products are
requirements, as well as research the subject matter
known to have anticancer and antibacterial activities
claimed in a patent application. I then determine the
which are isolated from fermentation broth of
patentability of the claimed subject matter.
Streptomyces violaceus. Because of its insufficient
Alpha: Where did you grow up and what were your occurrence and the challenges related to its isolation,
experiences growing up there?
there was a need to synthesize this compound and its
Dr. Medhanit: I grew up I Asmara, the capital city of analogs.

A offspring of Woldeghiorghis Bahta and Hiriti


E Berhane. I was born in Asmara. My educational
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background is in Chemistry
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with
an
emphasis
in

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E tranquility and it is the city where I always felt safe compound. The synthesized analogs are submitted to
M going anywhere and anytime. The weather is ideal the National Cancer Institute and are being tested

with its beauty and the friendliness of its people. The against the 60 cell lines for their anticancer activities.

~ city is rich in its architecture with Italian colonial Part of my other project during graduate school was
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area. Going to Italian school and learning the rich


Italian history has taught me to appreciate every
detail of Asmaras infrastructure, wide streets,
piazzas and coffee bars.

AEEC | February 2015

the creation of Nano-patterned Glycoarray surfaces


for the introduction of ligands and carbohydrates.
This project was to help better understand the
interaction among the closer clusters of
glycoconjugates that make up the eukaryotic and

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Alpha: Would you please share how you came to


US?
Alpha: Tell us what you liked and disliked the most
during college life and what have you Dr. Medhanit: After I graduated from University of
learned other than what the institution Asmara and during the year I was working as a
teaches you?
teaching assistant at UA, I started applying for
Dr. Medhanit: I was able to break the wall that kept assistantship to get into a graduate school program. I
me in my comfort zone and had the opportunity of still remember amount of times I was at the internet
meeting new people with diverse background. Thus, cafes applying to different universities. My main
in terms of meeting new people, it was easier in focus was Organic Chemistry and my search was
college than say, high school. I learned about specifically on the research group that was focused
different cultures and traditions and embraced them. on synthetic chemistry. University of Tennessee was
I came to US in 2002 and that is when I started living among the universities I applied where I got
away from my parents. It was hard the first two admitted for full-time graduate school program and I
years because of the cultural shock, but I was able to received tuition support through teaching-research
meet good friends who helped me in every way to assistantship.
prokaryotic cell surface complex.

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E adjust. Those people are special in my life and after Alpha: Did you have this ambition to go all the way
M 10+ years, we are still friends. Throughout the years,
in getting your PHD early on while

I learned how to be independent and my social skills

~ greatly improved while in grad school. I have built


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growing up in Asmara or you while


applying for graduate school in America?
Also how long did it take you to fulfill your
dream?

strong friendship with colleagues and/or college


friends from different parts of the world and it is
now very easy for me to make friends from any Dr. Medhanit: To be honest with you, I had ambition
culture.
to go to graduate school, but I have never saw myself
Alpha: What are your best memories of University coming this far. It took me five years to get through
of Asmara?
graduate school and after that I was accepted as a
Dr. Medhanit: I would not call it best memories at postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute
the time when students had to share one book (NCI). I worked with a great boss, Dr. Terrence
among the whole class and when most of the time Burke. I joined his lab with my synthetic chemistry
when there were no books because the professor had background and he gave me the opportunity to work
the only book in his/her possession. However, on great projects as a Medicinal Chemist where I also
looking back at that experience now, I would learned the biological part of my project through
consider it as one of the best memories because extensive collaboration. The research at NCI focused
those challenge helped me fight to be successful on the SAR approach to synthesize small molecules
without making excuses. I am sure each one of us having inhibitory activity towards Yersinia pestis
who went through similar challenge counts their protein tyrosine phosphatase. This enzyme is
blessings when he/she comes to US where there is secreted by the Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of
every kind of resources. Being educated at the bubonic plaque. My original goal was to go to
pharmaceutical industries, however, I switched gear
University of Asmara has taught me that success is
having the will regardless of the surrounding and and became interested in other challenges such as
working at either Food and Drug Administration
challenges.

AEEC | February 2015

11

~ (FDA) or Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), where his career, Dr. Seusss quote always comes to mind
A
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both agencies provide a healthy work life balance.


Part of the decisions that made me join PTO was
after I had my first daughter. I would not change my
time at NCI, working in the lab for long hours and
trying to spend time with my family was very
~ challenging. I am now perfectly happy working at
A PTO and like the fact that I get to learn different
E inventions regardless of its own challenges.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because


those who mind dont matter and those who matter
dont mind. He believes that one can achieve any
goal that he/she decides upon without limitation and
without seeing the world from a linear perspective.
We both share a (3) year old daughter and (18) year
old twins. Raising kids and working full time has its
own challenges, but I am blessed to have a beautiful
E Alpha: Your parents must be delighted to have a family with whom I enjoy every minute.
M
PHD in the family?

~ Dr. Medhanit: Yes they are. My father lost his father


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when he was six years old and he had a tough


upbringing. His mother was a hard worker but he
and his older brother grew up poor. He was forced to
quit school at an early age to support himself and his
family. As his dream was always about education, he
managed to reach middle school by going to night
classes after work. He also obtained a certification in
radio telegraphy and diploma in English language.
On the other hand, my mothers upbringing was
different than my fathers. She was a competent
student and reached 6th grade. However, in her time,
there was pressure of getting married at early age
and she was also forced to quit school, my father and
my mother were never happy that he did not get to
complete their education. Since circumstance did not
allow my father to work with his qualifications, he
went into business and started from scratch because
he did not want his family to struggle the way he did.
My father is very proud because his kids completed
their education that was taken away from him and
that was missing in his life.

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~
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Dr. Medhanit: I have been happily married to a very


wonderful man, Solomon, since 2008. I learned a lot
from him, he taught me how to find the silver linings
in every challenge I have encountered as a graduate
student, researcher and a mother. He teaches me to
be myself and when I see his approach to succeed in

Alpha: How do you juggle both family and


profession?
Dr. Medhanit: Its never easy being a mom trying to
juggle a full time job with family life especially
because my husband travels a lot. My mother has
been on my side to help me. The key is to be able to
focus, organize, use time effectively and give
undivided attention to work during work time and to
family during family time.
Alpha:

Have you
research?

done

any

bioengineering

Dr. Medhanit: I have never done any bioengineering


research, however, I have attended several
discussions involving the discipline. From my
perspective, bioengineering research has recently
become one of the greatest disciplines in improving
human lives.
This discipline is focused on manipulating and

AEEC | February 2015

12

observing living system on any scale ranging from Dr. Medhanit: I am really impressed of the different

~ genes, RNA, proteins and enzymes to cellular and engineering disciplines I have learned so far, even
A tissue engineering where it helps understand
E fundamental biological processes.
E
M Alpha: How many articles in a magazine have you

~
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~
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though my background is different. I thank the


talented and enthusiastic professionals who took
their time in sharing the details of their work. I am
really proud to learn how many Eritreans are
read?
effectively using the limitless opportunities that this
Dr. Medhanit: I have read all the articles that AEEM country provides and be part of the global
has published and I look forward to reading more.
improvement in general. The articles will help create
Alpha: What do you think of AEEM and would you a culture that drives success among young Eritreans.
tell us the importance of AEEM magazine? I thank everyone of AEEM who took the initiatives in
publishing this wonderful magazine.
Dr. Medhanit: I personally think it is a way of
sharing great experiences, that is, how each Alpha: Thank you Dr. Medhanit for been part of
individual took a specific path to success. I think AEEM and we are proud of you for receiving the
AEEM gives hope to young Eritreans who are in the Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) and
process of achieving their goal to success. AEEM can a Collaborative Project Award (CPA). I also have
be used as a source of information to these young
publications at the Nature Protocols, Journal of
Eritreans and a way to network with people who Medicinal Chemistry, ChemMedChem, etc.
already achieved a successful career.
Alpha: What is your impression of the engineers
~ Dr. Medhanit Bahta
articles you have read so far?

Hard to reach doesnt have to mean hard to do

A
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A
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C

~
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~
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Bringing the best and the brightest together

AEEC | February 2015

13

ever greener trees of asmara !


choice!
AEEC

~
ENGINEER TEMESGHEN ~ AEEC ~ ENGINEER TEMESGHEN ~ AEEC ~ ENGINEER TEMESGHEN ~ AEEC
AEEC ~

Eritrea purely magnificent

The planTing of a Tree, especially one of The long-living


hardwood trees, is a gift which you can make to posterity
at almost no cost and with almost no trouble, and if the
14
AEEC | February 2015
tree
takes root it will far outlive the visible effect of
any

of your oTher acTions, good or evil. ~ George Orwell

ALPHA ERITREAN ENGINEERS COMMUNITY


When we get too caught up in the busyness of
the world, we lose connection with one another
and ourselves. Never lose sight that we are
better when connected

AEEC | February 2015

15

PRESENTATION ON DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS


~
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~
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Introduction to
Displays and How
LCD and OLED
based displays
work.

~
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~
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1
AEEC | February 2015

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PRESENTATION ON DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS


~
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Introduction to
Displays and How
LCD and OLED
based displays
work.

A
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~
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~
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~
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Recent display devices


from Apple with higher
resolutions, higher pixel
density, thinner, and lower
power consumption.

~
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~
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AEEC | February 2015

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PRESENTATION ON DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS


~
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Table1. Different
generation of I-phones,
increase in resolution
and pixel density lowers
power consumption and
increases battery life.

~
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Table2. Shows major


Display Manufacturing
leaders across the world

A
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~
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~
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Display trends
throughout the years.
From CRT TV in 1922
up to present time of
LCD and OLED based
high resolution displays

~
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~
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AEEC | February 2015

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AEEC | February 2015

19

PRESENTATION ON DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS


~
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Flexible and foldable


displays for medical
use and other
applications

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Flexible displays
for different
applications.

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~
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AEEC | February 2015

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PRESENTATION ON DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS


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Reference of
Materials used in the
this presentation

~
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~
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~
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AEEC

BE PART OF IT

~
A
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IT CONNECTS
IT INFORMS

~
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IT SHARES EXPERIENCES

AEEC | February 2015

21

AEEC

AEEC

AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~

AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~ AEEC ~

. Sense of humor from engineers prospective

Engineers and designer of the human body


Three engineering students were gathered together discussing the possible
designers of the human body. One said, "It was a mechanical engineer. Just
look at all the joints." Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer.
The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections." The last
one said, "No, actually it had to have been a civil engineer. Who else would
run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?"

A Mathematician and an Engineer


A mathematician and engineer are sitting in a bar when the bartender walks up and
tells them, "The woman in the corner fancies both of you. One of you should go and talk
to her, but every step you take will only halve your current distance to her." The
mathematician says, "Well, I guess that's not going to happen then." He pays his tab
and leaves, the engineer stands up and takes a few steps when the bartender says to
him "You do realize you will never reach her?" The engineer turns to the bartender and
replies "Yeah, but I'll get close enough for practical applications."

www.baris.typepad.com/time_to_laugh

AEEC | February 2015

22

Current Job Opportunities


Companies or Government Jobs

Location & Number

Closing Date

Mechanical & Structural Engineering


http://jobs-boeing.com/california/mechanical-structural-engineering/jobid6803406-mech-sys-design-anlys-engr-1-_-2-jobs
http://jobs-boeing.com/california/mechanical-structural-engineering/jobid6183409-mech-sys-design-anlys-engr-3-jobs
http://jobs-boeing.com/california/mechanical-structural-engineering/jobid6183410-mech-sys-design-anlys-engr-3-jobs
http://jobs-boeing.com/california/mechanical-structural-engineering/jobid6753741-mech-sys-design-anlys-engr-3-jobs

Mechanical & Structural Engineer


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Open Until Filled

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Production Review Engineer


http://jobs-boeing.com/california/esoya/jobid6070434-productreview-engineer-1-_-2-jobs
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Production Engineering Engineer


1400002488en, Seal Beach, Ca
Production Engineering Engineer
1400002490en, Seal Beach, Ca
Production Engineering Engineer
1400002492en, Seal Beach, Ca

Open Until Filled


Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled

Software Engineering
http://jobs-boeing.com/california/softwareengineering/jobid6889482-software-engineer-1_2-jobs
http://jobs-boeing.com/california/softwareengineering/jobid6685319-software-engineer-level-1_2jobs
http://jobs-boeing.com/california/softwareengineering/jobid6685314-software-engineer-level-3_4jobs

Software Engineering
1500003221en, Pleasanton, Ca
Software Engineering
1400016857en, Huntington Beach,
Ca
Software Engineering
1400016813en, Huntington Beach,
Ca

Open Until Filled


Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled

Structural Engineering
http://jobs-boeing.com/california/mechanical-structural-engineering/jobid6159495-structural-analysisengineer-3-jobs

AEEC | February 2015

Structural Engineering
1400005173en-2, Long Beach, Ca

Open Until Filled

23

To read without reflecting is


like eating without digesting.
~Edmund Burke

Authors
Y ONAS M ERESSI yonas.mgm@gmail.com received his B.S. in Electrical, Electronics & info engineering and Ph.D
in Polarimetric fibre optic sensor systems from City University of London. Currently, he is employed at California
Department of Transportation, Caltran.

M USIE B EYENE beyenemusie@gmail.com received his B.S. in MSci in Mathematis and Physics from University
College London and his PhD in Computational Atomic and Molecular Physics from the University of Durham in the
UK. Currently he works as a Senior Lecturer at Icon college of Technology and Management and as a freelance web
applications developer.

M EDHANIT B AHTA hanitwel@yahoo.com received her BS in chemistry from the University of Asmara and
obtained graduate-research assistantship position and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from University of Tennessee.
Currently employed under US Patent and Trademark Office as a patent examiner in the chemical art unit

A MANUEL G EBREBRHAN agebrebrhan@yahoo.com received his BS and MS in Pharmaceutical and material


Sciences in Europe. Currently he is working with Honeywell as a Sr. Scientist/Engineer in Silicon Valley, California.
He is also an inventor of 3 granted U.S patents and 2 pending patents in the field of Semiconductor and
Display.

If you need an updated information, discussions or got an Engineering experiences that you want
share your knowledge or ideas with your fellow professionals.
You will find us on www.linkedin.com/groups/Alpha-Eritrean-Engineers-Community

AEEC | February 2015

24

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