The Root Of The Science Podcast
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The Root Of The Science Podcast
EP 149: Dorcas Jelagat Tuitoek exploring Industrial Decarbonization and Green Technologies as Climate Solutions
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What does it take for Africa to lead the charge in sustainable industrialization? Join us on this enlightening conversation with Dorcas Jelagat Tuitoek , a PhD student at the University of Oxford, whose research on industrial decarbonization in the steel industry is setting a new standard for green technology. Discover how Dorcas transitioned from a promising career at Deloitte to becoming a key player in the global effort to combat climate change.
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African Innovation Towards Sustainable Industrialization
Speaker 1This technology and what I'm doing . I love it from the African perspective , because we have this is something quite new to us industrialization . We don't have it . We are getting there and this is our chance to leapfrog and learn from the lessons that other people have done . We have seen that at the moment , this production technologies from all over the world is not sustainable . So from an African point , it's an opportunity to actually take up the chance to come up with new innovations and new technologies that are cleaner , that are green . New innovations and new technologies that are cleaner , that are green . So that's where we have a chance to take charge in taking the clean production technology forward and we have greatest renewable energy resources .
Speaker 2So it's very much possible to do cleaner , greener production from um from an industrial point of view , in the hello , everyone , and welcome to another episode of the root of the sounds podcast with your girl and with an e if you are new here . Welcome to the show if you are a regular . Thank you so much for tuning in . Remember that you can watch us on YouTube if you are right now . Remember to subscribe on the YouTube channel , share the link , share it with your friends and family or , alternatively , you can listen to us on Spotify , apple Podcasts or wherever else you listen to your podcast . And make sure that you also share this episode and , you know , leave a comment if you love the show . Now let's get into today's episode .
Speaker 2My guest today is Dorcas Tuk-Tuk . She is a PhD student from Kenya and she is pursuing her PhD in engineering science at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom . Dorcas is dedicated to addressing climate change through sustainable industrial processes and green technology . Join us in this episode as we delve more into Dorcas' research , her inspiring story of how she came from Kenya all the way to the United Kingdom , and some of the innovative solutions that she's actually exploring in her research to combat climate change and promote a more sustainable development . Let's go , hello , dorcas . Welcome to the show . Thank you so much , annie , for having me . Oh man , it's such a pleasure to have you here . It's a long time coming , but I'm so glad we are here . Finally , we have made the date .
Speaker 1Finally , I've been longing to be here , annie , so it's a pleasure .
Speaker 2Thank you Fantastic , me too . So first things first Dawkers . Could you just briefly introduce yourself ? Who is Dawkers ? Where are you fromcas ? Where are you from originally , where are you currently based ? And , just in a quick little bit , what do you do ?
Speaker 1Thank you , Amy . So my name is Dorcas Kuitwai and my middle name is Jelagat . I come from Kenya Yay , Team Kenya but I'm currently based in Oxford where I'm doing my PhD in systems engineering . I'm looking at industrial decarbonization and specifically steel industry . Yeah , so that's who .
Speaker 2I am basically Fantastic . We're going to get into all of that and all of that you do , but let's start from the beginning , right , and all of that you do , but let's start from the beginning , right ? You told us you're from Kenya . Now you're all the way on the other side of the ocean , or is there an ocean ? Yeah , there is an ocean . There is an ocean . There's a Mediterranean . Just like to make sure . No , that's .
Speaker 1America . Yeah , so you're on the other side of the world . I think that's a better explanation . How did you get there ? Tell us your journey , from being in being in kenya , um , and now where you are all right . Thank you , annie . So I did my undergraduate degree in kenya and I did chemical engineering , and I think this is where it all began , because I specialized in energy and environment in my final year in my fifth year and then this is when I actually realized that my area would be around either energy or environmental stuff .
Speaker 1So I graduated in 2022 March and then about this time I'm having a good grade . I'm having a good grade and my parents and my lecturers are urging me to look for scholarship , like pursue a master's degree , and I'm like is it something that I really want ? So I'm at a place where I'm not quite sure that I want to pursue a postgraduate . Not quite sure that I want to pursue a postgraduate because not so long after my graduation , I got to to work with Deloitte and I was starting to get involved in the work .
Speaker 1So I'm like , ah , this is Deloitte , I'm gonna work here , I'm gonna build my career here , yeah , yeah , so well , I couldn't put up , like , with the all the pressures from all over . So I ended up applying and I wanted to do a master's only and just get done with it . Yeah , because I realized even in Deloitte I could do stuff with environment . There's a specific course called ESG . So at Deloitte , I was working as a business analyst in the risk advisory department . At Deloitte , I was working as a business analyst in the risk advisory department . The work mostly involved looking at IT risk assessment environmental , social and governance . Clients had to come out and just work around how to have a strategy , slowly realized that , well , this is what I might consider doing .
Speaker 1But then the scholarship that I applied to got back to me in October , just a few months to be exact , four months after joining Deloitte . So I have this scholarship now and I have two options , because it's's not scholarship , you're given two years . So you either do two , two masters , one year , each year , one master program , and then the other alternative was to do a PhD . So , um , yeah , so , so . So after this scholarship coming and I have these two options , I'm like do I want to do a master's again for two years or should I just do a PhD directly ? Yeah , and I'm conflicted now because I have to make a decision . Sure , I strongly feel that PhD would be quite difficult because I have not had a master's before . I have not had a master's before . But I also have the option to just like push through and like see what it has , because I also learned that there are some people who did their PhDs directly from undergraduates . So I go for this option because yes , girl .
Speaker 1I go for this option because I realize it's possible to do it and I shouldn't be the one limiting myself . People have done it . I trust also my capabilities and not even me trusting . Even the lecturers and the people who gave me the scholarship actually trusted my abilities , so I will be fine . So that is how I ended up doing a PhD . So that is how I ended up doing a PhD .
Speaker 1And why PhD in engineering science is because , I think , because I had had a background in chemical engineering there was no way I was going to go to something that is foreign or something that's so far from like the engineering space , so that's why I ended up doing a PhD in engineering science .
Speaker 2Fantastic . What a journey , what a very unique journey . But I think it's a very important one where maybe somebody did not know that this is like a possible career . I mean , this is an option , because we always think that there are all these . You know , you do undergrad , you coming straight from undergraduate level to pursuing a PhD . I'm asking because I know a PhD is Like you rightfully said , that you didn't have the background of a master's , but I don't even know if that really prepares you . But I just would like to hear from you like , how was that transition moving straight into this PhD ?
Speaker 1to be honest , I mean it was not easy . Yeah , I , the beginning I felt like maybe if I would have done masters it would have been easier . But apparently it's . Most people just experience it differently and for me the learning curve was quite steep . Also , given the fact that I had been away from school for one year , my mind was just not ready to go into books , go into grinding . I mean I had to go back to my books , back to my undergraduate books , just to catch up with the basis , the foundation , which was quite a lot . But then good thing is that it takes a bit of time , but you get there . Yeah , so after some time you actually catch up with people who've done the master's program . Um , it's not easy , but very much yeah , yeah , and you're right .
Speaker 2There's no . I don't think it's like with the , with the postgraduate journey . I don't think everybody's journey is the same . So even if you had done a master's , it does not guarantee that your PhD would have been smooth . Uh , vice versa , where , without doing a PhD could have been smooth . So , like you rightfully said , there's a there's a learning curve at every single step , but congratulations for for doing this and for overcoming
Innovative Solutions for Clean Industrialization
Speaker 2this . So now let's get into the details of this PhD . I'd like to understand what you do . So your research focuses on industrial decarbonization and sustainable production . Okay , those are like two big mouthfuls For somebody like myself who has no idea what that is . Can you just break it down for us on what exactly you're doing ?
Speaker 1So industrial decarbonization and let me start with the word decarbonization this is basically trying to remove the processes that emit CO2 from the industrial production processes .
Speaker 1Okay , so , for example , particularly in the steel industry , the work that I am doing , trying to look for technologies to substitute the current ones that emit a lot of CO2 . And in any industrial process you realize that there's input materials going in and then there's like a black box in between where production happens , and then at the tail end is where you have output , products , like products coming out . So sustainable production and industrial decarbonization basically tries to look at any industry from that point of view , where you have input , a black box and an output , and you try to make all these processes , like from incoming raw materials to the actual process , to whatever is coming out , making it very much green in the sense that you're trying to minimize emissions , minimize energy , ensure that you're producing less waste . So that is industrial decarbonization . It does not only look at CO2 , it also looks at the amount of energy intensiveness that you use and trying to minimize that , because the greatest emissions actually come from energy systems . So that's it .
Speaker 2Yeah , okay , fantastic . So why is this work important ? We understand we are in the era of climate change and we need to make some issues , but can you further elaborate why this work is important in this research that you're doing ?
Speaker 1Yeah , Happy to do that . So CO2 is the greatest contributor of climate change . This comes from most industrial processes , especially the energy intensive ones that rely on fossil fuels that rely on fossil fuels . So also like if you consider the upcoming technologies from Africa and you realize that as Africa , we are slowly industrializing . Even the Agenda 63 says that in like 2050 , we would have grown so many industries . Current production technologies for most industries emit the CO2 . And we need to find ways to ensure that these industries are minimizing their CO2 production rate so that we do not encounter a place where we are having so much warming in the atmosphere caused by this industry . So it's a matter of trying to balance between growth , technological development and also industrial development of countries and of places , but also achieving that balance of you're not emitting CO2 , so you're becoming green and clean and lean .
Speaker 2Yeah , a very important balance , because you know we still have a lot of time here on the earth , not only ourselves , but our children and our children's children . So then let's talk about these . You know specific technologies , or the methods that you're actually , you know , exploring for your work . You know which are on green fields for the steel industry . What exactly are those alternatives ?
Speaker 1So you realize that as the energy intensiveness of a process gets in , you want to look for energy solutions that are very much like , higher in terms of calorific value . But some of this this , for example , coal is the greatest fuel to emit yeah yeah , it's very much used in most industries . I bet also , like south africa , uses a lot of yeah coal .
Speaker 1So yes , so um , this green alternative fuel comes from renewable energy sources . An example is hydrogen . So how to get hydrogen from a clean energy fuel is that you break water through solar , like break the water molecules by use of solar power and then you get hydrogen from it . So in that sense , hydrogen is a fuel and it has good energy content . So taking this and replacing this hydrogen like replacing the coal and by using hydrogen is one of the technologies we are looking at . We're also exploring reactor design , because most industrial processes happen in a reactor . Yeah , for example , in the industry there's the shaft furnaces , but design of these reactors can also influence how much CO2 is emitted . So we're trying to also look for a good design of the reactor that tries to minimize emissions and also incorporate aspects such as process control , incorporate also sensors and AI , new technologies to make sure that the technologies are measuring what needs to be measured and the co2 is not as high . Basically , process control . Listen .
Speaker 2Dorcas , this is so fascinating . Um , I'm my mind is blown , like I didn't even know that you could do half of the things that you you're saying , like you're break a water molecule . Okay , I'll be honest , I left chemistry in second year . It traumatized me , but , I mean , I have a very basic understanding . But it's really fascinating that you know this is a type of work that you're doing and it's got such positive effects , as you know , as alternatives and , wow , bringing in AI , because I mean , everybody's talking about AI . So it seems like this is really really innovative and really really exciting .
Speaker 2But I just want to ask you because you know , at the end of the day , you are an African , although you are in Oxford , right ? So , um , like , after you've done this research and you become Dr Dorcas , you know , when that happens , how do you see your research impacting the future for the industrial processes , particularly in developing countries like Africa ? Or , you know , yeah , like Africa , because we are Africans here . So let's just take it to a more local context that's my best part , because you know what ?
Speaker 1um . Africa has the greatest mineral resources , and not just mineral resources like natural resources and most industries rely on these resources to actually industrialize . And you , you realize that Africa usually exports a lot Like , for example , still industry uses iron ore . Iron ore like the best iron ore kind in the world comes from South Africa . Wow , the thing is now , with these resources , we have not gotten to a point where we have actually maximized the use in Africa , to the point where it brings so much profit to us and we export products that are not like they've not gone through processing , like we've not value added them . So I believe that if we have these resources and we can find technologies to actually value add them to a point where they can be exported , then that's a benefit for for africa . And value addition comes with new technologies , yes , and new processes , um , that are actually very much impactful . And then , number two , um , this technology and what I'm doing .
Speaker 1I love it from the African perspective because we have this is something quite new to us industrialization . We don't have it . We are getting there and this is our chance to leapfrog and learn from the lessons that other people have done . We have seen that at the moment this production technologies from all over the world is not sustainable . So from an African point , it's an opportunity to actually take up the chance to come up with new innovations and new technologies that are cleaner , that are green , that are cleaner , that are green . So that's where we have a chance to take charge in taking the clean production technology forward and we have greatest renewable energy resources . So it's very much possible to do cleaner , greener production from an industrial point of view in the African context . So these technologies are very important .
Speaker 2No , for sure , For sure , and I hope it does come to that part where we are actually utilizing , you know , these technologies so that we can industrialize and , you know , really grow our economy . And you know , research like yours opens up those options for us , maybe because we don't know how to do this yet . So it's really great that there are researchers like yourself who are Africans , who can potentially bring it back and be like , hey , this is the type of research that I did and we can propose to do A , b , c , d . So it really sounds exciting . I know you're still in the process and eventually , it's going to get there .
Speaker 2Eventually it's going to get there , you know . So we touched it already when we were talking about your journey on the idea of transitioning into from into your PhD . So this is very innovative work , but it's got its ups and downs . We know this with any type of research .
Navigating Challenges and Mentorship in STEM
Speaker 2So would you mind sharing some of your biggest challenges that you faced and how you actually overcome , how you overcame some of these things ?
Speaker 1just like in any field or in any career . Yeah , one thing that came up is uncertainties , and for me it came in the sense that I started a project that did not turn out to be what I'm doing now , oh yes . So I believe that just handling uncertainties was quite challenging to me and I came in with the mind of like I know what I'm going to do and I'm going with this , I'm running with this , this is going to be the one thing that I'm just gonna do . Yeah , but things went the other way around . But of course , I'm very happy , like doing this thing that I'm doing now , but that transition from doing whatever you thought you would do to something else was quite challenging period for me , and also learning how to just embrace optimism and open-mindedness , even while doing research . I think PhD is quite one of those things that teaches you to just be open-minded and flow with anything that comes .
Speaker 1As long as you have that one goal . The journey might go meandering and it's totally fine . So that is what I have learned and also , like the learning curve , starting was quite hard . Just that drop from undergrad PhD . It was a quite challenging period but I relied a lot on my , my mentors and my supervisors to also take me through um what I need to do .
Speaker 2So yeah , I'm so glad you brought up mentorship , um as an , as a very crucial role that has helped you through your journey and I think sometimes we really take it for granted having somebody who has gone before you because , like you rightfully said , many of us come very naively into postgrad I don't even want to say a PhD , I just I just think postgrad and you come in very naively , and especially if you've been a top achiever , um , because I've learned and I'm sure you're also learning this as well that it's not about how smart you are , because there are so many things that have happened beyond your control , so it's it's quite interesting that you know , once you apart , it's not about your intellect , so it's more about your , your resilience . So it's really great that you have people who can tell you like , hey , girl , listen , it's not you , it's really . It is really not you . Because sometimes you're like , no , maybe I'm not cut out for this , I should have stuck in deloitte , could have been earning my money . Why am I putting myself ?
Speaker 1through this .
Speaker 2Why did I bring myself here ? So , yeah , yeah , so you know , you yourself are involved in a mentorship program . So why do you think ? Why is mentoring young students really so important for you and such a close cause to your heart ?
Speaker 1That's a good question . I love mentorship for so many reasons . One of them is I am a product of mentorship . I think I have grown up just having people who have guided me along my journey , which I have found really helpful . I just imagine a life without , maybe , someone to hold your hand , ask questions , someone who's going before you in the things that you do . So in that sense , I would also want to be that person for someone else .
Speaker 1And then , secondly , agenda 2063 .
Speaker 1I mean the young people , and that's like Africa , agenda 2063 , the young people will be the greatest workforce in this continent , will be the greatest workforce in this continent .
Speaker 1The only way we can have this is if we also give out this hand , lend our hands to someone else to get to know that they can do it , that it's very much possible and that this , for example , 10 courses , are very much needed for even us as a continent to industrialize . Definitely , um , definitely , and and you know , like the way people also like there's a lot of diversity in areas of interest . But also young people . I don't want them to run away from doing the STEM courses and mostly go for TikTok and stuff and like , yes , our future honestly lies in some of these innovations and technologies and I would want as many people to also take up these courses and learn so that they can come up with these innovations and steer our continent forward . So in that sense this mentorship means a lot to me , because I want to see that future for our country and also for the entire continent yeah , I love that .
Speaker 2What a what a beautiful answer . So it's so much more than just it about you , but it's about the future generation and the next generation . And I mean , come on , you , you're an incredible role model for the people who you mentor . So I think it's really great that , as much as you were given , you're also able to give back . So , dorcas , you're not only just a PhD student , you're not only involved in mentoring . You do have a life outside of this . You do have a life which is great , and a little birdie told me that you sing as well .
Speaker 1I love singing . Let me tell you , a PhD sometimes can just be something else , and people have hobbies , yeah , so for me , I love singing . I have joined my college choir here in Oxford . I love singing . I have joined my college choir here in Oxford and I'm also looking to just like upskill my singing skills and do who knows , who knows , if PhD doesn't , I'll be singing for the PhD and like come on , work out yeah .
Speaker 1No , I think so , yeah go ahead , yeah , so so I love singing . I also love swimming . I I indulge myself in so many extracurricular activities here and and also beyond um , which I think it's keeping me grounded in the things that I need to do . Yeah , and lately I'm also just learning how to be out there and speak out and take up presentations . So I am excited for the extracurricular things that I'm doing around here .
Speaker 2Power to you , power to you . So how do you handle it ? Because I know maybe sometimes somebody might think I just need to come and do my PhD . I need to be in the lab 24 7 or in the field , whatever you're doing , go home , sleep . So , um , how do you juggle your interests ? And also , uh , the PhD . Have you found a balance ? Is there a balance that does it exist ?
Speaker 1my first day in Oxford , I came in and um . One of the lecture that I got from the engineering science department was this person telling us that bright people do so many things , and that thing started um . So I have always endeavored to do things beyond my PhD , because I realized if I just focus on it .
Speaker 1It doesn't it ? My PhD like it literally stalls if I just look at it every day , nothing moves . So yeah , um , it's back to your question again . It's about finding balance , because I realized I've gotten to love these things that I do so much to the point where I'm like , oh , phd it happens , trust me , I know yeah , so one of the important things um , I'm also learning on this journey .
Speaker 1I have not yet how to balance all these things , but I know listening to your intuitions and your body sometimes , and just like I believe that you can have plans , but then you can also be flexible around them .
Speaker 2Um , so , having that schedule and routine , but then not be not being too hard on yourself and allowing things to also just flow yeah , yeah , no , that's a wonderful place to be at , um , and I think that's also a sign of growth , um , to recognize that , yes , you are meant to be organized , but also in your organization , you have to plan for flexibility , for things to not go wrong . And I love what your lecturer said bright people do many things . I'm gonna steal that . So if anybody asks me , like , why do you do so many things , I'm gonna say bright people do so many things . That has affirmed me , because you know , sometimes you're like I do so many things . You know , but I I think it's true , yeah , I'm bright . Clearly , that that's amazing .
Speaker 2So , um , as we are about to wrap up , one of the questions that I'd like to ask you is you know , a piece of advice ? Um , somebody's listening to you , listen to your journey and they inspire it . They're like wow , jorkus , you've , you've , you've had such a wonderful journey we inspired , but what you're doing , you're so confident . So what advice would you give a young woman from Kenya who's listening right now , or some any other parts of the world , um , who's interested in pursuing a career in STEM and even more specifically , in engineering ? Because , I mean , we didn't touch on it yet , but engineering is such a still considered a very male dominated space . So , and also , you know , going to a place like Oxford as an African , a young African woman , that's such a huge achievement . So what advice would you give ? Give to somebody who's inspired by your journey ?
Speaker 1Thank you , annie . I would say , first of all , have belief in yourself , believe in your abilities and learn how to develop self-confidence , because sometimes you just need you to actually also tell yourself that you can do this in the place where there are , like , fewer males or , sorry , in a place where it's male dominated . So I would say , if you have that internal confidence within you and knowing that you have to do what you need to do , it's not easy , but then have the resilience and endurance to to go forth . Um and then rely on good like friends and support system around you , because that is also very helpful . You realize that , in as much as you can find yourself in a place where you are the only one or a few of you are there .
Speaker 1If you have people , even online , reach out to people , form communities locally and also online , and talk through your issues . Importantly , find a mentor along that journey . Find someone who's done the things that you want to do so that they can help you , guide with . They can guide you with the things that you want to do and achieve and , I think , also looking out for opportunities to further enhance your skills , in the sense that there are a lot of opportunities for women and young people in scholarships or online courses . Look out for these opportunities to upskill yourself , because they are very , very helpful , and also walk around , interact with people and build these social skills that can help you survive and thrive in any situation . And I would say go for it , don't limit yourself .
Speaker 2Yes , fantastic piece of advice . Thank you , dorcas . The world is our oyster . We are capable of doing so much more than we think sometimes . So last question looking ahead , what are your hopes and dreams in terms of your career or your , your academic pursuits , and also , like in answering this in type , on the top of impact that you would like to have on the world ?
Speaker 1That's a good question because you're , as you're saying , hope . I think , um , I'm learning that things can just go whichever direction , but of importance is to be hopeful and to know what you want , because that's why , guys , that's what will guide even you through the uncertainties . I hope to . Um , this is quite difficult , but I think I hope to be a leader in the climate space and to advocate for sustainable solutions in production , um , and also around mineral use and resources use in Africa and beyond . I see myself helping also people to come into this technology and be thought leaders and be people who are going to influence the next set of upcoming technologies , the next industry . How are they going to look like ? Just a voice to speak into , sorry , a voice that will be in those rooms of decision makers where they are influencing the next direction of technologies in Africa .
Speaker 2Powerful . May all of that come through and when it happens , we'll have you back on the show as we're all growing bigger and better and be like , yes , doctor , because obviously by then it will be Dr Dorcas thought leader . No , dorcas , it was so lovely chatting to you today . Thank you so much for your time . I've learned so much . I'm inspired by your story and by your journey and honestly I wish you all of the best , not only in your academic pursuits , but overall , all in your whole entire life . Thank you .
Speaker 1Thank you , ani , for having me . This was a great pleasure and the good work that you do , congratulations thank you so much .
Speaker 2Thank you so much and to everybody else who's tuned in , thank you for listening to another episode of the root of the sound podcast . Until next time , goodbye .
Speaker 1Thank you .
