About

The Department provides leadership in teaching, training, research, consultancy and outreach services in theoretical and applied sciences to produce professionals in environmental physics, environmental engineering & management and food science and technology focusing on a wide range of issues such as soil, air, water & amp; atmospheric environment, pollution abatement technologies, environmental engineering, water and wastewater treatment, food production, safety, health, environment & quality (SHEQ) health among others. The Department offers professional teaching, learning, research, consultancy and outreach services in food science and technology; industrial laboratory technology; environmental assessments,industrial physics; and environmental management and technology.

The Department has four specialised training and consulting sections, namely: (1) Biological & Food Science Section which is responsible for training professionals in food production technologies, value addition, food safety and human nutrition among others to address food insecurity issues, (2) Industrial Laboratory Technology Section which is responsible for imparting knowledge and skill in industrial laboratory technology,(3) Theoretical and Applied Physics Section which is responsible for imparting knowledge and skills in industrial and environmental physics and (4) Chemistry & Environmental Management Section– responsible for natural resources management ,and environmental engineering & technology.

The Department of Physics and Biomedical Sciences is the largest department within the university offering over 18 programs. The academic members of staff in the Department also service other departments through the teaching of basic and applied science modules. 

What We Currently Offer

The Department offers two certificate programmes namely Food Processing & Value Addition and Food Preservation. It also runs a Diploma in Industrial Laboratory Technology (DILT) during the weekend. For the undergraduate degree programmes, the Department offers a BSc. in Industrial Laboratory Technology (BILT) building its foundation from the diploma program. The students in BILT acquire advanced level materials beyond the diploma. The program aims at equipping students with advanced theoretical and practical skills that would enable them to manage issues in the industrial laboratory setting at any level. The BSc. in Food Science and Technology (BFST) aims to build capacity and supply professionals capable of addressing societal and industrial food-related issues. The BSc. in Industrial and Environmental Physics (BIEP) aims to produce graduates with the necessary skills for employment as technologists or scientific personnel in the fields of technology and physics, with an emphasis on the applications of physics in industrial and environmental contexts including the science underlying renewable energy and sustainable technologies. Similarly, the BSc. in Environmental Management and Technology (BEMT) seeks to develop students’ understanding of environmental issues and the techniques used to better manage the interrelationships that exist between society and the environment.

The Department also offers an MSc. degree in Water Resources Management (MWRM) with the aim of developing knowledge, insight and skills required to design, implement and evaluate water resources and supply management policies and strategies. The MSc. in Environmental Protection and Management (MEPM), focuses on environmental protection and management. Besides, the department jointly offers a master of Science in Sanitation with PEHS. On the other hand, the MPhil in Applied Sciences (Environmental Protection and Management), MPhil in Applied Sciences (Renewable Energy), MPhil in Applied Sciences (Industrial Process and Technology) and MPhil in Applied sciences (Water Resources Management) are specialised research postgraduate degree programmes. They aim to develop students’ scientific competencies and research skills as they apply to solve societal needs, manage the environment and provide innovative policy driving ideas.

As a terminal degree, the Department offers a Ph.D. in Applied Sciences. Students can focus their studies in one of four areas: Industrial Process Technology, Environmental Protection and Management, Renewable Energy and Water Resources Management. As with the MPhil degrees, the aim is to develop, even further, students’ scientific competencies and research skills, bearing in mind that the goal is to enhance the application of scientific research and tailor-made capacity building in the public and private sectors. 

Research, Consultancies and Outreach

As with academic members of staff in other departments, members of the Department of Physics and Biomedical Sciences are not only engaged in teaching & training but also conduct collaborative research, consultancies and outreach with members of the other departments and centers at MUBAS, and outside the institution. Naturally, they also collaborate with other universities within and outside Malawi.