University
University of Nairobi
Area of Focus
Environmental and Biosystems Engineering
Education
Dorcus Ndunge Benard is a PhD student in the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering at the School of Engineering, University of Nairobi. She also holds an MSc and a BSc, with First Class Honors, in Environmental and Biosystems Engineering from the University of Nairobi. She has published her research in various peer-reviewed journals, on topics such as the ‘Protocol for Evaluating Sand Dam Water Quality in Semi-Arid Areas: A Case Study of Makueni County’, ‘Rainwater Harvesting Technologies in Makueni County, Kenya’ and ‘Review of Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Nairobi, Kenya’ , and ‘Contribution of Superabsorbent Polymers to Growth and Yield of African Leafy Vegetables’ and disseminated her research findings at workshops, conferences and other academic fora. Her PhD research is titled the ‘Effects of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) on Irrigation Water Requirement, Efficiency and African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) Growth in Greenhouse: Case Study of Kitui County.’
Research & Work
Dorcas has consulted widely in the areas of water resources, irrigation, rainwater harvesting, water, and sanitation for the National Irrigation Authority, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), UNESCO – Kenya, Kenya Power and World Vision. Her research will help inform optimal irrigation water use within the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), such as Kitui County in Kenya. Dorcas’ research into the use of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) in irrigation will provide new knowledge on how to increase water use efficiency in irrigation, creating enhanced resilience of ASAL livelihoods to the effects of drought and climate change. Her research into the production of ALVs under irrigation, will also contribute to both food and nutritional security.
