EP 149: Dorcas Jelagat Tuitoek exploring Industrial Decarbonization and Green Technologies as Climate Solutions

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. 

Transcript

African Innovation Towards Sustainable Industrialization

Speaker 1 0:07

This 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 2 1:01

So 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 2 1:49

My 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 1 2:53

Finally , I've been longing to be here , annie , so it's a pleasure .

Speaker 2 2:57

Thank 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 1 3:12

Thank 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 2 3:36

I 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 1 4:11

America . 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 1 4:36

So 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 1 5:12

So 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 1 6:06

But 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 1 7:21

I 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 1 7:49

And 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 2 8:03

Fantastic . 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 1 8:50

to 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 2 9:49

There'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 2 10:16

this . 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 1 10:44

So 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 1 10:59

Okay , 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 2 12:16

Yeah , 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 1 12:38

Yeah , 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 2 13:54

Yeah , 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 1 14:20

So 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 1 14:48

So 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 2 16:22

Dorcas , 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 2 17:02

But 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 1 17:41

um . 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 1 18:57

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 , 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 2 20:01

No , 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 2 20:45

Eventually 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 2 21:06

So 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 1 21:18

just 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 1 22:23

As 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 2 22:49

So 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 1 23:57

through this .

Speaker 2 23:59

Why 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 1 24:21

That'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 1 24:50

And then , secondly , agenda 2063 .

Speaker 1 24:54

I 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 1 25:04

The 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 2 26:12

What 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 1 26:49

I 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 1 27:21

No , 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 2 27:55

Power 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 1 28:22

my 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 1 28:45

It 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 1 29:15

I 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 2 29:32

Um , 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 2 30:23

So , 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 1 31:18

Thank 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 1 32:14

If 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 2 33:12

Yes , 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 1 33:44

That'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 2 35:08

Powerful . 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 1 35:42

Thank you , ani , for having me . This was a great pleasure and the good work that you do , congratulations thank you so much .

Speaker 2 35:49

Thank 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 1 36:09

Thank you .