Biography
Professor Ishmael B. Masesane is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Botswana, Secretary General of the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), and President of the Botswana Academy of Science. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).
His research focuses on organic synthesis, natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, including the isolation, characterisation and synthesis of biologically active natural products with potential pharmaceutical applications. He received his B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biology and M.Sc. in Natural Products Chemistry from the University of Botswana, and his Ph.D. in Organic Synthesis from Durham University in the United Kingdom.
Professor Masesane has held several academic and scientific leadership positions, including Head of the Department of Chemistry and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Botswana. He has also contributed to regional and international scientific cooperation through African academy networks and Commonwealth chemistry initiatives.
His combination of expertise in natural-products chemistry, higher education and African science-academy leadership is particularly relevant to Liberia's priorities in laboratory capacity, biodiversity-based research, scientific collaboration, research governance and the development of young scientists.