Dr Elizabeth Bandason Gulugufe and new model for safer farming

mwnation.com · Feb 22, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Dr Elizabeth Bandason’s work has always been driven by a single question: how can science reduce harm while increasing productivity? Her latest effort, Gulugufe, answers that question with a practical, African‑led innovation that reframes pest control as a design challenge rather than a chemical arms race. Elizabeth is an accomplished insect scientist and a Senior Lecturer at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar). Her research focuses on molecular entomology, insect neuroscience and toxicology. Her career has been shaped by curiosity, purpose and a commitment to translating scientific knowledge into tangible benefits for communities. She is particularly focused on fostering innovation for development and creating sustainable solutions for insect control, targeting both disease vectors that affect public health and agricultural pests. Her PhD in insect toxicology and behaviour from Michigan State University laid the groundwork for Gulugufe. “I designed experiments from scratch. That PhD taught me not to settle for anything less,” she says. What began as a laboratory insight into insect behaviour and neurotoxicology has since evolved into a field‑ready, farmer‑centred approach. Gulugufe rests on a simple but radical premise: insects do not always need to be killed to be controlled.. “Food that is contaminated is not food,” she says. Her concern is practical and urgent: the cumulative insecticide load on fruits and vegetables, the long‑term health risks for consumers and farmworkers, and the need for affordable, safer options for farmers. “We need to regulate the intensity of insecticide use by giving farmers safer options that are also affordable. The problem I was most determined to solve is increased insecticide loads in fruits and vegetables,” she explains. Gulugufe demonstrates how African scientists can lead sustainable innovation while aligning public health and agricultural productivity Beyond the lab, Elizabeth’s influence extends into science policy and leadership. She serves as secretary general of the Academy of Sciences in Malawi and as chair of the Malawi chapter of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD). Mentorship is central to her practice. A practice she values from her Award fellowship is the Life Purpose Road Map: every mentee prepares one before joining a project. “Science is not a competition. It is a contribution,” she says. “I strive to be a mentor who brings out the best in people. They don’t have to be entomologists to be mentored by me, but they have to be the best version of themselves.” She advocates for safe, inclusive workspaces and mentoring that builds confidence, especially for young women who often face self‑doubt, bullying and harassment. Born at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Elizabeth’s commitment to prevention is personal. She grew up in Nchalo, Chikwawa, a farming community where malaria was common. Losing her father to chemical exposure sharpened her resolve to find preventive solutions rather than only treating harm. She remembers a childhood of quiet curiosity: “I used to create mathematical problems and solve them, then ask elders to mark them. Until today, I love mathematics,” she says. Her fascination with insects deepened when a blackfly outbreak in Zomba drew her into environmental research. “These flies transmit a parasite that causes river blindness. I wanted to understand what caused the outbreak,” she recalls. That investigation revealed the interconnectedness of biology, water chemistry, soil science and GIS mapping. Elizabeth’s academic path took her from Chichiri Primary School to Nguludi Girls Primary and Bangula Secondary School and then to Chancellor College, where she earned a Bachelor of Education Science, majoring in Biology with a focus on entomology. After graduating in 2010, she joined Luanar and quickly rose from staff associate to lecturer. In 2011, she received the prestigious Award Fellowship, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an experience she credits with helping her draw a clear purpose roadmap. A 2013 placement at Dow Agrosciences (now Corteva) reshaped her view of innovation and laboratory practice: “I realised science is not about big machines. It’s about a safe working environment that allows creativity.” Her accolades include the Research Capacity Development Fellowship (RCDF) from the Partnership for Increasing the Impact of Vector Control (PIIVeC) under the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the College of Medicine. She is both an Award Fellow and an Award mentor. Outside science, family is central. She is married to Reinford Mwangonde and describes success as choosing priorities that honour both personal and professional commitments. “For me, family always comes first and work follows. Success is about defining what matters to you and living in a way that honours both your personal and professional commitments,” she says. She adds that she has not made personal sacrifices for her career that would be too costly; instead, she treats difficulties as opportunities driven by purpose. As a scientist and mentor, Elizabeth Bandason aims to leave a legacy defined by kindness, meaningful impact and safer technologies that make everyday challenges easier. To young girls dreaming of science she offers this encouragement: “Feel the fear, but do the science anyway. Don’t let fear hold you back; you have a sound mind and you are capable of achieving great things.”