Children basically are known for their nonstop questions as they are eager to know about what they see. Every answer usually is
followed by another question like ‘why’ and ‘how’ that seems to be tedious for a person who thinks the next question must be the last.
Among these is Tilahun Yilma, who was different from other children of his age for not letting pass by anything he sees or hears without asking why and how it is like that. His eager to learn about something had proceeded to practical testing. For instance, among the things he amazed at is how birds can fly, what happens to insects if they lose their wings, and related issues.
Once up on a time, his curiosity for knowledge led him to open a dead bird to see its inner part (‘machine’ as of his expression) that enables the bird fly above human. When his mother suddenly saw him engaged in operating the bird’s body, she yelled out in fear of assuming that her son was caught by evil spirit and became mentally sick. After consulting closest family, she took him to holy water which is believed to heal people who are sick of mental disorder and other diseases but the boy was free of such a problem.
Though she had taken him repeatedly to various spiritual places and baptized him with holy water, the child continued with his research instead of ceasing as she wished. He was caught not by evil spirit rather by thirst for knowledge that removes evil things from the people. Mother and the family gradually learned that the child is gifted with brilliant mind and idea that cannot rest until quenching his thirst for knowledge.
One more thing he had done during his childhood when less than 10 years old was conducting experiment on a fly removing its wings to see whether it could fly or not. Observing his curiosity for knowledge and research, his grandfather had encouraged him visualizing he would be an eminent researcher in the future.
Today, this person, Professor Tilahun Yilma, is among the prominent scientists in the world. He has drawn global attention and recognition to himself via his researches conducted for many years on animals’ and human vaccination and medicines at University of California. Now the world is looking after him with a caring manner as he is among the precious persons and for it has highly benefited from his research outcomes.
His education background related to current profession as he told Addis Zemen Daily, started when he joined Jimma Agricultural Technical High School launched by Americans years ago. Then he studied at Haremaya Agricultural College for two years until he offered scholarship by the University of California where he studied veterinary.
The time he returned to Ethiopia receiving his PhD was severe because of animals’ death in great number due to viral plague which killed 30-60 percent of the animals. The disease had also killed many animals in Europe and other countries since 1800s. Among animals affected by the disease, only 10 percent can survive which means it is 90 percent killer.
Professor Tilahun along with his team had vaccinated over 120 thousand animals with the vaccine and financial aid gained from America. But, such kind of vaccine needs refrigerator to be effective especially in hotter areas. On the other hand, most parts of the country are not accessible with such facility. Therefore, Tilahun made thorough research to get effective vaccine but needs no refrigerator and became successful.
He also trained many African and other countries’ students the way to prevent tropical diseases. Their research works conducted under the umbrella of International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi Kenya, had been printed on famous magazines. This enabled them focus on diseases in Africa and Ethiopia, innovate strategies for examination and vaccination and bringing new technologies to the developing countries.
Prof. Tilahun Yilma has received awards that include the Ciba-Geigy award, the UC Davis Faculty Research Award, and UC Davis Distinguished Public Service Award which are the highest awards in different fields. Furthermore, he is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. He also has worked with a number of International Organizations including the WHO, FAO, OIE, AU, and IAEA.
Regarding his future plan, he said that he is getting ready to launch huge research center in the east Africa in collaboration with the state of China. The reason for this is equipping the youth in the sector is essential for the country’s development in science and technology, Tilahun said.
The Ethiopian Herald November22, 2019
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
