Africa Learns Environmental Monitoring Techniques from GIST

 

- The IEAEC offered an education and training program to the University of Uyo in Nigeria.

- “It will contribute to solving environmental problems in Africa by teaching technologies and know-how and fostering experts.”

 

 

□ A research team from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST, President   Youn Joon Kim) visited Nigeria to teach local environmental specialists how to monitor pollutants.

 

❍ On May 11 and 12, Prof. Park, Ki Hong , Dr. Kang , Su-il and Dr. Kenneth Widmer at the GIST International Environmental Analysis and Education Center (IEAEC) visited the Universty of Uyo situated in the southeastern region of Nigeria and taught 19 people how to monitor pollutants. The attendants included environmental researchers at the university and Nigerian civil officers.

 

□ The GIST team taught them how to detect, measure, analyze and monitor pollutants and microorganisms in water. They also listened to the participants’ voices about the local characteristics and circumstances, and such opinions will be reflected in future education and training programs.

 

❍ In October, civil officers and researchers selected by the Nigerian government will visit GIST to take study tours to environmental monitoring facilities and attend an education and training session for two weeks.

 

❍ In Nigeria, the GIST researchers signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Uyo on joint research and training, making sure of continuous exchanges and cooperation.

 

□ Established in 2004, the IEAEC is specialized in R&D, education and training in the field of environmental pollution.

 

❍ For the last decade, the IEAEC has managed the Science and Technology Program for Sustainable Environment in cooperation with the UN University and endeavored to foster environmental experts and give technical support for pollutant analysis in developing countries in Southeast Asia, in particular countries along the Mekong River such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The IEAEC’s visit to Nigeria was its first education and training program conducted outside Asia.

 

□ The IEAEC’s visit to Nigeria was part of a Korea-UNDP cooperative project that the center won in October 2012.

 

❍ Under the project contract, the IEAEC receives 300,000 USD in three years from the UNDP, and the funds will go to activities designed to improve water quality in Africa and Southeast Asia by offering technical education and training programs on water quality monitoring and sustainable water resource management.