Stakeholder engagement in sub-saharan Africa on the topic of Advanced Nuclear Science and Technology Techniques
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Brighton
Department Name: Sch of Computing, Engineering & Maths
Abstract
The proposed project fits within the GCRF challenge portfolios of education and global health. For education, the funded activity will allow staff/students in sub-Saharan Africa to present their work to an international audience and to discuss with international experts. For global health, it will allow the discussion of how to develop skills in environmental radiation to better monitor and regulate radioactive pollution from, for example, nuclear power, the mining industry and the water industry.
Planned Impact
Capacity building in radiation measurement for effective monitoring of environmental radioactivity and compliance to environmental law has been identified as a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa. The proposal brings together experts in this area from leading UK academic institutes (Universities of Brighton, Liverpool, Surrey) and the major research laboratory for nuclear physics in the UK (STFC Daresbury Laboratory) with scientists working on this topic in Botswana, Cameroun, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland and Tanzania to discuss and share expertise in this area.
A parallel development which would have a big impact would be a collaboration between the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) and the UK National Physical Laboratory both of which have expertise in metrology and, of particular relevance for this proposal, in terms of techniques used for environmental monitoring of radiation.
A parallel development which would have a big impact would be a collaboration between the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) and the UK National Physical Laboratory both of which have expertise in metrology and, of particular relevance for this proposal, in terms of techniques used for environmental monitoring of radiation.
Organisations
- University of Brighton (Lead Research Organisation)
- North-West University (Collaboration)
- The Botswana International University of Science & Technology (Collaboration)
- Stellenbosch University (Collaboration)
- University of Douala (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (Collaboration)
- iThemba LABs (Collaboration)
- University of Swaziland (Collaboration)
- Federal University Lokoja (Collaboration)
- University of Cape Town (Collaboration)
- University of Dar es Salaam (Collaboration)
| Description | Workshop provided an opportunity for colleagues from Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and the UK to meet to discuss the measurement and monitoring of environmental radiation. A satellite meeting provided hands-on training for masters and PhD students in state of the art techniques. |
| Exploitation Route | Could be used to develop a project to monitor environmental radiation from e.g. mining across different parts of Africa. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| URL | https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/82/overview |
| Description | Addresses sustainable development goals 4,6,12 by providing knowledge of current technology and techniques when measuring environmental radiation. The associated hand-on workshop provided quality education for masters and PhD students. Equal opportunity was given for people of different genders to participate in the project. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | BIUST |
| Organisation | The Botswana International University of Science & Technology |
| Country | Botswana |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support this workshop https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/70/overview and I was a co-director of the workshop. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Staff from BIUST attended the workshop and contributed to the scientific programme. They took a strong role in the discusison of the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) |
| Impact | The South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) has started a strong training programme for PGR students. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Cameroon |
| Organisation | University of Douala |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop and I was a co-director. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the University of Doula attended the workshop and played a strong role in the scientific discussion. |
| Impact | There was much discussion of setting up a training network so that students from the University of Douala could use the equipment at iThemba LABS and then take the data back to Douala for analysis. A formal agreement is not yet in place. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Dar es Salaam |
| Organisation | University of Dar es Salaam |
| Country | Tanzania, United Republic of |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support a workshop and I was the co-director. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the University of Dar es Salaam attended the workshop and played a strong part in the scientific discussion. |
| Impact | An MoU has been signed between the University of Dar es Salaam and iThemba LABS for the training of PGR students. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Lokoja, Nigeria |
| Organisation | Federal University Lokoja |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop. I was a co-director of the workshop. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the Federal University Lokoja particpated in the workshop and played an active part in the scientific discussion. |
| Impact | Staff from the Federal University Lokoja met other researchers from the same country who work on the same topic but who they had not met before. They are discussing starting a collaboration and setting up an MoU between their universities and iThemba LABS. Staff from the Federal University Lokoja particpated in a good discussion about how the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) could be developed. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Stellenbosch University |
| Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Organised a workshop |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to the workshop |
| Impact | Ongoing collaboration, including applications for further funding. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | University of Cape Town |
| Organisation | University of Cape Town |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Cape Town staff and students presented. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Cape Town staff and students presented. |
| Impact | I organised the workshop at which University of the Cape Town staff and students presented. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | University of Swaziland |
| Organisation | University of Swaziland |
| Country | Swaziland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided the opportunities for networking and collaboration |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to workshop |
| Impact | Ongoing collaboration |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | University of the North west, south africa |
| Organisation | North-West University |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop. I was a co-director of the workshop. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the North West University participated in the workshop and played an active part in the scientific discussion. |
| Impact | Staff from the North West University particpated in a good discussion about how the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) could be developed |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | University of the Western Cape |
| Organisation | University of the Western Cape |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Western Cape staff and students presented. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Western Cape staff and students presented. |
| Impact | I organised the workshop at which University of the Western Cape staff and students presented. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | iTHEMBA LABS |
| Organisation | iThemba LABs |
| Department | Nuclear Physics |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to fund the workshop and I was a co-director of the workshop. |
| Collaborator Contribution | iTHEMBA LABS hosted the workshop https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/70/overview. They contributed financially to the costs of the workshop and scientifically in the workshop programmme. Dr Pete Jones from iThemba LABS was a co-director of the workshop. |
| Impact | MoU set up between iThemba LABS and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for training of PGR students. |
| Start Year | 2018 |