IMAGINE: INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR RAPIDLY SURVEYING, MAPPING AND COMMUNICATING WATERBORNE HAZARDS
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering
Abstract
The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 seeks to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. While global access to improved drinking water sources has been expanding over the past decades, it is still lacking in many places, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, not all improved drinking water sources are safe. Water quality monitoring at the point of use is quintessential for the provision of safe water.
This project will develop innovative technologies for rapidly surveying, mapping and communicating waterborne hazards. Newcastle University in the UK will team up with Ardhi University in Tanzania, for the method development with subsequent field testing in Dar es Salaam, with the aim of establishing all methods and skills in the partner country Tanzania by the end of the project. The project will develop portable gene sequencing equipment as a versatile technology to comprehensively assess microbial water quality within a matter of hours. It will embed this molecular microbiological method with other field deployable methods for assessing water quality, including inexpensive screening methods, to derive cost effective and reliable surveying strategies.
The water quality assessment methods will be integrated with digital technologies for data storage in a remote database, and immediate data curation, interpretation and visualization, firstly to assist surveyors with their field work, and secondly to make surveying data accessible to the public. A hazard communication tool will be developed with location aware, multi-platform hazard maps, augmented by in-app links to a repository of contextual information, including health impacts, practical advice, observational metadata and WHO information. The development will be "mobile-first" such that designs fit a variety of mobiles and tablets. The use of CSS and modern browser technology will ensure that the same applications can be deployed automatically to multiple devices with the content being dynamically selected (or reduced) depending on the device capabilities.
The water quality surveying equipment and methods, together with the associated digital technologies, will be field-tested in four surveys of increasing complexity of different water sources in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. According to UNICEF, 46% of Tanzanians still lack access to improved drinking water sources. Waterborne diseases are endemic in Tanzania and a major disease burden, as evidenced by the major cholera outbreak in Dar es Salaam and other Tanzanian regions in the summer and autumn of 2015, which affected thousands of people. In this project, local stakeholders like the Dar es Salaam Water & Sewerage Authority, school teachers and community representatives will be engaged in the technology development and testing, helping in particular with the identification of context-appropriate, useful hazard communication methods. Multiple visual waterborne hazard display options will for example be scrutinized by these stakeholders to explore their social acceptability as well as easy interpretability and usefulness. Ardhi University researchers will assist with the translation of key contextual information into local languages.
The methods and technologies developed in this project will not only facilitate water quality monitoring and communication in low income countries like Tanzania, where waterborne diseases are a significant health burden, but they will also facilitate the emergency response to natural or human-made disasters such as major earthquakes, the displacement of people by conflicts, or terrorist attacks affecting water supplies.
This project will develop innovative technologies for rapidly surveying, mapping and communicating waterborne hazards. Newcastle University in the UK will team up with Ardhi University in Tanzania, for the method development with subsequent field testing in Dar es Salaam, with the aim of establishing all methods and skills in the partner country Tanzania by the end of the project. The project will develop portable gene sequencing equipment as a versatile technology to comprehensively assess microbial water quality within a matter of hours. It will embed this molecular microbiological method with other field deployable methods for assessing water quality, including inexpensive screening methods, to derive cost effective and reliable surveying strategies.
The water quality assessment methods will be integrated with digital technologies for data storage in a remote database, and immediate data curation, interpretation and visualization, firstly to assist surveyors with their field work, and secondly to make surveying data accessible to the public. A hazard communication tool will be developed with location aware, multi-platform hazard maps, augmented by in-app links to a repository of contextual information, including health impacts, practical advice, observational metadata and WHO information. The development will be "mobile-first" such that designs fit a variety of mobiles and tablets. The use of CSS and modern browser technology will ensure that the same applications can be deployed automatically to multiple devices with the content being dynamically selected (or reduced) depending on the device capabilities.
The water quality surveying equipment and methods, together with the associated digital technologies, will be field-tested in four surveys of increasing complexity of different water sources in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. According to UNICEF, 46% of Tanzanians still lack access to improved drinking water sources. Waterborne diseases are endemic in Tanzania and a major disease burden, as evidenced by the major cholera outbreak in Dar es Salaam and other Tanzanian regions in the summer and autumn of 2015, which affected thousands of people. In this project, local stakeholders like the Dar es Salaam Water & Sewerage Authority, school teachers and community representatives will be engaged in the technology development and testing, helping in particular with the identification of context-appropriate, useful hazard communication methods. Multiple visual waterborne hazard display options will for example be scrutinized by these stakeholders to explore their social acceptability as well as easy interpretability and usefulness. Ardhi University researchers will assist with the translation of key contextual information into local languages.
The methods and technologies developed in this project will not only facilitate water quality monitoring and communication in low income countries like Tanzania, where waterborne diseases are a significant health burden, but they will also facilitate the emergency response to natural or human-made disasters such as major earthquakes, the displacement of people by conflicts, or terrorist attacks affecting water supplies.
Planned Impact
This proposal will develop new water quality monitoring methods and strategies and establish these tools and skills at Ardhi University in Tanzania. It will augment existing water, sanitation and hygiene research skills and capabilities at Ardhi University through the training of research staff in modern, molecular microbiology and the use of digital technologies for the automatic curation and interpretation and mapping of data, and through the testing of these innovative water quality surveying methods and strategies in four field surveys of increasing sophistication in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam. By the end of this project, seven young Tanzanian researchers, and two UK researchers will have been trained in waterborne hazard assessment, mapping and communication.
Building on the trust and links established with local stakeholders through previous research in Dar es Salaam, a waterborne hazard communication application will be developed to make water quality survey findings readily accessible and useful to the public. With three stakeholder workshops, representatives of the local water and sewerage authority, community representatives, and school teachers will be engaged in the appraisal of different formats and visual display options for making water quality data understandable to the public. The social acceptability and relative usefulness of different communication options will be scrutinized with the help of these stakeholders from early on in the project. The digital waterborne hazard maps developed in this project will include embedded links to repositories of contextual information such as practical advice and links to WHO guidance documents. Key messages will be translated into local languages by the Ardhi University researchers, and also be recorded as audio messages.
Downloadable open source applications and open access scientific publications will facilitate the take-up of our research outcomes by other users. With the help of digital technologies we will provide public access to our waterborne hazard maps and underpinning data. Publicly available waterborne hazard maps will help local authorities target their investments in improved water infrastructures, where these are the most urgently needed, and the data can be scrutinized and used by many others such as the health authorities, school teachers, epidemiologists, NGOs and by scientists for interdisciplinary research, thus multiplying the opportunities for discoveries and advancements. Our ultimate aim for impact is to assist deprived communities living in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam, and elsewhere, with making life-saving decisions in their daily life about which water source to use for which purpose (i.e. drinking and food preparation versus household cleaning). Mobile device usage is rapidly expanding in low income countries, and Dar es Salaam as well as other East African cities have the ambition to provide free wireless internet access in busy public places such as hospitals and shopping malls, thus providing access points for waterborne hazard communication to potentially millions of people. An informed public will also be empowered to demand change and social justice where governments fail to deliver affordable access to safe water for all.
Building on the trust and links established with local stakeholders through previous research in Dar es Salaam, a waterborne hazard communication application will be developed to make water quality survey findings readily accessible and useful to the public. With three stakeholder workshops, representatives of the local water and sewerage authority, community representatives, and school teachers will be engaged in the appraisal of different formats and visual display options for making water quality data understandable to the public. The social acceptability and relative usefulness of different communication options will be scrutinized with the help of these stakeholders from early on in the project. The digital waterborne hazard maps developed in this project will include embedded links to repositories of contextual information such as practical advice and links to WHO guidance documents. Key messages will be translated into local languages by the Ardhi University researchers, and also be recorded as audio messages.
Downloadable open source applications and open access scientific publications will facilitate the take-up of our research outcomes by other users. With the help of digital technologies we will provide public access to our waterborne hazard maps and underpinning data. Publicly available waterborne hazard maps will help local authorities target their investments in improved water infrastructures, where these are the most urgently needed, and the data can be scrutinized and used by many others such as the health authorities, school teachers, epidemiologists, NGOs and by scientists for interdisciplinary research, thus multiplying the opportunities for discoveries and advancements. Our ultimate aim for impact is to assist deprived communities living in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam, and elsewhere, with making life-saving decisions in their daily life about which water source to use for which purpose (i.e. drinking and food preparation versus household cleaning). Mobile device usage is rapidly expanding in low income countries, and Dar es Salaam as well as other East African cities have the ambition to provide free wireless internet access in busy public places such as hospitals and shopping malls, thus providing access points for waterborne hazard communication to potentially millions of people. An informed public will also be empowered to demand change and social justice where governments fail to deliver affordable access to safe water for all.
Publications
Acharya K
(2020)
Chlorination effects on DNA based characterization of water microbiomes and implications for the interpretation of data from disinfected systems.
in Journal of environmental management
Acharya K
(2019)
A comparative assessment of conventional and molecular methods, including MinION nanopore sequencing, for surveying water quality.
in Scientific reports
Acharya K
(2020)
Metagenomic water quality monitoring with a portable laboratory.
in Water research
Halla FF
(2022)
Attenuation of bacterial hazard indicators in the subsurface of an informal settlement and their application in quantitative microbial risk assessment.
in Environment international
Mrozik W
(2019)
The food-water quality nexus in periurban aquacultures downstream of Bangkok, Thailand.
in The Science of the total environment
Pantha K
(2021)
Faecal pollution source tracking in the holy Bagmati River by portable 16S rRNA gene sequencing
in npj Clean Water
Thongsamer T
(2021)
Environmental antimicrobial resistance is associated with faecal pollution in Central Thailand's coastal aquaculture region
in Journal of Hazardous Materials
Werner D
(2022)
MinION Nanopore Sequencing Accelerates Progress towards Ubiquitous Genetics in Water Research
in Water
| Description | An affordable suitcase laboratory for molecular water microbiology was developed which brings state-of-the-art diagnostic tools for the study of infectious disease within reach of scientists in low-income countries. Following co-development of the suitcase laboratory and associated methodologies by Newcastle University and Ardhi University researchers, the Tanzanian researchers independently characterized the microbiomes of water and wastewater samples by next generation sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. It was found that shallow and deep groundwater below an informal settlement contained E. coli bacteria, as was also identified with conventional microbiology methods. Human host associated Bacteroides and Vibrio cholerae bacteria, as identified with probe-based qPCR assays targeting marker genes, were detected in pit latrine sludge, pit latrine leachate, shallow wells, and piezometers. Human host associated Bacteroides and Vibrio cholerae bacteria were below the detection limits in all water samples from deep boreholes. They were also not detected in roof-collected rainwater. Every water sample which tested positive for Vibrio cholerae marker genes also tested positive for human host associated Bacteroides, which, together with high concentrations of these genes in pit latrine sludge and leachate provide clear evidence for the human host origin of Vibrio cholerae hazards below the informal settlement. These data are well aligned with public health evidence that Vibrio cholerae bacteria are endemic in the population. No marker genes for Vibrio cholerae and human host associated Bacteroides were detected in borehole water. But 16S rRNA gene next generation sequencing data indicated faecal pollution of boreholes in the month of April, at the peak of the rainy season. >90% attenuation of human host associated Bacteroides and Vibrio cholerae bacteria marker genes was observed following passive percolation of pit latrine sludge through 1 meter thick sand beds embedded below the pits. This simple measure may thus substantially reduce hazards emanating from pits. While water from deep boreholes and roof-collected rainwater had substantially better microbial water quality than shallow well water, none of these sources was found to be reliably safe, and the water should be boiled before human consumption. Screening of metals and fluoride did not detect levels of significant concern, but both, shallow and deep groundwater has high sodium chloride content exceeding WHO acceptability standards. Water from a piped supply for the community with intermittent availability occasionally failed WHO drinking water standards for faecal coliform bacteria. Bottled water from three Tanzanian brands and purchased in the informal settlement was the only water source which reliably met WHO drinking water standards, but costed 67 times more than the water from community boreholes. Thus, none of the water sources the community has access to reliably met the criteria of safe water which is affordable, available, accessible and acceptable. Residents in the settlement had good awareness of the differences in water quality between different sources and only a very small minority reported the drinking of water from shallow wells. Nonetheless, community health clinic records suggest high prevalence of infectious diseases that may be waterborne. From the findings, provision of a reliable piped water supply is essential to assure water safety in the settlement. An internet-based platform has been developed to automatically interpret and share water quality data by comparing measurements with standards, with an added description of health impacts and treatment methods where water quality fails to meet standards. However, uncertainty remains around the interpretation of molecular microbiology data in the absence of regulatory standards. In terms of diagnostic method development, the characterization of millions of bacteria in water samples has been shown to be routinely achievable in a low resource setting via the upskilling of Tanzanian researchers who were provided with the portable next generation sequencing device MinION and other small and portable equipment items plus a powerful computer, costing about £10,000 in total. Consumables costs are about £100 per sample for identifying about 100,000 bacteria per sample via the sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. However, bacterial identities could only be established reliably at genus level. Compared to MiSeq sequencing, the current "gold standard method", the portable MinION method was found to have a lower risk of false negatives, and a higher risk of false positive detections at species level. To avoid such false positive detections, complementary qPCR methods were found to be essential for validation, and this combined approach was demonstrated in this research, including how probe-based assays for marker genes to identify Human Bacteroides, and Vibrio cholerae can be performed on a light-weight and portable qPCR machine. This research demonstrated the feasibility of state-of-the-art water microbiology in a low-income country using only portable and affordable equipment items that readily fit into a suitcase. |
| Exploitation Route | Findings have been shared with the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority and will help them better plan water supply infrastructure needs. For example, the authority has relied on establishing boreholes as an interim measure to improve access to safe water in unplanned settlements, but while deep boreholes tend to have much better water quality than shallow wells, the water from deep boreholes does not always meet drinking water quality standards, and also has high salinity. The use of a wide range of water quality measurements has provided a comprehensive picture of groundwater quality below an informal settlement and has established relationships between different water quality parameters which can be used to identify apparent outliers in water quality surveying data. The hands-on practical training of Tanzanian students, technicians, academics and government scientists in practical workshops at Ardhi University, and with internships at Newcastle University, has firmly established the skills needed for molecular microbiology applications in Tanzania. The portable molecular microbiology tools have also already been shared with over 200 other students, researchers, technicians and practitioners in other ODA countries (Nepal, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Ethiopia) and have been applied to the investigation of drinking water quality in unplanned settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, water resource and treated water quality in India, Malaysia and Ethiopia, water quality in aquaculture in Thailand. The methodology developed is also applicable to food safety, agriculture, health care and beyond. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/imagine-project/ |
| Description | The findings about waterborne hazards in both shallow wells and deep boreholes in unplanned settlements have been shared in a public lectures and office visits with Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority representatives and community officers. This started a dialogue about how to best work towards providing access to safe water to Dar city residents. Through the field work in unplanned settlements, and subsequent laboratory work, skills in water sampling and analysis, quality assurance and data management and data interpretation were exchanged between Newcastle University and Ardhi University researchers and students. 6 Tanzanian students and researchers from Ardhi University and 2 microbiologists from the Tanzania Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (one of the research institutes under the Division of Research and Training of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security) have been trained in the principles and practical application of conventional and molecular microbiology methods. In four field surveys in Dar es Salaam, the methods have been applied to water quality analysis in unplanned settlements. For 2 Tanzanian researchers, complementary training was provided in bioinformatics applications and waterborne hazard mapping applications. These trainees have now demonstrated their competency in the skills acquired by independently conducting water quality surveys using the portable sequencing device MinION. One of them has become an academic at Ardhi University to teach molecular biology. The novel diagnostic methods facilitate an evidence based approach towards assuring water safety in low resource settings and remote locations. The methods developed in this project are broadly applicable to the investigation of water and food safety and water/wastewater treatment processes, and have already been applied to survey water quality in unplanned settlements in Nepal (in a new collaboration with local researchers from Pokhara University, Kathmandu), to assess the microbial water quality of harvested rainwater, river water, treated potable water and reclaimed wastewater in India (in a new collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar, India), to assess microbial water quality in surface waters and aquacultures in Thailand (in a new collaboration with local researchers from KMUTT, Bangkok, Thailand), and to assess surface water quality in urban catchments in Malaysia and Ethiopia (in a new collaboration with local researchers from NUMed and UTM in Malaysia, and with Addis Ababa and Arba Minch University researchers, and staff from the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA), the Awash Basin Development Authority, and the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy). One of the trainees and AAWSA employees in Ethiopia is now in charge of World Bank Investment into building state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for wastewater analysis. In her work, she can apply what she has learned about novel molecular diagnostics. These follow-on projects demonstrate the broad applicability of the methods developed in this research to meet the UN Sustainability goals 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and 2 (zero hunger). |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | A framework for sustainable aquaculture within peri-urban green infrastructures protecting the Gulf of Thailand from eutrophication |
| Amount | £252,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T012471/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2020 |
| End | 01/2022 |
| Description | A suitcase laboratory for the water industry |
| Amount | £8,736 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NU006927 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2021 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | Characterization of biochar effects on soil microbial communitie |
| Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NA |
| Organisation | Norwegian Geotechnical Institute |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Norway |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 06/2020 |
| Description | Comprehensive water quality monitoring where there is no laboratory |
| Amount | £225,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ICA\R1\191241 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | DST-UKIERI |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IND/CONT/G/17-18/48 |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub--------- |
| Amount | £17,762,850 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/S008179/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 05/2024 |
| Description | Newton Fund Institutional Links Grants |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 414469402 |
| Organisation | Newton Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Rapid identification and effective communication of waterborne hazards in emergencies |
| Amount | £19,948 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | FoDT3\192032 |
| Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 08/2020 |
| Description | Summer bursary |
| Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Enviresearch Foundation |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 08/2019 |
| Description | Training of exiled Syrian Academics in next generation sequencing for microbial water quality analysis |
| Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 06/2019 |
| Title | A mobile laboratory for fecal pollution source tracking with onsite qPCR assays |
| Description | This folder contains data sets underpinning the figure, tables and statistical analysis of the articleA mobile laboratory for fecal pollution source tracking with onsite qPCR assays |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/A_mobile_laboratory_for_fecal_pollution_source_tracking_with... |
| Title | A mobile laboratory for fecal pollution source tracking with onsite qPCR assays |
| Description | This folder contains data sets underpinning the figure, tables and statistical analysis of the articleA mobile laboratory for fecal pollution source tracking with onsite qPCR assays |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/A_mobile_laboratory_for_fecal_pollution_source_tracking_with... |
| Title | Chlorination effects on DNA based characterization of water microbiomes and implications for the interpretation of data from disinfected systems |
| Description | The data set is the detailed OTU table for all the samples used in this study. The samples include, i) commercially bought bottled water from Tanzania, Malaysia, Thailand and Nepal, ii) Tap water from UK and iii) lake water before and after chlorine treatment. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Chlorination_effects_on_DNA_based_characterization_of_water_... |
| Title | Chlorination effects on DNA based characterization of water microbiomes and implications for the interpretation of data from disinfected systems |
| Description | The data set is the detailed OTU table for all the samples used in this study. The samples include, i) commercially bought bottled water from Tanzania, Malaysia, Thailand and Nepal, ii) Tap water from UK and iii) lake water before and after chlorine treatment. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Chlorination_effects_on_DNA_based_characterization_of_water_... |
| Title | Environmental antimicrobial resistance is associated with faecal pollution in Central Thailand's coastal aquaculture region |
| Description | This folder contains data underpinning the publication Environmental antimicrobial resistance is associated with faecal pollution in Central Thailand's aquaculture region. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Environmental_antimicrobial_resistance_is_associated_with_fa... |
| Title | Faecal pollution source tracking in the holy Bagmati River by portable 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| Description | The excel spread sheet, named "Combined_Genus_OTUTableRoot_complete_bagmati_data_final" is the processed MinION 16S rRNA sequencing data of water samples from Bagmati River (Kathmandu, Nepal) in the form of OTU table. The water from the Bagmati River were sampled from different locations in three different time points. All other excel spread sheets are metadata that were used for multivariate analysis in this study. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Faecal_pollution_source_tracking_in_the_holy_Bagmati_River_b... |
| Title | Faecal pollution source tracking in the holy Bagmati River by portable 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| Description | The excel spread sheet, named "Combined_Genus_OTUTableRoot_complete_bagmati_data_final" is the processed MinION 16S rRNA sequencing data of water samples from Bagmati River (Kathmandu, Nepal) in the form of OTU table. The water from the Bagmati River were sampled from different locations in three different time points. All other excel spread sheets are metadata that were used for multivariate analysis in this study. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Faecal_pollution_source_tracking_in_the_holy_Bagmati_River_b... |
| Title | Metagenomic water quality monitoring with a portable laboratory |
| Description | 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data (CSV files from Epi2Me) and Matlab files used for the data interpretation |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Metagenomic_water_quality_monitoring_with_a_portable_laborat... |
| Title | Metagenomic water quality monitoring with a portable laboratory |
| Description | 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data (CSV files from Epi2Me) and Matlab files used for the data interpretation |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.ncl.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Metagenomic_water_quality_monitoring_with_a_portable_laborat... |
| Title | Water quality database for unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam |
| Description | The database comprises a comprehensive characterisation of the quality of groundwater resources in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Currently, the database comprises 20 sampling locations, 1-2 sampling events, and up to 40 water quality parameters per sample. Automatic data submission protocols via email have been developed for future extensions of the database. Automatic data curation, visualisation and interpretation protocols are being developed to enhance quality assurance. The data will eventually feed into a waterborne hazard communication tool which embeds water quality data with contextual information (health effects, point of use water treatment options), and after stakeholder scrutiny, data will eventually be made publically accessible by the end of the project. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The database clearly identifies faecal contamination as the main hazard in shallow groundwater at the case study site, with both nitrate and faecal coliforms in shallow wells exceeding by far and consistently WHO drinking water quality standards. Deep boreholes have better water quality, but are also occasionally affected by faecal coliforms and nitrate, which raises questions about inter linkages between the shallow and deep aquifers in the case study area in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and potential negative effects of increasing and unplanned deep groundwater abstraction via private and public boreholes on groundwater quality and public health. Water contamination during storage needs to be further investigated. On the other hand, screening of metals has not identified any significant public health hazards, alleviating potential concerns about trade-offs between microbial and chemical water quality. Relative high sodium chloride content of both shallow and deep groundwater was also observed. The main outcome so far is that none of the local groundwater resources can be considered to be reliably safe for drinking water supply in this neigbourhood, and while point of use water disinfection is in principle feasible to address microbial contamination, point of use treatment of nitrate pollution will be much more difficult to implement. Hence these data highlight the need for a piped water supply from a less affected water source into the case study neighbourhood. |
| URL | http://www.cleanwaterresearch.org/in-ground/ |
| Description | Collaboration with Ardhi University on innovative water quality surveying and waterborne hazard communication methods for unplanned settlements |
| Organisation | Ardhi University |
| Country | Tanzania, United Republic of |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are developing new methods for water quality surveying at the point of use, including portable gene sequencing methods, and for mapping and communicating waterborne hazards with digital technologies. These methods will be field tested with field work in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in collaboration with Ardhi University researchers. By the end of the project, all methods, tools and skills developed in the project will be established at Ardhi University. To date, three field campaigns in Dar es Salaam have been conducted by the joint UK-Tanzanian team, and the data gathered have elucidated waterborne hazards in both shallow and deep groundwater below unplanned settlements, sampled via shallow wells, boreholes and piezometers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ardhi University researchers facilitate the field work through their engagement with local communities, primary schools, and representatives from the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority. They have established a series of piezometers for shallow groundwater sampling in unplanned settlements. They provide transport, sampling equipment and field work assistance. They contribute to the water quality analysis and help with sample preservation in their laboratories. They provide venues and contacts for stakeholder engagement workshops. They conduct research and contribute to the data compilation, curation, interpretation and to the design of waterborne hazard communication strategies. |
| Impact | New, comprehensive database describing chemical and microbial water quality for shallow wells, boreholes and piezometers in unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam. New relationships between water quality parameters which can be used for automatic data curation and interpretation. Engagement of external stakeholders, including the local water and sewerage authority, local community representatives and heads of local primary schools. Training of Ardhi University students and researchers in field sampling methodologies and water quality analysis methodologies. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
| Organisation | Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We were the first research team demonstrating the characterization of water microbiomes via 16S rRNA gene sequencing using only portable equipment items that readily fit into a suitcase. This suitcase laboratory included the memory-stick sized sequencing device MinION of Oxford Nanopore Technology. We were the first research team to demonstrate the applicability of this device to water quality surveying and faecal pollution source tracking in low income countries where researchers lack access to laboratories with next generation sequencing machines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Oxford Nanopore Technologies provided a free software license for running the sequencing "offline", i.e. without internet connection. This was crucial for deployment of the MinION device in Tanzania, where power cuts occur quite frequently and may otherwise have had detrimental impacts on the sequencing runs. Oxford Nanopore Technologies also provided advise on purchasing in Africa and their continuing technology developments during the research. |
| Impact | This partnership enabled researchers in Tanzania to apply the latest sequencing technology to their work on water security and on-site sanitation in unplanned settlements. It provided new insights into the water quality of different sources, and the findings were shared with local authorities. This partnership resulted in the first analysis of pit latrine sludge and leachate microbiomes independently generated by an African research team to enhance understanding of on-site sanitation systems which serve about one fourth of the global population. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) |
| Organisation | Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | IMAGINE research has underpinned local staff training in the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA), and the collaboration resulted in an affordable suitcase laboratory for molecular water microbiology in low income countries. A co-authored publication attests to the cocreation of this research impact. The molecular microbiology training enabled the first ever in-depth survey of microbial water quality and antimicrobial resistance in the little and big Akaki river catchment, home to about 5 million people. One of the trainees at AAWSA is now in charge of World Bank investment into AAWSA facilities for further analysis of wastewater in the region. Newcastle University staff also collaborate with AAWSA on developing best health and safety practice for personnel working in the collection, treatment and management of wastewater and sludge. |
| Collaborator Contribution | AAWSA provided its facilities for a training workshop in comprehensive water quality analysis, incl. next generation sequencing with the MinION. Participants came from AAWSA, Addis Ababa University, Arba Minch University, the Awash Basin Development Authority, IWMI, an the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy. AAWSA facilitated fieldwork and provided access to their treatment plants and laboratory facilities for the analysis of river water and wastewater samples. AAWSA facilitated access to their employees for a survey of practices of personnel working in the collection, treatment and management of wastewater and sludge. |
| Impact | The partnership has generated the first comprehensive dataset describing microbial water quality and antimicrobial resistance in the Akaki river catchment, which includes Addis Ababa, home to 5 million people. This provides a baseline to provide evidence for ongoing AAWSA investments into expanding wastewater treatment capacity. Development of capacity for molecular microbiology at AAWSA laboratories. This informs World Bank investment into new AAWSA laboratory facilities for wastewater analysis. Advice on best health and safety practice for personnel working in the collection, treatment and management of wastewater and sludge has been co-generated through this partnership. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Water quality surveying in unplanned settlements in the Kathmandu Valley |
| Organisation | Pokhara University |
| Country | Nepal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Innovative technologies to rapidly survey water quality, which have been developed at Newcastle University, were applied in partnership with Nepalese researchers from Pakhara University to survey water quality for drinking water sources in unplanned settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The Newcastle University research team contributed staff time, skills, and molecular microbiology analysis/advanced chemical analysis to the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nepalese researchers from Pakhara University assisted the field work to collect samples for surveying water quality for drinking water sources in unplanned settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The Pakhara University research team contributed staff time, on-site chemical analysis, and conventional microbiology analysis to the project. The Department of Medical Microbiology, Nobel College, Pokhara University, provided access to its laboratory facilities. |
| Impact | Results of the survey are currently being written up as a scientific manuscript. A joint be for funding further collaborative research has been submitted to the Gates Foundation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Title | Matlab code to create OTU tables and extract species/genera of interest from csv output files of the Epi2Me cloud-based data analysis platform of Oxford Nanopore technologies |
| Description | The Epi2Me cloud-based data analysis platform of Oxford Nanopore technologies provides a CSV file of reads matched to taxids from the NCBI database. The MATLAB (c) codes developed match the taxids to the lineage of the species, create OTU tables binning the number of reads for each OTU and barcode, and extract species or genera data of interest from the complete OTU table. These codes can be used to extract putative pathogens, faecal indicators or other information of interest from 16S amplicon sequencing data generated with the portable third generation sequencing device MinION of Oxford Nanopore technologies. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | It complements the Epi2Me cloud-based data analysis platform of Oxford Nanopore technologies and enables users to conveniently interpret 16S amplicon sequencing data and describe and compare microbiomes of interest for different samples. |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/newton-fund-project/ |
| Title | Water quality data interpretation and waterborne hazard communication application |
| Description | A website to map and share information about water quality with a script to automatically update the website with interpreted data following data submission. The website also provides information on health effects of water pollutants and appropriate treatment methods. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | The website may be adapted in collaboration with a local charity to share information about the impact of combined sewer overflows on river water quality. |
| URL | https://research.ncl.ac.uk/waterqualitymaps/ |
| Description | 2nd Symposium on Next generation sequencing, probiotics and other technologies for water quality management in aquaculture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This international symposium was organized with the aim to provide a forum for academics and professionals from various fields to share knowledge, experiences and engage in the dialogue around the theme of water quality monitoring and management in aquaculture, which will enhance the research network among the universities, government departments, communities and experts from Thailand and oversea. Total there were 61 participants from 18 institutions included faculty members, researchers, master and doctoral students, aquaculture farmers, government officials (Department of Fisheries, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Pollution Control Department) and private sector delegates. There were vivid debates about the causes of current problems with diseases and water quality in aquaculture, the causes of antibiotic resistance in the environment, and mitigating measures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/newton-fund-project/ |
| Description | Global Water Security Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Over 260 UK and international participants from academia, industry, government, and NGOs participated in a two day symposium on Global Water Security to celebrate 70 years of water and environmental health research at Newcastle University. The Institute of Water and Arup supported the event, which was organized by Newcastle University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/watersymposium/ |
| Description | Leadership Training Water Initiative South Asia (WISA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Academics and NGO professionals working on water in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal) participated in a research leadership workshop in Dubai organized by the British Council as part of its South Asia science programmes. Experiences from international collaboration projects were shared with the participants by Prof David Werner, from Newcastle University, who participated as a trainer and mentor for participants from Water Aid, Nepal, Oxfam, Bangladesh and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/2019/12/12/leadership-training-water-initiative-south-asia-wisa/ |
| Description | Lecture on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Tanzania |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Dr Shaaban Mrisho Mgana from Ardhi University, Tanzania, presented a lecture on Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Tanzania at Newcastle University. The lecture was attended by academics, researchers, postgraduate and undergraduate students from Newcastle University. Contacts established during Dr Mgana's visit led to new research collaborations and an award from the Northern Accelerator, Connecting Capability Fund, managed by Durham University, for research on solar water disinfection (with Dr Paul Sallis from Newcastle University). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2018/05/portablewatertestingtanzania/ |
| Description | Molecular Microbiology Practical Training Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Newcastle University researchers provided practical training in water sampling and DNA extraction for molecular microbiology. Workshop participants were 4 undergraduate and postgraduate students, 1 laboratory technicians and 1 academic from Ardhi University, and 2 microbiologists from the Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI), which is one of the research institutes under the Division of Research and Training (DRT) of the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The training comprised good microbiology practice and quality assurance, field sampling and sample storage methods, microbial water quality assessment by plate count methods, and DNA extraction for molecular microbiology. In addition to the practical training, lectures on molecular microbiology were provided. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/imagine-project/ |
| Description | Molecular microbiology and waterborne hazard mapping training and lectures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two postgraduate students from Ardhi University visited Newcastle University for one month. During their stay at Newcastle University they received practical training in molecular microbiology, including next generation sequencing with the portable MinION device of Oxford Nanopore Technologies. In addition, they were trained in data management and the mapping of water quality and waterborne hazards using open source tools developed through Newcastle University's Urban Observatory. They gave lectures on their previous work experience establishing on-site sanitation facilities at Schools in rural Tanzania, and with river basin water quality assessment and management. They engaged with researchers and academics at Glasgow University, which results in an invitation to attend a training workshop in flow cytometry at Glasgow University this coming May. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/imagine-project/ |
| Description | Round table discussion with the director general of WHO |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Round table with Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, on Global Health Challenges and Technology innovations, at a round-table discussion, before Newcastle University awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Medicine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/2019/07/22/visit-from-the-who-director-general/ |
| Description | Skill Development for Water Quality Monitoring and Improvement for Aquaculture at Laem Fa Pha Fishery Community Enterprise, Samut Prakan province |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This research dissemination workshop engaged researchers with aquaculture farmers and local government officers on water quality monitoring and management methods. Show and tell demonstrations included water quality assessment methods, water biofiltration methods using locally sourced biochar, biochar application as water quality improver in shrimp nurseries, and molecular microbial water quality analysis and bioinformatics tools. The engagement reached 25 aquaculture farmers and government officials and the exhibits were hosted free of charge at the Laem Fa Pha Fishery Community Enterprise in Samut Prakan province. The exhibits sparked questions and discussions about everyday water quality management issues experienced by the farmers and methods to improve water quality and prevent shrimp diseases. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/newton-fund-project/ |
| Description | Special Lecture on "Portable Next Generation Sequencing Tools to Rapidly Survey Water Quality |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A special lecture by Dr David Werner from Newcastle University on portable next generation sequencing tools to rapidly survey water quality was attended by 40 academics, researchers and postgraduate students from two universities and nine faculties/departments in Thailand. The special lecture sparked a debate about the advantages and disadvantages and research needs of molecular microbiology methods in water quality surveying. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://aquaculture.research.kmutt.ac.th/ |
| Description | Summer School at Newcastle University gives Year 12 and First Year College students hands-on experience in water quality analysis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Bitesize Uni (also known as BSU) provides Year 12 and First Year College students with the information and opportunities to help them make an informed decision about whether or not they want to go to University. As part of the 2017 Summer School at Newcastle University, Dr David Werner taught 17 students interested in Engineering about the global challenge of providing access to safe water and adequate sanitation to everyone living on this planet. He presented case studies from his work on this issue with partners in Brazil, India, Thailand and Tanzania. Following the short lecture, the students were able to gain some hands-on experience in water quality analysis using portable photospectrometers. They compared the occurrence of ammonium, nitrite and nitrate in surface water samples collected in different locations around Newcastle upon Tyne. Luckily, the water quality was found to be fairly good in comparison with, for example, heavily contaminated shallow groundwater below unplanned suburban settlements in low and middle income countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Summer School, subject taster session on water quality and environmental engineering |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A subject taster session on water quality and environmental engineering was attended by 20 students attending a 3 day summer school at Newcastle University. A portable laboratory for water quality analysis was presented, which can identify millions of bacteria in water samples using a memory-stick sized, portable device for next generation sequencing. The students learned about the importance of water quality, safe water provision and access to sanitation from international case studies in Tanzania and Thailand. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ncl.ac.uk/pass/ |
| Description | The Workshop on Portable Next Generation Sequencing Technology for Microbial Water Quality Management |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This workshop was targeted at beginners such as graduate students, researchers, and other learners from the private sector to disseminate the MinION technology, the results of the case studies from aquaculture, and bioinformatics tools. The demonstration and practice by participants was done by a coaching team from Newcastle University (NCL) and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). The event was attended by 31 students/researchers/practitioners from four countries (Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, UK). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/newton-fund-project/ |
| Description | Training in water quality analysis by portable 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An academic researcher from Elizade University in Nigeria, and an employee of the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority in Ethiopia met with member of the IMAGINE team from Ardhi University in Tanzania and Newcastle University in the UK to discuss water quality surveying with a suitcase laboratory that includes a portable sequencing device. Hands-on training in faecal pollution source tracking was provided to the trainees with a survey of water quality in a UK catchment affected by combined sewer overflows. Various methods for data sharing via the internet were critically discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/2020/02/01/training-in-faecal-pollution-source-tracking-with-the... |
| Description | Training of Syrian refugees in water quality surveying using portable sequencing devices |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Two academic visitors who are refugees from Syria now living in Turkey were trained in molecular microbiology. Together with an MSc student from Indonesia, they tracked fecal pollution in the River Team, using the MinION of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a portable sequencing device. The Syrian visits are supported by CARA, a charity that has supported academics and scientists at risk for more than 80 years. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/2019/07/09/visitors-from-syria/ |
| Description | Training of Tanzanian students and technicians in water quality surveying using portable sequencing devices, community engagement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Six students and research technicians attended a training in water quality monitoring. The training comprised the sampling of household water sources in an unplanned settlement, engagement with the local community through a visit in the local government office, two schools and various households for water sampling, on-site water quality analysis, laboratory analysis of water chemistry, faecal coliform bacteria and DNA extraction for in-country sequencing with the MinION, a portable device for next generation sequencing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/imagine-project/ |
| Description | Training of local researchers in Ethiopia in water quality surveying using portable sequencing devices |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A training on monitoring the water quality of the Akaki River was co-organized by Prof David Werner, Dr Kishor Acharya and Dr. Alemseged Tamiru Haile. Title of the training was "Microbial water quality surveying with a portable sequencing device" which was held from 4th to 8th of November 2019. The Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) were kind enough to provide their laboratory for the training without any fee. The total number of trainees was 13 incl. junior academics, researchers and laboratory technicians, who are expected to support water quality surveying activities in the Akaki River. Participants came from AAWSA, Addis Ababa University, Arba Minch University, the Awash Basin Development Authority, IWMI, and the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy. Therefore, the targets were experts who will do hands-on field and laboratory work, not desk based team leaders. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/2019/11/22/sequencing-in-ethiopia/ |
| Description | Training of local researchers in India in water quality surveying using portable sequencing devices |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Nine postgraduate students and research technicians participated in a hand-on practical training demonstrating the use of the MinION, a portable sequencing device from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, for microbial water quality surveying. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/2019/09/20/students-at-iit-gandhinagar-are-being-trained-in-mini... |
| Description | Training of local researchers in Kathmandu in water quality surveying using portable sequencing devices |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Hands-on training in the use of the MinION, a portable sequencing device from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, for microbial water quality surveying was provided for 10 NGO and University researchers from Nepal through the organization of a practical training workshop in Kathmandu. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Training of local researchers in Malaysia in water quality surveying using portable sequencing devices |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Training in portable next generation sequencing for water quality analysis was provided to 15 trainees from the Newcastle University Medical School in Malaysia (NUMed) and the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/davidwerner/2019/07/18/kishor-provides-training-at-numed-in-malaysia/ |
| Description | Water Quality Lecture at Ardhi University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Over 50 Tanzanian environmental engineering/environmental science undergraduate students, researchers, academics and representatives from water and sewerage authorities attended a presentation by the UK investigator about water quality in unplanned settlements, the project and its initial findings. The presentation sparked questions and a discussion about fieldwork in unplanned settlements, water quality analysis and quality assurance, water pollution sources in unplanned settlements, and ways of communicating waterborne hazards to local residents. About six students also participated in subsequent fieldwork, gaining hands-on experience with appropriate water sampling procedures. The presentation raised broad interest and helped with the recruitment of two Tanzanian research assistants for the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.cleanwaterresearch.org/in-ground/ |
| Description | Workshop, MinION Oxford Nanopore Sequencing for Thai Researchers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Thai researchers and postgraduate student came to Newcastle University to be trained in molecular microbiology and MinION Oxford Nanopore sequencing, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, enumeration of total bacteria in the samples by qPCR, PCR of 16rRNA gene for library preparation, gel electrophoresis and bioinformatics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://aquaculture.research.kmutt.ac.th/ |
| Description | Workshop, Next generation sequencing, probiotics and other technologies for water quality management in aquaculture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Over 50 delegates from 15 university institutes/government agencies/businesses attended a one day workshop on next generation sequencing, probiotics and other technologies for water quality management in aquaculture. The presentations sparked questions and discussions about effective ways of managing water quality in aquacultures and technologies which may support aquaculture farmers. Participants from the Department of Fisheries and the Bangkok Metropolitan administration engaged with scientists from the UK and across Thailand on water quality management and the inter-linkages between surface water quality and aquaculture, while business owners shared their experiences with the development of probiotic products and other sustainable water quality management strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://aquaculture.research.kmutt.ac.th/ |