Environmental Research in Cambodia An NGO Perspective

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1 Environmental Research in Cambodia An NGO Perspective Andrew Shantz Laboratory Director July 25, 2009 Resource Development International - Cambodia

2 Summary Resource Development International (RDI) mandate, philosophy, and scope of work Environmental research Research partnerships and linkages University Intern Program Bridge Program

3 Resource Development International (RDI) Non-governmental organization working in Cambodia since 2002 Active leader in the water/sanitation and education sectors Mandate: To strive to contribute towards sustainable solutions for ground level problems using scientific principals and supported by creative education

4 Mandate: Project Profiles Ground Level Problem Scientific Principals Sustainable Solution Creative Education Diarrheal disease Regional understanding of groundwater quality Arsenic crisis Drinking water access Child Literacy Health and hygiene promotion Water filtration Laboratory water analysis Geo-spatial & statistical mapping Hydrogeological understanding and construction engineering Traditional medicine Ceramic water filter factory Contamination maps and risk assessments Communicating risks and providing alternative water sources Rope pump wells and rainwater harvesting tanks Puppetry, songs, and magic in schools and on television Groundwater quality indexes Karaoke education Village-level communications

5 Scope of Work Water laboratory Environmental research Education of environmental scientists and engineers Ceramic water filter factory Construction of improved water sources Traditional medicine and village health promotion Promotion of sustainable agricultural practices Media production studio Health and hygiene education in schools and communities

6 Research Activities Groundwater quality in Cambodia High density surveying Over 7,000 wells tested in 3 provinces Arsenic contamination Precisely characterized Risk maps Groundwater quality index Simplified representation of groundwater risk Human risk assessments Quantifying risks based on population and tube well reliance

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10 Combining tube well usage rates and population and water quality data, it is estimated that over 100,000 people are potentially consuming arsenic contaminated water in Kandal Province alone.

11 Research Activities Household drinking water treatment technologies Ceramic water filters Bacterial and chemical removal efficiency Additions and modifications to enhance removal Bio-sand filters Low-cost filter designs Arsenic removal challenge Arsenic fate and transport Hydrogeological modeling and groundwater dating Pesticide usage, practices, and health risks Natural wetland wastewater remediation Assessment of improved water sources Mekong River Basin

12 Research Partnerships Hub for research students and professors Partnered with universities from around the world to solve environmental problems and work towards sustainable solutions These relationships are vital in bringing knowledge and capacity into Cambodia Foreign students are given the opportunity learn from their Cambodian counterparts and understand how environmental problems in the developing world differ from that in the developed world Cambodian staff and students are able to interact with and learn from foreign researchers and scientists

13 Intern Program RDI accepts 10 to 15 interns from RUPP and ITC every year Projects Laboratory water testing methods and field data collection Student-guided projects RDI-guided projects Examples Sustainable fish harvesting systems Arsenic filter challenges Korean filter efficacy Small-scale piped water systems Temporal study of surface water bodies water quality and usage

14 Bridge Program Availability of Master s positions at universities overseas More positions available than capable individuals to fill them Bridge Program 2-year Master s preparation course Began September 2008 Seven RUPP graduates from Environmental Science and Biochemistry Next intake in September 2010 Students learn from visiting professors, researchers, and scientists 4 Master s accredited modules Class, lab, and field work

15 Bridge Program Year 1 activities to-date Research methods Experimental design Budgeting and proposal writing Drinking water treatment design Applications of GIS Hydrology Introduction to household water treatment Groundwater transport processes and hydrogeology General computer skills and data manipulation Project management

16 End goals Bridge Program Exposure to diverse set of environmental science/engineering topics Vital skills Learning how to learn Master s placement in a field of interest Challenges Funding English

17 General Insights Importance of science and research in finding solutions to Cambodia-specific environmental challenges Potential in the NGO community to connect incountry problems to external expertise Importance of generating internal expertise University community Progress to-date

18 Questions and Comments RDI