Introducing the Institute of Environmental Sciences (NMBU)

Transcription

1 Introducing the Institute of Environmental Sciences (NMBU) Jan Vermaat

2 Content IMV in brief Our project portfolio, some examples Kjell Esser Nils Otto Kitterød All in one presentation: note differences in style But conclude: we have something interesting to offer, we have experience and we are interested 2

3 IMV in brief Dept of Environmental Sciences Institutt for MiljøVitenskap Environmental Earth Sciences in a wide sense: geology, hydrology and limnology, soil sciences, agronomy, environmental chemistry and toxicology, radionucleid science ~50 permanent staff of which 25 scientists and 16 technicians, on a total of 80, so many PhDs and postdocs Well equipped and staffed labs (triple-ms, ICP-MS, IRMS, lasers, GCs, etc), our own agronomical experimental fields, lysimeters, in part long-term ~40% (39 mil NOK) of income is external project research, mainly NSF (25 mil NOK) Long-term cooperation in capacity building projects, also in E Africa 3

4 IMV research focus areas Soils as the biogeochemical melting pot: interactive effects of and consequences for agriculture, climate, bedrock hydrology, natural resources AGROPRO, MIGMIN, NORA-ITN (new agricultural practices, N cycles & climate, the South, Lars Bakken, Tore Krogstad, Bal Ram Singh) SANBOX (decentral and remote sewage treatment, Petter Jensen) NOMINOR (climate, nutrient run-off and DOC in surface waters, Gunnhild Riise) Environmental chemistry and radio-ecology (Brit Salbu, Deborah Chapman, Lindis Skipperud): from classical ecotoxicology (salmon!) to multi-stressor interactions and uncertainty CERAD, 10 yr, well-funded, Norwegian multi-institute centre of excellence on radio-activity, including substantial EU-funded projects 4

5 selected projects Pigeon pea Maize cob Pigeon pea biochar Maize cob biochar Biochar in Zambia (Gerard Cornelissen, Jan Mulder, Vegard Martinsen, Alfred Obia) poor sandy soils: biochar adds K, enhances CEC, retention capacity of nutrients and water, and ph. Focus is on production of the biochar, and on its applicability with conservation farming. Effects: greatest in bad soils: 6 ton/ha added increased grain yield from 1.4 to 3.2 ton/ha, irrespective of NPK 5

6 selected projects 2 Ellen Kayendeke Capacity building for sustainable agriculture and climate change (NORHED, Bal Ram Singh, Asgeir Almås, with Addis Ababa, Makerere, Juba) a.o. 10 PhD (2 for Addis, will visit NMBU in spring 2016), 12 MSc for Juba staff, 4 postdoc Substantial equipment purchase International Conference in 2017 Long-term cooperation with Mekelle University. Example: Aweke Mulalem Gelaw (PhD, 2014, supervision Bal Ram Singh) 6

7 Kjell Esser 7

8 Institutional Collaboration Program between Mekelle and Hawassa Universities and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences

9 Phase IV USD 20 million

10 Program Purposes

11 1. Strengthen the teaching and research capacities at Mekelle and Hawassa universities to contribute towards improved livelihoods of rural communities in the Arid Highlands and the Rift Valley

12 2. Enhance the national capacity to carry out monitoring, reporting and varification within REDD+

13 3. Strengthen the capacity of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in promoting sustainable development in developing countries via collaboration with universities in the south

14 Mode of operation

15 1. Joint PhD programmes 2. Joint research projects 3. Development of graduate programmes 4. Exchange of teaching staff 5. Installing instruments and setting up laboratories

16 Norwegian Coordination Department of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Environment and Technology

17 Nils Otto Kitterød 17

18 Applied Math and Hydrology (MASTMO/PhD) Proposals: 1) Center of Excellence in Applied Math (World Bank) 2) Ecosystem based Climate Change Adaptation in Hawassa City and the Lake. (International Development Research Centre) Nils-Otto Kitterød, Assoc. Professor in Hydrology, IMV

19 nothing on Earth is more precious than water. King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba. 19

20 Geothermal power plant Agriculture Green energy, Water balance, Water quality, Water biology, Ecosystem, Climate change? Wild Life Tourism ~16 km Hawassa Lake Fishery Urbanization Industry 20 ~8 km

21 proposed research projects (1) East African Center of Applied Statistics and Mathematics (EACASM) Submitted Oct to the World Bank Lead Organization: Hawassa University (Ethiopia) Total Amount Requested (US$): 8,924,000 Principal investigator: Professor Yosef Mamo, Head of Institution. Purpose: «achieving excellence in Applied Statistics and Mathematics through teaching and research.» 21

22 (2) Ecosystem based Climate Change Adaptation in Hawassa City and the Lake, Ethiopia (ECCA) Submitted Oct to International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. Lead Organization: Hawassa University (Ethiopia) Total Amount Requested (CA$ 991,400): Principal investigerer: Dr. Mulugeta Dadi Belete, Director of University- Industry Linkage and Technology Transfer Directorate. Purpose: «strengthening the capability of Hawassa City Municipality to anticipate and minimize the negative impact of climate including climate variability and extreme events.» 22

23 1686 m Lake Hawassa 300 km