2013 GS-EAG Outreach | Geochemical Society

The GS-EAG Outreach Program is a partnership between the Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry with the directive of developing outreach activities in geochemistry in under-represented regions of the world. For 2013, the program's focus is on Africa.

2013 Outreach to Africa

Dates, Institution, Country	Topics
11-12 Jun 2013 University of Addis Ababa ETHIOPIA	Lecture topic: In search or rare elements: mining for cell phones Seminar topics: Global water quality issues Water and nutrient supply for agriculture
17-18 Jun 2013 University of Antanavarivo MADAGASCAR	Lecture topic: In search or rare elements: mining for cell phones Seminar topic: Stable isotope techniques for analyzing geochemical processes
02-03 Sep 2013 University of Yaoundé I CAMEROON	Lecture topic: Where oxygen disappears: the deep waters of East African lakes Seminar topic: Stable isotope techniques for analyzing geochemical processes
05-06 Sep 2013 University of Legon GHANA	Lecture topics: In search or rare elements: mining for cell phones Chemistry for safer drinking water Seminar topic: Stable isotope techniques for analyzing geochemical processes
10-11 Sep 2013 University of Nairobi KENYA	Lectures topics: Chemistry for safer drinking water In search or rare elements: mining for cell phones Seminar topics: Stable isotope techniques for analyzing geochemical processes Chemical sensors, analytical chemistry

2013 Outreach Lecturer

Bernhard Wehrli, ETH Zürich

Bernhard Wehrli is Full Professor for Aquatic Chemistry at the Department of Environmental Sciences at ETH Zurich. He is a member of the directorate of Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). The research of his group is focused on the assessment of biogeochemical processes in rivers and lakes. The group combines chemical sensors, stable isotope techniques and molecular ecology to quantify carbon and nutrient cycles in aquatic systems. Part of his research is focused on the development of interdisciplinary approaches to improve the sustainable management of water resources.

Recently he initiated an interdisciplinary project on adapting large dams in the Zambezi River Basin to human needs and ecological requirements. The project involves African partners in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Together with a team of collaborators Wehrli's research group recently detected the first case of anaerobic ammonium oxidation in a stratified lake (L. Tanganyika). Other studies addressed nutrient and carbon burial in lakes in general. His team also quantified extreme methane emissions from a temperate run-of-the-river reservoir and analyzed the methane oxidation rates in Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu, where the colleagues are involved in assessing gas extraction technologies.

2013 Outreach Committee

Anton Le Roex, Chair
Univ of Cape Town, South Africa

Rommulo Conceição
UFRGS, Brazil

Seth Krishnaswami
Physical Research Laboratory, India

Anders Meibom
EPFL, Switzerland

Chris Ballentine, EAG Officer
University of Manchester, UK

Samuel Mukasa, GS Officer
Univ of New Hampshire, USA