20.10.2011 - German Government offers once more generous support in training of young Namibian scientists
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Southern Africa is a key region for projections of future climate change. Within this context, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is carrying out a research programme "research for sustainable development", in order to initiate and support national and international research projects, focusing on the influence of climate change for the eco-system of planet Earth. This programme also includes the observation of changes and their impact on the Benguela Current Eco System in South Western Africa. This scientific observation is of great significance for the responses to the global climate change.
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The German research vessel Maria S Merian is currently carrying out a training and capacity building exercise in Namibian waters. Scientists from Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel, together with colleagues and students from the Southern African region work together by studying the Benguela Upwelling System whereby the cold winds assists in transporting plankton rich water from the depth to the surface of the ocean. This coastal upwelling systems, ranging from South Africa, passing Namibia and then ending near Angola harbours a unique Ecosystem with large fish reserves ranging from sardines to blue whales. The scientific research takes place in the context of the BMBF Project SPACES (Science for the Assessment of complex Earth System Processes) which supports the Benguela Current Commission and the activities of the neighbouring countries. Merian’s present cruise is an extensive training exercise for 16 students and young scientists from Namibia and some from South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Madagascar and the Seychelles. This research-based capacity building exercise will cover disciplines such as physics, bio-geochemistry, biology and geology by using an integrated Earth System Science approach. The four-week long training programme will end on the 21 October with the research vessel docking in Walvis Bay and a dinner reception being hosted on board on the very same evening. Invited politicians and scientist will then be presented by the students with the first results of the research. A future vision is to more and more draw scientists from the countries effected by the Benguela current into research programmes such as this one.
For enquiries please contact:
Detlef Quadfasel
Universität Hamburg
Klima Campus
Institut für Meereskunde
Bundesstr. 53, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany
Phone: +49 40 42838 5756 Fax: +49 40 42838 4644
e-mail: zmaw%27%de,detlef%27%quadfasel
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