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Dr. Michael Adewumi Pennsylvania State University, “The Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering, and Development in Africa (AESEDA): A U.S.-Africa Partnership”. How AESEDA came about. Dean of Earth and Mineral Science (EMS), took inventory of faculty projects, activities and interests
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Dr. Michael Adewumi Pennsylvania State University, “The Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering, and Development in Africa (AESEDA): A U.S.-Africa Partnership”
How AESEDA came about • Dean of Earth and Mineral Science (EMS), took inventory of faculty projects, activities and interests • Found many projects, proposals, and activities involved Africa • No integration or cohesiveness among faculty & these projects • A vision for integrated focus on Africa across the College emerged … AESEDA
AESEDA Mission Promote integration of physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences to develop human resources, promote economic vitality and enable stewardship of georesources in Africa.
Implementation Strategy:Georesourcesfor sustainable livelihoods Sustainable livelihoods • Human capacity • Economic opportunities • Clean Environment • Clean Water • Food security • Health/Safety issues Georesources • Water • Energy • Minerals
Development Frameworks • 1970s: Basic Needs • 1980s: Structural Adjustments • 1990s: Poverty Reduction • New Decade: Georesources Management for development –integration of science with public policy for sustainable livelihoods [AESEDA]
Strategic Initiatives • Promote new Research Programs • Develop new Educational Programs • Hire Faculty with Expertise in Georesources and Sustainable Development in Africa • Build Meaningful Partnerships with African Universities and Institutions • Build Meaningful partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) • Strengthen our Mutual Communication Infrastructure to Support Collaboration
Memorandum of Understanding USA-HBCU Howard University MCID – Mississippi Consortium for International Development Alcorn State U. Miss. Valley State U. Jackson State U. Tougaloo College Fort Valley State University Lincoln University North Carolina A&T University Tuskegee University Partners Memorandum of Understanding Africa Nigeria University of Ibadan University of Lagos South Africa University of the Witwatersrand University of Cape Town Agreement of Accession (AOA) Angola Agostinho Neto University
NGOs UNCF, Special Projects The World Bank FirstVoice International SECME, Inc. Nigerian Academy of Science Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Aerospace Academy – SEMAA Universities Space Research Association – USRA Industry Schlumberger ChevronTexaco ExxonMobil Government Agencies NSF Global Development Alliance – GDA (USA) Ministry of Agriculture (Nigeria) Ministry of Mines (Mali) Ministry of Solid Minerals (Nigeria) National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure – NASENI (Nigeria) NUC (Nigeria) USAID (USA) United States Geological Survey – USGS (USA) Stakeholder Organizations
AESEDA Inaugural Symposium “Georesources Management: Human Capacity Development and Sustainable Livelihoods” 200 attendees from 9 countries Industry representatives: (ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Marathon, Schlumberger, Shell, Dow Chemical) 17 Academic Institutions Development Agencies & Foundations Government Delegates
Example: Nigerian Government “AESEDA … is blazing a new trail in the interactions between the United States of America and Africa.” - Chief Ufot J. Ekaette SGF, Nigeria
Partners’ strong commitment International Partnerships • University of Ibadan - new building to house AESEDA • University of Lagos – renovating offices to house AESEDA • Shell Petroleum Development Co. – co-funded Ibadan effort • Schlumberger – donated the Schlumberger Learning Center • Schlumberger – committed $3.5 million in equipment and personnel to partner with AESEDA at Agostinho Neto University • MacArthur Foundation –to equip SLB/UI Center with i-access • Council of Geosciences (RSA) –in-kind support for AfricaArray
Strong University Commitment • New permanent tenure-track faculty lines • Paul Desanker (Geography/AESEDA) • Ikubolajeh Logan (AAAS/Geography/AESEDA) • Petra Tschakert (Geography/AESEDA) • Anne Thompson (Meteorology/AESEDA) • Commitment for 2-3 additional faculty members • Top University strategic initiative • Presidential attention for private development
AESEDA R&E Projects • AfricaArray • Ethiopian Initiative on Geothermal Energy • Niger Delta Initiative • Medical Georesources Initiative • Southern Africa Climate Change • Sustainable Mining Initiative
AESEDA Education Programs Degree Programs • Science, Society and the Environment in Africa (Minor Degree) • Georesources Engineering Management (Professional MS) Courses Developed • Labor in the Global Economy (Work and Industrial Relations) • Environmental Justice in South Africa • Environments of Africa: Geology and Climate Change • African Diamonds – a Continent in Conflict Course Sharing and Export • Electronic delivery • Semi-asynchronous learning across continents
AESEDA Capacity Building Angola • Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences at Agostinho Neto University • Georesources Engineering Management at U. Ibadan • Natural Gas Engineering at U. Lagos • Curricula/Capacity Assessment Project • Geophysics at Univ. of the Witwatersrand • Climate & Energy Studies Program at UCT • Geosciences at Jackson State University Nigeria South Africa USA
Example #1: AfricaArray • PIs: Profs Andy Nyblade (PSU) & Paul Dirks (Wits). Initial focus are to: • Maintain and enhance Geophysical programs in Africa • Promote geophysical research in Africa • Obtain geophysical data, through a network of shared observatories • Public-private funding including NSF
Example #2: GEM Degree • Georesources Engineering Management • MS degree incorporating: • Technical, managerial, entrepreneurial courses • Social and environmental management courses • Initial partners: PSU, UI, Unilag, Mali • Designed for • Georesources personnel with interest in Africa • NGO personnel seeking greater technical skills • Approval expected in 2005
Example # 3: Domestic Programs • Program Development/Enhancement • Geosciences Program at JSU • Pathway for Diversity Enhancement • Pre-College research Programs (MLK) • 3-2 Programs w/ Lincoln and NC A&T • SROP to encourage graduate enrolment • SECME/AESEDA Partnership programs
Encouraging indicators • Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) AESEDA sponsored three SROP students in Summer 2004 • Erica J. Campbell, Tuskegee University, “Evolution of Mafic Lava from the Main Ethiopian Rift,”Mentor: Dr. Tanya Furman • Damon Stevenson, Tougaloo College, “The Potential of the Chad/Cameroon Pipeline Project to Promote Sustainable Economic Development,” Mentor: Dr. Adam Rose • Rafael R. Diaz Torres, University of Puerto Rico, “Displacement & Land Use Change from a Residential Trailer Park to a Commercial Complex, State College, PA,” Mentor: Dr. Amy Glasmeier • 1 MS (Mining) + 1 MS (Meteo) + 1 PhD (Geog) enrolled • SEEMS – Upward Bound Science and Math ProgramAESEDA sponsored 2 SEEMS students from Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Philadelphia in Summer 2004
Support of NSF is Acknowledged • NSF’s support is crucial to recorded success • Inaugural symposium • Diversity enhancement programs in Geosciences • AfricaArray • Stakeholders workshop on Niger Delta • NSF’s overlapping interest with AESEDA • Scientific research and discovery • Mentoring of young researchers • Capacity building in the US • Integration of teaching and research
For Further Information: AESEDA Penn State Office 221 Walker Building Phone: 814-863-7598 University Park, PA 16802 Fax: 814-863-3518 Email: aeseda@psu.edu http://www.aeseda.psu.edu AESEDA Administration at Penn State Director: Prof. Michael Adewumi Associate Director for Education: Prof. Tanya Furman Associate Director for Research: Prof. Paul Desanker Research Associate: Myron McClure Administrative Assistant: Lisa Skripek