UKZN Scientists Represent South Africa at Network of African Science Academies Workshop in Kenya

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Professor Albert Modi and Emeritus Professor Roland Schulze of the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES) were among five South Africans who participated in a Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) workshop on the topic of Improving the Management of Water Resources for Sustainable Development in Africa and the Americas.

The workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, was attended by more than 50 water scientists, hydrologists, engineers, academics and policy-makers working on water-related research around the world.

Schulze, an eminent Hydrologist, presented a paper titled: “Challenges from Municipal to Catchment to National Scales in Adapting to Climate Change in South Africa’s Water Sector”.

Modi presented a paper on: “The Potential Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Crop Production – Looking Back into the Future”.

Both academics participated in panel discussions.

Modi and Schulze were identified by the Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAf) to represent the country at the workshop, together with representatives from ASSAf and the Water Research Commission (WRC).

The workshop was also used to launch a NASAC Water Policymakers’ Booklet, titled: The Grand Challenge of Water Security in Africa: Recommendations to Policymakers.

Modi said the workshop had been a very good learning experience, and he was encouraged by the interest of water specialists and engineers in issues of water and food security.

 UKZNDabaOnline