Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo, 15 March, 2021
The official announcement for The Lufira River Research Project was held at the University of Lubumbashi Thursday 11 March. The academic administration at the university and the dean of Faculty of Sciences were present and both claimed this a pioneer project strengthening research and data collection and not least, the underlined the unique collaboration between students, scientists and the local company KIPAY.
Six master students from the university of Lubumbashi guided by three professors will conduct field studies on Lufira river’s ecology . In partnership with KIPAY and consultant company EmiAfrica, the researchers will generate unique knowledge about rivers in DRC and it will result in several new master thesis and scientific articles in international journals.
Master students at the opening ceremony 11 March, Lubumbashi.
Environmental issues related to hydropower projects have not been studied systematically through scientific research in DRC. There is a great potential within DRC for developing new knowledge and doing research on issues related to hydropower generation and its impact on the environment.
By initiating this research project, a collaboration between Prof Mikael Monga from the University of Lubumbashi, Merimee Kalumba from EmiAfrica and KIPAY, we believe it will contribute to raise awareness and knowledge about issues related to hydropower dams and develop scientific knowledge databases in DRC.
Prof Mikael Monga introducing the project.
This project is an inter-disciplinary research project between several academic disciplines as biology, geology and chemistry. The project will focus on topics related to river ecology and sedimentation caused by hydropower dams studied from their respective disciplines.
This project aims to stimulate capacity building and gather new data that’s not existing in DRC. By working with Master students at the University of Lubumbashi, the students will get an opportunity to conduct their field studies in close guidance with professors and world leading scientists. The final results will be published in international scientific journals.
Dr. Kisekelwa Tchalondawa explaining research methodology.
Next step for the team will be to conduct field studies on the lower Lufira River.
Facts about the project :
The Lufira River Research Project is initiated by Prof Mikael Monga from the University of Lubumbashi and Merimee Kalumba from EmiAfria in collaboration with KIPAY. Dr. Kisekelwa Tchalondawa from Institut Supérieur pédagogique, Bukavu is part of the research team and Prof. Dr. Christoph Hauer, Institute of Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and River Research, BOKU, Vienna, Austria, is research co-supervisor.