Building Science Capacity using Seismology

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Building Science Capacity using Seismology
Michelle Grobbelaar
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AfricaArray

• A public-private partnership supporting capacity
  building for Africas natural resource sector
• Goal address limited human capacity in Africa in
  Geophysics.

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AfricaArray

• Establish in-situ training and research programs
  to help build a scientific workforce
• initially in geophysics
• As part of the training and research programs,
  create shared scientific observatories (initially
  broadband seismic stations) to promote education,
  research, and community building

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AfricaArray

• AfricaArray array of observatories array
  of training programs array of research projects
  array of partnerships and collaboration

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AfricaArray
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AfricaArray

• Seismic networks of participating countries are
  upgraded and can then be used for earthquake
  monitoring, natural hazard mitigation, and oil,
  gas and mineral exploration.
• To date, 17 African countries actively
  participate in collaboration with 11 private
  companies and many organisations outside Africa.

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AfricaArray

• Implemented in 4 phases over 20 years
• Years 1-3 focused on solid Earth geophysics,
  thus a permanent network of broadband seismograph
  stations has been established
• AND a training programme has been expanded which
  supports 8 honours, 6 Msc and 5 post-doctoral
  researchers from 11 countries
• Results are presented in annual workshops

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AfricaArray

• The 2nd and 3rd phases will expand on the
  permanent network, establish project-related
  temporary networks, strengthen other geophysics
  training centres in Africa and expand the
  stations to observatories for meteorology,
  atmospheric chemistry and GPS, etc.

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AfricaArray

• Provides an example for how to link capacity
  building in science to developing an observing
  system
• If we can do this in seismology we can do it in
  other related science fields
• Potentially provides a model for developing
  sustainable observing systems in developing
  countries
• Many Govts are more interested in science
  training than long-term monitoring of the
  environment

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AfricaArray

• Long term permanent support for technical
  purposes, bursaries and administrative and
  coordination support.

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• Thank you!
• www.africaarray.psu.edu