UConn PIRE signed an MoU agreement with Abay Basin Authority (ABA) of Ethiopia on December 14, 2016. The MoU agreement is expected to facilitate data exchange, access to laboratory infrastructure, and human resources for the UConn PIRE project in the Blue Nile Basin.

The Abay River Basin is one of the 12 major river basins in Ethiopia. The Abay Basin Authority is a high level body that was established and became fully functional in 2011. It is responsible for undertaking and facilitating the implementation of integrated Water Resource Management in the basin.

UConn PIRE signed two previous agreements with National Meteorology Agency of Ethiopia and Bahir Dar University. The three agreements articulate the scope of collaboration and expected input from each institution to successfully launch the PIRE project in the region.

UConn and Bahir Dar University (BDU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and training. The MoU will remain in effect for the five-year duration of the PIRE project, with the possibility of renewal.

As stated in the MoU, BDU will lead the effort of grant writing, support and coordination of the Ethiopian research team, and access to lab space for PIRE team members in Ethiopia. The agreement also requires BDU to create a conducive environment for UConn staff to visit and teach at BDU. This long-term partnership provides a unique opportunity to provide quality training and capacity building of qualified BDU staff in water resources management, modeling, and forecasting. It also motivates staff of the two institutions to formulate joint research studies.

Professor Emmanouil Anagnostou will coordinate the collaboration from the UConn side, while Dr. Seifu Tilahun plays a similar role at BDU. The signing of the MoU between the two institutions of higher learning is instrumental for effective implementation of the PIRE project and paves the way for long term research collaboration.

 

The University of Connecticut is excited to welcome 4 graduate students to the PIRE project’s Social Science team.

 Ezana Amdework Atsbeha holds a BA in Sociology and Social Anthropology and an MA in Sociology from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He has been involved in teaching and research since 2005. He has engaged in various research activities on urban and rural development, civil society organizations, as well as children and youth. He has co-published a book on the socioeconomic aspects of traditional alcohol drinks and a research monograph on peasant entrepreneurship. Ezana is an active member of key think tanks and professional associations in Ethiopia. His current research interests include environmental sociology, rural-urban and international migration, and urbanization.

 Kristen Kirksey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Public Health from Tulane University. During her MPH studies, she completed a qualitative evaluation of a reproductive health pilot program in the Dejen Region of Ethiopia. Most recently, she worked at the New Orleans Health Department as the program manager for a maternal and child health program. She has presented at the American Public Health Association and CityMatch (National Organization of Urban MCH Leaders) Conferences. Her interests include social determinants of health, specifically reproductive health.

 Selam Esayas Negatu is a lecturer at Addis Ababa University. She has B.A. in Sociology and Social Anthropology and an M.A. degree in Sociology from Addis Ababa University. Her M.A. thesis work focused on a comparative assessment of the role of the School in the creation of deviant behaviors in Addis Ababa. She has also served as Chairperson of the Department of Sociology since 2014. Her research interests include issues related to family, education, youth development, and gender.

 

 

Nabil Tueme graduated from Assumption College of Massachusetts in 2014 with a BA in Sociology. She is broadly interested in political sociology.

 The students are wrapping up their first semester of gradate coursework, including courses in sociological theory, research methods, and social stratification. They have also taken on a number of Research Assistant duties for the PIRE project, including carrying out literature reviews, researching and writing grants, and planning for brownbag seminars that will begin in 2017. We are excited to have them on board!

 

The Water Systems and Society research group led by Dr. Paul Block within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison invites applications for postdoctoral and PhD positions in the field of Hydroclimatology and Water Resources Management. Our research themes are centered on a systems-based approach to managing water resources, bridging models and methods across climate science, hydrology, management, the environment, economics, and policy.

Two positions are available, as described below, building on our research group’s extensive experience in Ethiopia and the Nile Basin. The positions may be filled at either the postdoctoral or PhD level, depending on applicants, and are expected to commence in Fall 2017.

NSF PIRE: Taming Water in Ethiopia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Improve Human Security in a Water-Dependent Emerging Region

The selected candidate will support research on season-ahead hydro-climatic prediction, integration with hydrology and water resources management models, reservoir operations and optimization, and agro-economic modeling. Strong interest/skill in model building coupled with climate science and water resources systems knowledge is desired.

NSF INFEWS: Understanding multi-scale resilience options for vulnerable regions

The selected candidate will support research on hydropower/energy modeling under climate change, integrating with agricultural and economic models developed by partners, and discovering tradeoffs with alternative energy sources and water demands. Strong interest/skill in model building coupled with water resources systems and economics knowledge is desired.

PhD applications should apply to the Water Resources Engineering graduate program.

Postdoctoral applicants should send Dr. Block a full CV, 1-2 relevant publications, and 3 or more references.

Please contact Dr. Block by email (paul.block@wisc.edu) for additional information. Priority will be given to applications submitted by January 15, 2017.

Engineering students from University of Connecticut and Bahir Dar University are collaborating to rehabilitate a traditional irrigation system near Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. This student-student partnership helps future engineers of both institutions to test classroom theories in real life engineering projects to enable local farmers grow various crops during dry seasons.

In the initial phase of the collaboration they are planning to renovate existing irrigation systems for the community. A design brief prepared by the students indicates renovation is required to reduce the excessive water leakage in the distribution system by implementing engineering solutions. They also have a plan to build new small-scale irrigation structure to expand the service to nearby communities.

Recently Bahir Dar University elected five engineering students to establish an engineering students club at Bahir Dar University for the first time. Bahir Dar University’s president zeroed in on the initiative: “The idea of small scale engineering project is very much appreciated and I will provide full support to Bahir Dar University Engineering students. Access to seed money will be made available to form the club so that our students can collaborate with their counterparts from University of Connecticut on equal footing.”

The PIRE project will soon sing an MoU with Bahir Dar University; thus the engineering students’ partnership is timely as opportunities are lining up to translate their plan into action. Consequently, UConn engineering students are excited to work with their peers in Bahir Dar for the next five years. Learn more from design brief of the proposed Engineering project.