Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science Deputy Dean Dr Violet Patricia Dudu said her participation at the “Water First! Workshop for African Women in Water Research and Policy” which was held during the Singapore International Water Week commemoration in Singapore was an eye-opener.
Dr. Dudu was one of six African scholars and researchers who were invited to the prestigious workshop courtesy of the Elsevier Foundation and COACh. The workshop provided a unique opportunity for women scientists from different countries to share their research ideas and to develop collaborative projects on water and sanitation.
Speaking on her experience, Dr Dudu said the workshop presented opportunities as she engaged with scientists and industrialists with an interest in water technology.
“The workshop brought together experts from different countries across the globe as well as companies that exhibited their latest technology in water treatment, water infrastructure and water desalinization,” she said.
She added, “I presented on the water scarcity in Zimbabwe and we explored possible solutions and shared ideas on how we can provide solutions to water scarcity in different communities.
“It (the workshop) was extremely beneficial as we also explored ways of solving the water hyacinth challenge in Lake Chivero and other freshwater bodies.
“I also met various editors from renowned journal publications and we had conversations on the publication process as well as a plethora of scholarly materials and topics,” she said.
For Dr. Dudu, the workshop opened multiple networking and collaboration opportunities as she was incorporated into the US-based COACh program, run through the University of Oregon.
COACh endeavours to increase the number and career success of women scientists and engineers through innovative programs and strategies.
It provides avenues for networking and mentoring of scientists and engineers at all levels to assist them in their research, teaching and career advancement and works closely with many institutions to create equal opportunities for all potential contributors to the scientific and technical workforce.
