5 September 2011
Annual Visiting Lecturer at the UNU-GTP 2011
This year, the annual UNU Visiting Lecturer was Dr. Ernst Huenges, who leads the International Geothermal Research Centre at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum
(GFZ). Dr. Huenges gave a series of lectures on Enhanced Geothermal Systems.
Dr. Huenges is chair of an interdisciplinary working group with engineers and geoscientists and head of the petrophysical laboratories at the GFZ. He has been involved in a number of
scientific deep drilling projects and geothermal projects. He is a contributing author of the IPCC special report on renewable energies and in 2010, he edited a book on Geothermal Energy
Systems.
5 September 2011
UNU-LRT presented at the SER 2011 World Conference
The Society of Ecological Restoration held its fourth world conference on ecological restoration in Merida, Mexico from 21 to 25 August last
month. UNU-LRT was presented at the conference in an oral presentation in a session on ecological restoration education, and in a poster in the poster
session. Four scientists, who teach and supervise in UNU-LRT annual six-month training course, also attended the conference and gave oral presentations on
their research and projects. These scientists come from the Agricultural University of Iceland and the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland.
25 August 2011
Mariyanuge Dileepa Samika Thanuksha de Croos, defended his Ph.D. thesis
On Wednesday August 24, Mariyanuge Dileepa Samika Thanuksha de Croos, defended his Ph.D. thesis: "Shrimp Populations in Western Sri Lanka: the Fishery, mtDNA Variations and Reproductive
Biology" from University of Iceland.
25 August 2011
Chamari Dissanayake, defends her Ph.D. thesis
On Friday July 8, Chamari Dissanayake, defended her Ph.D. thesis on "Assessment and Management of sea cucumber resources in the coastal waters of SriLanka" at the University of
Iceland.
15 August 2011
Individually based project work
Individual project work is an
important part of the six-month training at UNU-LRT and is the main focus in the latter half of the training. This year the fellows projects are very
diverse, some are strictly scientific and include field- and lab work, mapping and use of GIS, as well as data handling and statistical analysis. Others
are closer to the field of social sciences and include surveys and examination of participatory approaches in land management, and evaluation of legal frameworks and policies related with grazing
lands.
21 July 2011
Official visit by the GDC Board of Directors and Chief Manager of Energy Research and Development to the UNU-GTP
The UNU-GTP was honored by a visit from a high ranking delegation from the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) of Kenya over the period of July 13-18. The delegation included the Board
Chairman, six Directors and the Chief Manager of Energy Research and Development at GDC. The purpose of the visit was to get a first hand overview of UNU-GTP operations and the utilization of
geothermal resources in Iceland.
On Thursday July 14, the delegation joined a UNU-GTP geological excursion in the Lake Mývatn area of northern Iceland, visiting sites shaped by ancient and recent volcanism,
high-temperature geothermal fields, Krafla power station, and the Mývatn Nature Baths. The following day was used to drive back to Reykjavik across the highlands of Iceland, with stops
at the Hveravellir and Geysir high-temperature fields, Gullfoss and several other sites.
The weekend was used to visit several geothermal power plants in the Reykjanes peninsula and the Hengill area in the company of Mr. Ludvik S. Georgsson, Deputy Director of the UNU-GTP, Mr. Albert
Albertsson, Deputy CEO of HS Orka, and Dr. Einar Gunnlaugsson, Manager of Geothermal Research at Reykjavik Energy, as well as visiting the Blue Lagoon. The trip was concluded by meetings with
Reykjavik Geothermal Inc., Landsvirkjun National Power Company, ÍSOR – Iceland GeoSurvey and VERKÍS Engineering Consultants on Monday morning, and a call to the UNU-GTP
premises.
The visit was arranged and organized by Dr. Peter Omenda, Chief Manager of Energy Research and Development at GDC, and Mr. Ludvik S. Georgsson.