The 28th Annual Session

4 November 2006

The closing ceremony of the 28th annual session of the UNU-GTP was held on October 20th 2006. Twentyone UNU Fellows from 12 countries completed the traditional 6 month specialized courses. They came from Azerbaijan 1, China 2, Costa Rica 2, Indonesia 3, Iran 2, Kenya 2, Mongolia 2, Nicaragua 1, Philippines 2, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1 and Uganda 2.

They received specialized training in: Geological Exploration 1, Borehole Geology 1, Geophysical Exploration 1, Reservoir Engineering 3, Chemistry of Thermal Fluids 6, Environmental Studies 3 and Geothermal Utilization 6.

During 1979-2006, 359 scientists and engineers from 40 countries have completed the annual six month courses. Of these, 44% have come from countries in Asia, 26% from Africa, 16% from Central and Eastern Europe, and 14% from Latin America. There have been 57 women (16%).

Speeches were given by Dr. Ingvar B. Fridleifsson, Director of the UNU-GTP, Valdgerdur Sverrisdottir, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Alejandro Rodríguez a geochemist from ICE Costa Rica (see photo below), who spoke on behalf of the UNU Fellows who were graduating. Dr. Thorkell Helgason, Director General of Orkustofnun (National Energy Authority) also addreesed the graduates as they received their UNU Certificates.

The graduation photo of the UNU Fellows of the 28th annual course of the UNU Geothermal Training Programme.

Back row from left: Nyambayar Tsend-Ayush (Mongolia), Tesha (Indonesia), Joseph P.O. Okedi (Uganda), Ali Rakhshani Moghaddam (Iran), Wang Wei (China), Ahmad Yani (Indonesia), Johnson W. Ndege (Kenya), Dan Mainza (Uganda), Yang Quanhe (China).
Middle row: Alejandro Rodríguez (Costa Rica), Erlindo Jr. C. Angcoy (Philippines), Evanson M. Nyagah (Kenya), Manuel Barrantes (Costa Rica), Jorge I. Cisne (Nicaragua), Ali Ahmadi Nassirabadi (Iran), Jacob W.M. Mayalla (Tanzania), Roy Bandoro Swandaru (Indonesia), Ronaldo R. Pendon (Philippines).
Front row: Irada Ibragimova (Azerbaijan), Özge Can Atas (Turkey), Thorhildur Isberg, administrator, Ingvar Birgir Fridleifsson, director, Gudrun Bjarnadottir, former administrative assistant, Ludvik S. Georgsson, deputy director, Sukhgerel Javzan (Mongolia).

Alejandro Rodríguez giving his speech at the closing ceremony.

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