SANUMARC Newsletter 2nd Edition - University of Namibia

EditorialIt is our pleasure to present youwith the 2012 second editionof SANUMARC News – Offi cialNewsletter of UNAM’s Henties BayCampus. The success of the fi rstedition and positive commentsfrom all our readers has becomea driving force for the Centre tosustain this new initiative of biannual al newsletter and we arethankful to all our readers for your support, the response forthe fi rst edition has been positive and encouragingThe United Nations University Institute for Natural Resourcesin Africa (UNU-INRA) of which SANUMARC is an affi liatedoperating institute held an International Conference inAccra, Ghana from 05 – 07 December to mark its 25thanniversary. SANUMARC Director, Prof. Omoregie and Ms.Hausiku (Mushroom Researcher) were among the gueststhat celebrated the 25th Anniversary. Read more about thecelebration inside this issue.The NAMSOV Community Trust has a respected trackrecord of empowering communities through education.The Namsov Community Trust endowed a NAD 1 millionTrust, known as The SANUMARC Trust and part of that fundhas been utilized to institute a Namsov Trust PostgraduateScholarship Scheme. At the moment, we are proudly havingthree postgraduate students at the Centre for which weare very grateful to NAMSOV Community Trust for providingan opportunity for these young scientists to develop theircareers in marine and coastal resources disciplines.As a Centre, we have a responsibility of transferring skillsand knowledge to our communities by assisting with variouscommunity development needs and training activities.The Centre provides training on mushroom production toHenties Bay community and beyond as well as providingtechnical assistance on horticulture projects and biogasconstruction. Since the end of last year the Centre hasstarted collaboration with National Youth Service (NYS). Thiscollaboration involved training in Mushroom productionand Horticulture at the Henties Bay Centre of NYS. Insidethis issue you will see how the youth have been providedtraining and what they have achieved so far. We are alsofocusing on reviving the biogas digester in the HentiesBay location area, the Centre will continue to promotebiogas use as a low cost source of energy, as well as anenvironmental management strategy.Lastly, I am really pleased that our team is growing, we haveadditional staff members and their profi les are includedin this issue. This staff growth has a great positive effecton strengthening our research activities at the Centre.Noteworthy here is to mention that since the inception ofthe Centre in 1999, this is the very fi rst time that the Centre ishaving a qualifi ed Librarian to manage its Resource Centre,a development attributed to the incumbent Director.ContentsNAMSOV Community Trust ...........................4Update on SPACES .......................................4Fellowships in Germany ................................6Bioplastic Research .......................................6UNU-INRA 25th Anniversary ..........................8New Faces at SANUMARC ...........................8Community Outreach ................................10Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences .....................12High Delegation Visit ...................................12Writing Research Proposals ........................12Biogas as Sustainable Energy ....................14Until next time!Dr Diina ShuulukaEditor-in-Chief