TROPIBIO Expedition to Angola Strengthens Collaborations and Explores Biodiversity
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TROPIBIO Expedition to Angola Strengthens Collaborations and Explores Biodiversity
Date: May and June 2022
The TROPIBIO project embarked on an expedition to Angola from May 14th to June 6th, 2022, with the primary objective of consolidating the TwinLab Network in Angola. Led by the TROPIBIO team, including Carlos Pereira, Fernando Sequeira, Martim Melo, Luke L Powell, and Patrícia Guedes, the expedition aimed to present the TROPIBIO project to local partners and institutions such as Fundação Kissama, Agostinho Neto University, Total Energies, INBC, and University Mandume Ya Ndemufayo.
During the trip, the team engaged in fruitful interactions and knowledge sharing with various stakeholders. The visit to Fundação Kissama provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with one of TROPIBIO's collaborators in Angola. Discussions focused on how TROPIBIO could contribute to capacity building within Fundação Kissama, including the possibility of organizing field courses in Angola. At Total Energies, the team met with Dr. Feliciano Martins to present the project and discuss ongoing research projects funded by Total Energies, as well as scholarships for Angolan students attending the MSc program developed by CIBIO and Lubango University.
Agostinho Neto University played host to a series of presentations where the TROPIBIO team shared insights on the TwinLab program, TROPIBIO project, UNESCO's biodiversity kit project, and presented research on the birds of Angola. The presentations were attended by students, faculty members, and representatives from UNESCO, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, SASSCAL, CNIC, and other institutions. The team also visited the biology department and received a tour of the university campus.
In Lubango, the team met with Dr. Sebastião António, the Dean of Mandume Ya Ndemufayo University, to deliver talks on the TwinLab network, the upcoming MSc program, and TROPIBIO to students and faculty members. They also visited ISCED, the Higher Institute of Educational Science, and had the opportunity to explore the bird and mammal collections. Additionally, they visited the CCT-Center for Science and Technology, where discussions were held with Dr. Fernanda Lages and Dra Maria João Chipalavela, vice governor of Huila province, to present TROPIBIO and discuss the science fair.
The expedition included an exploration of the Namba mountains, allowing for the assembly of a multidisciplinary research team focused on various taxa, including birds, small mammals and bats, reptiles and amphibians, insects, and vegetation. The team received training from Dr. Ara Monadjen, an expert in African small mammals and bats, who facilitated surveys and knowledge exchange with TROPIBIO team members Ana Filipa Palmeirim and Patrícia Guedes. The expedition fostered valuable knowledge transfer between local and international researchers, and potential new species discoveries across several taxa were made.
Overall, the TROPIBIO expedition to Angola proved to be a successful endeavor, strengthening collaborations with local partners, promoting knowledge exchange, and paving the way for future research and conservation initiatives. The interactions with Fundação Kissama, Total Energies, Agostinho Neto University, and other institutions have laid the foundation for ongoing partnerships and potential joint projects, furthering the mission of TROPIBIO to study and conserve biodiversity in Angola and beyond.
Tropibio team with Fundação Kissama Director, Dr Vladimir Russo.
Tropibio team with Dr Feliciano Martins, from Total energies.
Patrícia Guedes giving a presentation on TROPIBIO at Agostinho Neto University.
Tropibio team with Dr Sebastião António, Dr Francisco Maiato, Dr Francisco Cambamba and Dr José Carlos Lima.
The audience at Mandume University.
Martim giving a presentation on the birds of Angola to UNIONE teachers and students.
Tropibio team with Fundação Kissama Director, Dr Vladimir Russo.
Tropibio team with Dr Feliciano Martins, from Total energies.
Patrícia Guedes giving a presentation on TROPIBIO at Agostinho Neto University.
Tropibio team with Dr Sebastião António, Dr Francisco Maiato, Dr Francisco Cambamba and Dr José Carlos Lima.
The audience at Mandume University.
Martim giving a presentation on the birds of Angola to UNIONE teachers and students.