News - Clemson University
Africa Region Gathers for 2025 Regional Meeting and Educator Trainings
It was a busy May for the GLOBE Africa Regional Coordination Office, as they organized and implemented a virtual Regional Meeting and two teacher trainings, one of them in-person. Below are some of the highlights from these events.
2025 Regional Meeting
The 2025 Regional Meeting took place virtually 7–9 May. Daily topics included current challenges to active and sustained participation, research on bodies of water, and invasive alien plant species.
Guest speaker Dr. Rusty Low, deputy director of science for the GLOBE Implementation Office, presented on mosquitoes in Africa. Other guest speakers included Dr. Alberta Sagoe, regional specialist for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTH) based in Ghana, who spoke about embassy and ESTH engagement, support, and collaboration; and Dr. Erica Podest, SMAP and NISAR scientist, who spoke about opportunities, reliable data, and data for scientist use. The meeting also included feedback from regional representatives and recipients of YLACES grants and equipment. Dave Overoye from GLOBE’s Digital Information Systems supported the meeting with website and GLOBE Observer app updates.
Virtual Educator Training
After the successful Regional Meeting, the next event was the virtual educator training on 14–17 May. Nearly 150 registered for the event, with an average of 92 attendees at the sessions. The following countries participated: Nigeria, Benin, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Philippines, India, USA, Senegal, Gambia, Chad, Uganda, and Rwanda.
Workshop topics included sessions related to Hydrosphere, Pedosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere protocols, including (Day 1) vector-borne-disease research and publication opportunities by Peggy Foletta, education specialist at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, California, United States, and Dr. Rock Aikpon, vector control officer, National Malaria Control Programme, Benin; (Day 2) data, reliability, and consistency for NASA and other scientists by Todd Toth (NASA) and Peter Falcon (Jet Propulsion Lab); (Day 3) mosquitoes in Africa by Dr. Rusty Low; and (Day 4) Universal Design for Learning and why every teacher needs to incorporate it in their teaching practices by Dr. Hameed Sulaiman.
The month culminated in an exciting in-person educator training in Kanifing, Gambia on 26–29 May. Thirty-five teachers and administrative staff were taught by trainers from Senegal in Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Pedosphere protocols. View images from the event below.
