NORTH-SOUTH CENTRE - ETH - North-South Centre North-South ...

Preparing a joint project at the
Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems
Visiting scientists Elena Ruiz and
Hanoi Medina
Winter school, TERI University,
New Delhi, India
Teaching stay of Massimo Filippini,
January 9 – 13, 2009
In October 2009, Maria Elena Ruiz (Head of the Agrophysics
Research Unit, GIAF, at the Agrarian University of Havana
in Cuba) and Hanoi Medina (member of GIAF) visited the
Group of Soil and Terrestrial Environmental Physics at the
ETH Zurich. The main objective of the visit was to finalise
the definition of the theoretical and practical aspects for
a proposal to be submitted to the Swiss National Science
Foundation and SDC (see p. 53).
During their visit, Maria Elena Ruiz and Hanoi Medina were
introduced to various measurement methods and received
training in several devices to measure soil water content.
All the measurements were done in ferrasols brought from
Cuba. In addition, Maria Elena Ruiz and Hanoi Medina obtained
some devices and equipments necessary to make
preliminary measurements in Cuban ferrasols on-site. This
enhances the capacity of GIAF for conducting studies in the
soil channel about the temporal changes of soil hydraulic
properties.
The most important benefit arising from the visit is the
expanded knowledge about the modern approach in Soil
Physics science. A continued collaboration with the ETH
Zurich will increase the theoretical level in soil physics
at the GIAF and contribute to resolve agricultural problems
in Cuba – such as the compaction of ferrasols in Havana
Province that is adversely impacting various crops.
In India, the rapid economic growth impacts the availability
and use of infrastructure and energy resources. Consequently,
the challenge for policy-makers is to balance the need for
sustained economic growth while addressing sustainability
and equity issues both regional and intergenerational. Thus,
policy initiatives have to rely on relevant research in order to
improve the effectiveness of policy-making.
Several members of the Centre for Energy Policy and Economics
(CEPE) at the ETH Zurich are conducting research on
topics relevant to the sustainable development of India’s
energy sector – For instance, research on energy poverty, on
disparities in access to energy resources, and on developmental
and health impacts. However, the research findings
have not yet been disseminated extensively in India.
Recognising the need for bridging the gap between research
and policy, TERI University in partnership with CEPE organised
a week-long winter school “Selected topics in energy
economics and sustainable development”. Daniel Spreng
(Prof. em. ETH Zurich) and Massimo Filippini (CEPE) gave
several lectures. Approximately 50 participants attended,
including research economists and economic practitioners
from TERI University and other academic institutions in India.
Apart from disseminating research results, the winter
school provided an opportunity for networking and for developing
new research partnerships.
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Capacity development
Short-term activities
Elena Ruiz (fourth from left) and Hanoi Medina
(second from right) during the preliminary visit of
Dani Or and Hannes Flühler in Havana, Cuba
Scholars attending the winter school
at TERI University, India