IRES Track I: US-Ghana Collaboration: Providing Opportunities for Global Research on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

IRES 第一轨道：美国-加纳合作：为全球水环境卫生和个人卫生 (WASH) 研究提供机会

• 批准号: 1827132
• 负责人: Sarina Ergas
• 金额: $ 28.48万
• 依托单位: University of South Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1827132&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: IRES; Track; US; Ghana; Collaboration

In much of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, people lack safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Although there have been a number of efforts to develop low-cost, efficient methods to treat water and wastewater, many of them fail in practice due to the lack of understanding of social and economic factors, and the lack of community engagement. This project will engage fifteen (15) IRES participants and three (3) graduate assistants from STEM, STEM education, public health and social sciences in carrying out research to develop, test and implement the technologies, such as biosand filters and decentralized sanitation systems, while uncovering and addressing social factors that limit their use in the field. The project will take place in collaboration with students and faculty at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), as well as teachers and pupils in a local secondary school in Kumasi, Ghana. US students will experience real on-the-ground water and sanitation situations that will enhance their research skills as they develop the global competence needed to work effectively in developing countries. Specific objectives are to: 1) increase the number of US students engaging in global water and sanitation research, 2) enhance student understanding of the complexity of water and sanitation challenges and increase their global competency, 3) engage secondary school teachers and pupils in Ghana in authentic science and participatory action research, and 4) develop strong collaborations between USF and KNUST for water and sanitation research and education.The participating research teams will advance research and development of: 1) biosand filters that simultaneously address infectious disease and dental/skeletal health risks that are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, and 2) decentralized ecological sanitation technologies, such as constructed wetlands, urine diverting dry toilets and biodigesters, which recover valuable resources (water, nutrients, energy) from human wastes. Each team will work on technology development, appropriate financing mechanisms and effective behavioral and educational approaches to improve WASH practices. IRES participants will directly experience WASH research in the geopolitical, socioeconomic and cultural context of Ghana. These experiences will enhance their understanding of WASH challenges and build their global competency. We will recruit female and underrepresented minority students through programs and clubs that emphasize diversity, community colleges and minority serving institutions. Extensive professional development and mentoring programs are planned for IRES participants. Results will be integrated into courses taught by the PIs and outreach to the Tampa Bay community, K12 science teachers and students. The project will strengthen the partnership between USF and KNUST and create opportunities for future collaborations, particularly in WASH research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

在包括撒哈拉以南非洲在内的世界大部分地区，人们缺乏安全饮用水和适当的卫生设施。尽管已经做出了一些努力来开发低成本、高效率的水和废水处理方法，但由于缺乏对社会和经济因素的理解以及缺乏社区参与，其中许多方法在实践中失败了。该项目将吸引来自STEM，STEM教育，公共卫生和社会科学的十五（15）名IRES参与者和三（3）名研究生助理进行研究，以开发，测试和实施生物砂过滤器和分散式卫生系统等技术，同时发现和解决限制其在该领域使用的社会因素。该项目将与Kwame Nkrumah科技大学（KNUST）的学生和教师以及加纳库马西当地一所中学的教师和学生合作开展。 美国学生将体验到真实的地面水和卫生条件，这将提高他们的研究技能，因为他们开发了在发展中国家有效工作所需的全球能力。 具体目标是：1）增加美国学生参与全球水和卫生研究的人数，2）提高学生对水和卫生挑战的复杂性的理解，提高他们的全球竞争力，3）让加纳的中学教师和学生参与真实科学和参与性行动研究，以及4）在USF和KNUST之间开展水和卫生研究和教育方面的强有力合作。参与的研究团队将推进以下方面的研究和开发：1）生物砂过滤器，同时解决撒哈拉以南非洲流行的传染病和牙齿/骨骼健康风险，2）分散的生态卫生技术，如人工湿地，尿液分流干式厕所和生物消化器，从人类废物中回收宝贵的资源（水，营养物，能源）。 每个小组将致力于技术开发、适当的筹资机制以及有效的行为和教育方法，以改进讲卫生运动的做法。IRES参与者将直接体验加纳地缘政治，社会经济和文化背景下的WASH研究。 这些经验将提高他们对讲卫生运动挑战的认识，并建立他们的全球能力。 我们将通过强调多样性的项目和俱乐部、社区学院和少数民族服务机构招募女性和代表性不足的少数民族学生。 为IRES参与者计划了广泛的专业发展和指导方案。 研究结果将纳入PI教授的课程，并推广到坦帕湾社区、K12科学教师和学生。 该项目将加强USF和KNUST之间的伙伴关系，并为未来的合作创造机会，特别是在WASH研究方面。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

项目成果

Effects of the engagement in authentic water and sanitation research on Ghanaian high school students and teachers

参与真实的水和卫生研究对加纳高中生和教师的影响

• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Florida Educational Research Association 66th Annual Meeting
• 作者: Feldman, A.

Participation of High School Students in Authentic Science and Engineering Experiences with a University-Based Research Team

高中生与大学研究团队一起参与真实的科学和工程体验

• DOI: 10.3390/w13131745
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Water
• 影响因子: 3.4
• 作者: Alsultan, J. Hen;derson, M.;Rice, M.;Yang, X.;Kahler, J.;Feldman, A.;Ergas, S.J.;Ghebremichael, K.
• 通讯作者: Ghebremichael, K.

Biosand filters for water purification

用于水净化的生物砂过滤器

• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: The science teacher
• 作者: Alsultan, J.;Rice, M.;Feldman, A.;Nkrumah, T.;Ergas, S.J.;Ghebremichael, K.
• 通讯作者: Ghebremichael, K.