IRES: U.S.-Ghana Collaboration Providing Opportunities for Global Research Activities on Sustainable Water Purification (GRA-SWP)

美国-加纳学生国际研究经验奖（IRES）支持洛杉矶南方大学与库马西夸梅·恩克鲁玛科技大学（KNUST）在水资源科学方面的合作。该IRES项目建立了这些机构的STEM教师之间的共同努力，他们将进行有效，创新和变革性的研究，以确保全球水资源的可持续性和大规模的水净化。美国调查小组由来自南方大学机械工程系和A&amp；M学院的两名教员组成，A&amp；M学院是美国历史上最大的黑人学院和大学；国际参与者为我校材料工程系的教职员工。KNUST是这个IRES项目的主办机构，并将为IRES学生的成功研究、学术访问和进入研究实验室提供便利安排。来自Southern和Kwame Nkrumah的五名教师将直接参与研究和指导活动。来自美国的学生参与者包括五名本科生和一名研究生，为期三年，每年五周。该项目将培养下一代研究人员，并为发展一支全球参与的劳动力队伍做出贡献。该项目旨在开发一种低成本但技术上高效的可持续水净化复合材料。它将审查氟化物和其他微生物污染物吸附到为加强除氟而开发的复合材料上的过程。学生可以选择的三个独立的研究领域是：1)红土基本微观结构特性的表征；2)氧化铝和氧化镁纳米颗粒复合红土增强氟吸附的评价；3)氧化钙和二氧化硅纳米颗粒复合红土增强氟吸附的评价。学生将学习数据采集技术以及分析和解释科学信息的能力。主修STEM领域的学生将有机会在国际环境中从事研究，他们将不得不适应解决非传统问题。此外，IRES的经验有望：1)提高美国学生的全球意识和视角，2)通过多学科和多机构的合作伙伴关系为学生提供体验式学习机会；3)加强水资源科学学院通过国际合作开展合作研究的能力。该项目将提高人们对相关问题的普遍认识，以及在多学科和国际合作环境中研究这些主题的必要性和优势。研究结果将通过同行评议的出版物和在世界卫生组织和美国土木工程学会组织的会议上的报告加以传播。

Technical Description This U.S.-Ghana International Research Experience for Students (IRES) award supports collaboration in water resources science between Southern University, LA and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST). This IRES project establishes a joint effort between the STEM faculty at these institutions, who will undertake effective, innovative, and transformative research that ensures the sustainability of global water resources and large-scale water purification. The US-investigative team consists of two faculty members from the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering at Southern University and A&M College, the nation's largest Historically Black College and University; the international participants are faculty members of the Department of Materials Engineering at KUNST. KNUST is the host institution for this IRES project and will facilitate arrangements to enable successful research, scholarly visits, and access to the research laboratories for IRES students. Five faculty members from Southern and Kwame Nkrumah will be directly involved in the research and mentoring activities. Student participants from the U.S. include five undergraduate and one graduate student for five weeks each year over three years. This project will train the next generation of researchers and contribute to developing a globally- engaged workforce. This project seeks to develop a low cost but technologically efficient composite material for sustainable water purification. It will examine the process of adsorption of the fluoride and other microbial contaminants onto the composite material developed for enhanced fluoride removal. Three separate research tracts that students can choose are: 1) Characterization of fundamental micro-structural properties of laterite, 2) Evaluation of a composite Laterite with alumina and magnesium oxide nano-particles to enhance adsorption of fluoride, and 3) Evaluation of a composite laterite with calcium oxide and silica nano-particles to enhance adsorption of fluoride.Students will learn data acquisition techniques and the ability to analyze and interpret scientific information. Broader Description Students majoring in STEM fields will have the opportunity to engage in research in an international environment where they will have to adapt to solving non-traditional problems. Additionally, the IRES experience is expected to: 1) enhance US-student global awareness and perspectives, 2) provide experiential learning opportunities for students through multidisciplinaryand multi-institutional partnerships; 3) enhance the ability of water resources science faculty to conduct collaborative research through international engagements. The project will raisegeneral awareness about related issues and the need and advantages of studying the topicsin multidisciplinary and internationally collaborative environments. The research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences organized by the World Health Organization and the American Society of Civil Engineering.