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

在世界大部分地区，包括撒哈拉以南非洲，人们缺乏安全饮用水和适当的卫生设施。虽然已经有许多努力开发低成本、高效的方法来处理水和废水，但由于缺乏对社会和经济因素的了解以及缺乏社区参与，其中许多在实践中失败了。该项目将邀请来自STEM、STEM教育、公共卫生和社会科学领域的15名IRES参与者和3名研究生助理进行研究，以开发、测试和实施这些技术，如生物沙过滤器和分散式卫生系统，同时发现并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进行。美国学生将体验真正的地面水和卫生状况，这将提高他们的研究技能，因为他们将培养在发展中国家有效工作所需的全球能力。具体目标是：1)增加参与全球水和卫生研究的美国学生人数；2)提高学生对水和卫生挑战的复杂性的理解，提高他们的全球能力；3)让加纳的中学教师和学生参与真正的科学和参与性行动研究；4)发展USF和KNUST之间在水和卫生研究和教育方面的强有力合作。参与研究小组将推进以下方面的研究和开发：1)可同时解决撒哈拉以南非洲普遍存在的传染病和牙齿/骨骼健康风险的生物沙过滤器，以及2)分散的生态卫生技术，如人工湿地、尿液转移干厕所和从人类废物中回收宝贵资源（水、营养物质、能源）的生物沼池。每个小组将致力于技术开发、适当的融资机制和有效的行为和教育方法，以改进讲卫生实践。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。这些经验将增强他们对WASH挑战的理解，并建立他们的全球竞争力。我们将通过强调多样性的项目和俱乐部、社区大学和少数族裔服务机构招收女性和代表性不足的少数族裔学生。计划为IRES参与者提供广泛的专业发展和指导计划。结果将整合到pi教授的课程中，并扩展到坦帕湾社区，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。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

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.