NEWS - PRESS RELEASES

Professor Heiko Balzter, Head of Department of Geography, was one of the Leicester co-investigators on CARBOAFRICA, which has been honoured with an award from WWF-Italy.

University of Leicester researchers honoured by Italian president's award for environmental project

Research examines effects of human intervention in natural systems

Research by a team of researchers at University of Leicester has been recognised through an award from the Italian World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), given by the president of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano.

Head of Department of Geography Professor Heiko Balzter and his team, Dr. Ilaria Palumbo, Dr. Kevin Tansey, Dr Jorg Kaduk and Mr Darren Ghent were among an international group of scientists honoured for all their work on understanding the effects of global changes induced by human intervention in natural systems.

The award was presented for the project CARBOAFRICA aimed at quantifying, understanding and predicting carbon cycle and other greenhouse gases in Sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Balzter is a co-investigator in CARBOAFRICA. He said: “It has been a great privilege to receive this award. CARBOAFRICA has been working very hard on environmental issues and it feels great to be part of such a fantastic project.

“This research aims to fill in the current gaps of knowledge and contribute to the enhancement of an Earth observation system, strengthening our capacity to understand global change processes under way.

“The scientific and technological advances are intended to support sub-Saharan African countries in the path of sustainable development”.

“Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change because of the importance of water scarcity. CARBOAFRICA will lead to a better understanding of the interplay of the African continent with the climate system.

The award was received by the project coordinator Prof. Ricardo Valentini, President of the National Committee of the Italian National Research Council on Global Change and member of the Scientific Board of WWF Italy.

Professor Valentini said: “We are greatly honoured to have received such an important award from the WWF-Italy and we would like to thank you for your invaluable contribution. This award is an encouragement to continue working in the right direction”.

NOTE TO NEWSDESK:

For more information, please contact:

Prof. Heiko Balzter

Professor of Physical Geography & Head of Department of Geography, Centre for Environmental Research (CERES)

Tel: +44 (0)116 252 3820, Fax: +44 (0)116 252 3854,

http://www.le.ac.uk/geography/staff/academic_balzter.html

PA: Mrs. Ann Williams (acw4@le.ac.uk)

By Nazir Quareshy