UniSey hosts eco fair to promote environmental studies |12 December 2015

Guests touring the newly opened environmental lab

The University of Seychelles (UniSey) yesterday hosted an eco fair following the official opening of their new environmental laboratory and launch of the Eco Academia Seychelles.

The vice-chancellor of UniSey, Professor Dennis Hardy, launched the eco fair in the presence of the consulate of Switzerland for Seychelles Angelika Maurel, principal secretary for environment Alain Decommarmond, students, among other guests.

Professor Hardy thanked the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Didier Dogley for all his support although he could not attend the event as he is attending the Climate Change Summit in Paris.

Eco Academia Seychelles is a new non-governmental organisation (NGO) formed 10 months ago by year three UniSey students and their motto is ‘Our environment, our future’.

Its mission is to create awareness and empowerment in environmental issues and get people to acknowledge the importance of protecting the environment.

Eco Academia Seychelles currently has 32 members and it is chaired by Ashley Dias.

In her remarks Miss Dias said: “Eco Academia is an organisation dedicated to the cause of environmental protection and conservation through education and awareness.”

She said during the 10 months of its operation Eco Academia has organised various awareness and fund-raising activities as a means of getting more students to choose to pursue their studies in the field of environment.

The vision is to be a force of change by influencing people’s perspective and make them more aware of the different environmental issues occurring in Seychelles.

The eco fair was organised in collaboration with the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles and the exhibition displayed various projects of environmental conservation organisations and partners of UniSey such as the Seychelles National Park Authority (SNPA), Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), Seychelles Energy Commission (Sec), GOS-UNDP-GEF Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), among others.

During the tour of the new laboratory, a ventilation of the lung experiment was demonstrated by Bsc Environmental Science final year student Andrew Souffe using one of the new pieces of equipment they have received, the spirometer.

A spirometer is an apparatus for measuring the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs.

The lab has been in use for about six months since they received new equipment such as sensors, microscopes, auxiliary lab equipment and so on.

Senior lecturer at the UniSey, Dr Karl Fleischmann, said with a large group of students their resources are still limited.

He also spoke of the components of the lab which they received from various sponsors through the GOS-UNDP-GEF programme such as the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the Swiss embassy, Soroptimist Seychelles and the Australian government.

During the eco fair, the Blue economy Research Institute (Beri) of UniSey held a science symposium in the afternoon hosted by the expedition leader of national geographic pristine seas Paul Rose.

The symposium included a 30-minute film show and added six still images of nature.