European Association of Geochemistry www.eag.eu.com
OUTREACH IN AFRICA: MAURITANIA: Mauritania was chosen as my first destination thanks PROF. HASNAA CHENNAOUI to a Mauritanian PhD student of mine who is working on impact craters AOUDJEHANE VISITS in the country and who helped me establish links with the Geology MAURITANIA AND EGYPT Department at the University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya (UNA). In January 2019, we organized a workshop in the university’s Faculty of It was a great pleasure for me to be offered Science. The workshop program included my plenary talk, followed by the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Outreach Program lectures from David Baratoux (University of Toulouse and the Institut de run by the European Association of Geochemistry (EAG) and the recherche pour le développment, both in France) and Ludovic Ferrière Geochemical Society (GS) in 2019. I selected institutions to visit based (Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria). The talks were followed by a on the wishes of the EAG and GS to select countries located in northern practical session on the observation of meteorite samples, shatter cones Africa, notably institutes that hadn’t previously welcomed a researcher and meteorite thin sections under the microscope. The activities, which as part of the program or those where I have personal contacts. lasted the full day, were very My first destination was well attended, and the amphi- Nouakchott (Islamic Republic theatre was full not only of of Mauritania), and my second students but also of profes- was Cairo (Egypt). My talks sors and administrative staff, focused on meteorites in including the vice-president of Morocco in conjunction with the UNA in charge of research. meteorites from the country The attendees all showed great or region that I was visiting, interest in the topic and asked in particular because so many many questions. A poster was meteorites are collected in the prepared especially for the Sahara. Each talk began with event and was distributed at a definition of meteorites, the university and on social meteoritics and planetary media. Two local newspapers science, followed by a discus- also featured articles about sion of where meteorites come the workshop. from and how to identify EGYPT: In March 2019, I them. I then introduced the took the opportunity of my importance of geochemistry participation in the Women in for classifying meteorites and Science International meeting learning about the history of in Cairo to organize a one-day formation and evolution of the workshop as part of the EAG– universe and terrestrial bodies GS Outreach Program at the in the solar system, including National Research Centre Earth. The geochemical (NRC) of Cairo. I invited a number of analytical techniques used Egyptian researchers to give oral presenta- to study meteorites were also tions at the workshop. I gave the plenary talk, presented. The talks were a which was followed by many questions and great opportunity to connect then the invited speakers. The meeting took with local researchers and place in the NRC’s big amphitheatre and, students who are interested like the event in Mauritania, was very well in the topic and would like attended by students and researchers, as well to develop it in their home as officials from various organisations. countries. After successful trips to Mauritania and The Outreach Program was Egypt, I am now making plans to visit a wonderful support for the the University of Tunis (Tunisia) and the Africa Initiative for Planetary University of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) for the and Space Sciences (AFIPS), At the University Nouakchott Al Aasrya (Islamic Republic of Mauritania). second part of the 2019 Outreach Program. launched in 2017 (https:// I look forward to reporting on those visits in africapss.org/), and the the near future. ATTARIK Foundation for Meteoritics and Planetary Professor Hasnaa Chennaoui (Hassan II Science (www.attarikfoun- University of Casablanca, Faculty of Science dation.org), two initiatives Ain Chock, Morocco, President ATTARIK dedicated to the promotion Foundation for Meteoritics and Planetary of meteoritics and planetary Sciences); 2019 EAG–GS outreach lecturer. science in Africa and the Arab At the National Research Centre in Cairo (Egypt). world. Support for AFIPS has also come from the EAG–GS Outreach Program for the organization of two workshops in Africa in 2019 (read about AFIPS in Elements v14n1).
Elements 426 December 2019 Geochemical Perspectives is an Each issue of Geochemical internationally peer-reviewed open access Perspectives presents a single article with journal that publishes invited contributions an in-depth view on the past, present and from leading scientists in the field future of a field of geochemistry, seen of geochemistry. through the eyes of a highly respected member of our community.
NEW ISSUE My Stable Isotope Journey in Biogeochemistry, Geoecology and Astrobiology by Marilyn L. Fogel Marilyn Fogel’s article describes her career in stable isotope biogeochemistry and ecology and how she has studied carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen isotopes as tracers for chemical and biological processes. She’s studied both modern, fossil, and astrobiological materials to understand how biogeochemical cycles have changed over time, in particular how humans might be shaping ecosystems around the globe.
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Geochemical Perspectives is provided to all members of the European Association of Geochemistry. www.geochemicalperspectives.org www.perspectives.geoscienceworld.org
Elements 427 December 2019