Dr. Taco Niet visited Aga Khan University of East Africa in Arusha, Tanzania from April 17-19.  AKU and SFU have signed a memorandum of cooperation and Dr. Niet spent three days at AKU East Africa with Dr. Emmanuel Sulle to discuss research opportunities and potential.  The Aga Khan university is a pioneering institution of higher education and research that works to improve quality of life in the developing world and beyond. AKU educate leaders, generate life-saving knowledge, and set an example that raises standards in the societies in which we work. AKU empower women and the disadvantaged, strengthen pluralism and partner with world-renowned institutions to address problems that affect millions of people.

The AKU Arusha sits on a nearly 4000 acre site which will become the Arusha Environmental Research Reserve where environmental research activities will take place.  Dr. Sulle provided an overview of AKU activities and Mr. Javid discussed the site and existing activities and restoration projects on the site, as well as community engagement activities.  Dr. Niet toured the site and discussed renewable energy potential and prospects as well as discussing AKU needs and goals.  Together they identified potential research areas and interesting modeling activities that SFU ΔE⁺ and AKU could partner on, including potential connections with the Nelson Mandela Africa Institute for Science and Technology Clean Energy Technologies Research Group.

ΔE⁺ continues to build connections and collaborations with universities and institutes around the globe to support decarbonization efforts and are excited at this new collaboration developing into potential future research activities.

Participants: Dr. Taco Niet, and Yalda Saedi