AfricaArray: Using Seismology to AfricaArray: Using Seismology to Build Science Capacity in Africa -- Build Science Capacity in Africa -- An Example for GEOSSAn Example for GEOSS

Andy NybladeAndy Nyblade Dept. of GeosciencesDept. of Geosciences Penn State UniversityPenn State University

www.africaarray.psu.edu

OutlineOutline • Review AfricaArrayReview AfricaArray

• Implications for GEOSS and Capacity Implications for GEOSS and Capacity BuildingBuilding

www.africaarray.psu.edu

AfricaArray GoalsAfricaArray Goals A public-private partnership supporting A public-private partnership supporting

capacity building for Africa’s natural capacity building for Africa’s natural resource sectorresource sector

• Establish in-situ training and research programs to Establish in-situ training and research programs to help build a scientific workforcehelp build a scientific workforce• initially in geophysicsinitially in geophysics

• As part of the training and research programs, create As part of the training and research programs, create shared scientific observatories (initially broadband shared scientific observatories (initially broadband seismic stations) to promote education, research, seismic stations) to promote education, research, and community buildingand community building

““AfricaArray” = array of observatories + array of AfricaArray” = array of observatories + array of training programs + array of research projects + training programs + array of research projects + array of partnerships and collaborationarray of partnerships and collaboration

AfricaArray’s Initial Focus in Geophysics:AfricaArray’s Initial Focus in Geophysics: • Maintain and develop further geophysical Maintain and develop further geophysical

training programs, in response to industry, training programs, in response to industry, government and university needsgovernment and university needs

• Promote geophysical research, and establish Promote geophysical research, and establish an Africa-to-Africa research support systeman Africa-to-Africa research support system

AfricaArray’s Initial Focus in Geophysics:AfricaArray’s Initial Focus in Geophysics:

• Obtain geophysical data, through a network Obtain geophysical data, through a network of shared observatories, to study scientific of shared observatories, to study scientific targets of economic and societal targets of economic and societal importance, as well as fundamental importance, as well as fundamental geological processes shaping the African geological processes shaping the African continentcontinent

• Advance training and research Advance training and research opportunities for students from historically opportunities for students from historically disadvantaged communitiesdisadvantaged communities

History:History:

Oct. 2003 -- meeting with Paul Dirks (Head, School of Geosciences, the Oct. 2003 -- meeting with Paul Dirks (Head, School of Geosciences, the University of the Witwatersrand)University of the Witwatersrand)

Nov 2003 -- White paper “AfricaArray: Developing a Scientific Nov 2003 -- White paper “AfricaArray: Developing a Scientific Workforce for Africa’s Natural Resource Sector”Workforce for Africa’s Natural Resource Sector”

2004 Workshops2004 Workshops

Feb -- WitsFeb -- Wits

March -- HoustonMarch -- Houston

July -- Wits : consensus to move ahead July -- Wits : consensus to move ahead

2005 Workshop2005 Workshop

Feb -- ItalyFeb -- Italy

Proposals: 2004 -2005Proposals: 2004 -2005

AfricaArrayAfricaArray Implementation (3 phases over 10 years): Implementation (3 phases over 10 years): Phase 1 (years 1-3, started Jan. 2005Phase 1 (years 1-3, started Jan. 2005))

• the geophysics program will be improved and expanded at the the geophysics program will be improved and expanded at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, to provide BSc, MSc University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, to provide BSc, MSc and Ph.D. degree training and Ph.D. degree training • Sandwich program for Ph.D. -- up to 6 months/yr in Sandwich program for Ph.D. -- up to 6 months/yr in

U.S. or EuropeU.S. or Europe

• Broadband seismic stations will be installed or upgraded in Broadband seismic stations will be installed or upgraded in participating countries as part of a permanent “backbone” seismic participating countries as part of a permanent “backbone” seismic network (southern and eastern Africa)network (southern and eastern Africa)• Data archived at IRIS DMC; open data policy Data archived at IRIS DMC; open data policy

• temporary networks of seismic stations will be installed for focused temporary networks of seismic stations will be installed for focused projectsprojects

• train technical personnel how to operate and maintain seismic stations train technical personnel how to operate and maintain seismic stations

• data from the seismic stations will be used for student research data from the seismic stations will be used for student research

AfricaArrayAfricaArray Implementation: Implementation:

Phase 2 (years 4-6) & Phase 3 (years 7-10)Phase 2 (years 4-6) & Phase 3 (years 7-10)

• build centers of excellence in geophysics at other African build centers of excellence in geophysics at other African universities (already started)universities (already started)

• expand training programs for technical staffexpand training programs for technical staff

• expand network of permanent observatories and add other sensors expand network of permanent observatories and add other sensors (GPS, meteorological, hydrologic, other environmental sensors) (GPS, meteorological, hydrologic, other environmental sensors)

• expand the number of temporary seismometer arraysexpand the number of temporary seismometer arrays

• develop secondary school outreach programsdevelop secondary school outreach programs

Progress so farProgress so far • Education program at Wits:Education program at Wits:

• 10 BSc honours students (4th yr)10 BSc honours students (4th yr)• 1 MSc student1 MSc student• 2 PhD students2 PhD students

• Backbone network of observatoriesBackbone network of observatories• 11 operational BB stations in South Africa with data 11 operational BB stations in South Africa with data

flowing to the IRIS DMCflowing to the IRIS DMC• 20 additional BB stations by end 200620 additional BB stations by end 2006

• Temporary seismic network sTemporary seismic network s• 2005-2006 Cameroon (30 stations) 2005-2006 Cameroon (30 stations) • 2007-2010 Uganda and Tanzania (40 stations)2007-2010 Uganda and Tanzania (40 stations)

AfricaArray AfricaArray Permanent Permanent Broadband Broadband Seismic StationsSeismic Stations

2005-20062005-2006

Progress so far Progress so far

Science projects:Science projects:

• General Theme “4D Imaging of the African Crust and General Theme “4D Imaging of the African Crust and Mantle”Mantle”• African SuperplumeAfrican Superplume• Bushveld ComplexBushveld Complex• Congo CratonCongo Craton• Cameroon Volcanic LineCameroon Volcanic Line• E. African rift basinsE. African rift basins• Wits basinWits basin

PartnershipsPartnershipsFounding partners:Founding partners:• School of Geosciences, University of Wits School of Geosciences, University of Wits • Council for Geoscience (S. African Geol. Survey)Council for Geoscience (S. African Geol. Survey)• Penn State University Penn State University • IRIS IRIS

Other partners:Other partners:• Government organizations in Africa and the U.S.Government organizations in Africa and the U.S.• Many universities in Africa and the U.S. and EuropeMany universities in Africa and the U.S. and Europe• Many geological surveys in AfricaMany geological surveys in Africa• Many companiesMany companies

growing quickly!growing quickly!

Funding Partners Funding Partners

• In-kind support ($2M)In-kind support ($2M)• Wits, CGS, PSU, IRISWits, CGS, PSU, IRIS

• New funding raised New funding raised • Gov’t: NSF, NRF (S. Africa), CGS, CSIR Gov’t: NSF, NRF (S. Africa), CGS, CSIR • Private: ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, De Beers, ISSI, Private: ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, De Beers, ISSI,

Mineral Education Trust Fund (S. Africa)Mineral Education Trust Fund (S. Africa)

AfricaArray and GEOSSAfricaArray and GEOSS

• Provides an example for how to link capacity building in Provides an example for how to link capacity building in science to developing an “observing system”science to developing an “observing system”• If we can do this in seismology we can do it in other related If we can do this in seismology we can do it in other related

science fieldsscience fields

• Potentially provides a model for developing sustainable Potentially provides a model for developing sustainable observing systems in developing countriesobserving systems in developing countries• Many Gov’ts are more interested in science training than Many Gov’ts are more interested in science training than

long-term monitoring of the environment long-term monitoring of the environment

• Cost-sharing of O&M for multidisciplinary observatories: Cost-sharing of O&M for multidisciplinary observatories: logistics, infrastructure, power, communications, security are logistics, infrastructure, power, communications, security are expensive in many developing countriesexpensive in many developing countries

Increased gov’t buy-inIncreased gov’t buy-in

Improved operationsImproved operations

GEOSS Capacity Building Goals: 2 YrsGEOSS Capacity Building Goals: 2 Yrs

• Produce a comprehensive review and analysis of gaps and Produce a comprehensive review and analysis of gaps and methodologies, based on existing and planned capacity-building methodologies, based on existing and planned capacity-building effortsefforts..

• Facilitate, together with existing efforts, the maintenance and Facilitate, together with existing efforts, the maintenance and strengthening of education, training, research and strengthening of education, training, research and communication.communication.

• Facilitate, with developing countries……the establishment and Facilitate, with developing countries……the establishment and maintenance of baseline sites for global in situ and remote maintenance of baseline sites for global in situ and remote sensing networks that cannot always be justified on national sensing networks that cannot always be justified on national grounds alone…grounds alone…

• Develop a network of experts involved in existing capacity-Develop a network of experts involved in existing capacity-building initiatives related to Earth observation, and encourage building initiatives related to Earth observation, and encourage users to access this knowledge base.users to access this knowledge base.

• Encourage, in each societal benefit area, the development of Encourage, in each societal benefit area, the development of capacity-building components as a requirement for any network, capacity-building components as a requirement for any network, project, activityproject, activity

• Facilitate access to data and models, particularly for developing Facilitate access to data and models, particularly for developing countries.countries.

GEOSS Capacity Building Goals: 6 YrsGEOSS Capacity Building Goals: 6 Yrs

• Advocate funding of multinational projects to leverage the end-to-end Advocate funding of multinational projects to leverage the end-to-end value of observations, including the establishment of necessary value of observations, including the establishment of necessary infrastructure.infrastructure.

• Produce monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for capacity-Produce monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for capacity-building efforts.building efforts.

• Facilitate education and training to provide a global base of Facilitate education and training to provide a global base of technical expertise.technical expertise.

GEOSS Capacity Building Goals: 10 YrsGEOSS Capacity Building Goals: 10 Yrs

• Use Earth-observation data and products (e.g. process, integrate, model) Use Earth-observation data and products (e.g. process, integrate, model) following accepted standards.following accepted standards.

• Contribute to, access, and retrieve data from global data systems and Contribute to, access, and retrieve data from global data systems and networks.networks.

• Analyze and interpret data to enable development of decision-support Analyze and interpret data to enable development of decision-support tools and to advance understanding in societal benefit areas.tools and to advance understanding in societal benefit areas.

• Integrate Earth-observation data and products with other data and Integrate Earth-observation data and products with other data and products, for a more complete view and understanding of problems and products, for a more complete view and understanding of problems and derived solutions.derived solutions.

• Improve infrastructure development in areas of poor observational Improve infrastructure development in areas of poor observational coverage.coverage.

• Develop recommended priorities for new or augmented efforts in capacity Develop recommended priorities for new or augmented efforts in capacity building.building.

SeismologySeismologySeismologySeismology

++

GEOSSGEOSSGEOSSGEOSS