Training of young Albanian scientists at the University of Zurich in Limnology.

The joint research project in the SCOPES program, starting in October 2005, covers the limnologic and hydrologic assessment of the Buvilla basin and its watershed as the drinking water supply for the town of Tirana (Albania). It is a cooperation between the University Institutes of Analytical Chemistry, Botany and Geography, the Department of Agronomy, the Tirana Treatment Plant of Drinking Water and with Institutes of the University of Zurich. The partnership includes training of PhD students to increase the research capacity of members of the project group. Several young experts are involved in the study of biology and chemistry of the Buvilla watershed, among them the three following scientists, Sonila Duka, Erlinda Koni, and Merjem Bushati. To strengthen the knowledge and expertise of the 3 collaborators, a three week training course has been specifically organized, from June 10th to June 30th.
The stay at the University of Zurich consists of a two week intensive practical course covering working procedures for field sampling of fresh water, analyses of nutrients and pigments, and exact identification and quantification of the phytoplankton present, to increase the experience of the participants concerning the structure and function of the ecosystem “Buvilla reservoir” in Albania and the consequences on the drinking water preparation and use. In a third week the Albanian group will participate in a graduate course of the University on “Molecular methods in microbial ecology”, taking place at the Alpine Biological Station Piora, investigating some limnological aspects of Lake Cadagno.
The photo shows the participants Erlinda Koni, Sonila Duka, Merjem Bushati (from the left).
 
Contact persons:
In Zürich: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Bachofen, Institute for Plant Biology, University of Zurich. Zollikerstr. 107, CH 8008 Zürich. Tel.: ++4144 634 82 80; ++4144 623 82 11; ++4144 634 82 04; e-mail: bachofen@botinst.unizh.ch
 
In Tirana: Prof. A. Miho: Section of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana University, Albania. Tel.: +(355)4.232120;
e–mail: amiho@icc-al.org.