Community Talks

Citizen Science for Disaster Risk Management

Natural hazards have serious impacts on societies, especially in the Global South. With climate change, the frequency and impacts of these extremes events are expected to further increase.

Citizen science offers a great opportunity to address this challenge of data collection. In 2017, we started to train and equip geo-observers in the Rwenzori region in Uganda. These geo-observers are part of the local communities and are best informed about events affecting their environment. 

This approach has recently been transferred to address natural hazards in Vietnam. We have received an enthusiastic support from province and district authorities; our project also has benefited from additional support of the Belgian embassy in Vietnam to extend our approach to provinces recently affected by large typhoons.

Matthieu Kervyn, John Sekajugo, Nguyen Quoc Dinh

Human Genetics in DR Congo

The burden of genetic disorders in Low and Middle income countries such as the DR Congo is  high. To address the lack of expertise in genetics in this country, the Center for Human Genetics in Leuven joined forces with enthusiastic colleagues from the University of Kinshasa to create a local Center for Human Genetics. To gain expertise, research projects were initiated, focusing on genetic disorders of interest to the local population. The center is now one of the leading research centers in the field of medical genetics in Central Africa.  

With Koen Devriendt, Prosper Lukusa, Aimé Lumaka, Tite Mikobi, Mamy Ngole, Gloire Mbayabo, Paul Lumbula, Gerrye Mubungu, Prince Makay and many others.