Successful DeltAs kick-off meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam
From 22 to 26 April 2024 the DeltAs project was kicked-off with a vibrant meeting of all project partners at the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
On April 22, 2024, the kick-off meeting for the "DeltAs" research project was held at the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI) in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking the official start of this groundbreaking initiative. The project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation for the course over four years, aims to investigate the geogenic arsenic contamination in the groundwaters of the Red River and Mekong River delta as well as its changes through the impact of anthropogenic pressures like groundwater pumping.
The meeting brought together an international team of experts, including the principal investigators (Prof. Dr. Lenny Winkel, Prof. Dr. Philipe Renard, Prof. Dr. Alexander Damm, Prof. Dr. Athena Nghiem) and their research teams. The Vietnam National University of Science, represented by Prof. Dr. Pham Hung Viet and Prof. Dr. Duong Hong Anh, and NAWAPI, represented by Dr. Tong Ngoc Thanh and Dr. Bui Du Duong, are the main partners of the project and will bring in their expertise, knowledge and data to the project. Further expertise is brought in through the long-standing collaboration established by Dr. Michael Berg (Eawag) and by the collaborators Dr. Ha Quang Khai (HCMUT, Vietnam), Dr. Son Nghiem (NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, USA) and Prof. Dr. Henning Prommer (University of Western Australia).
Dr. Thomas Gass, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam, and Dr. Tong Ngoc Thanh, NAWAPI General Diretor, warmly welcomed all attendees in Hanoi. During the meeting, participants outlined the project's objectives, methodologies, and expected outcomes. Besides intense breakout sessions, where team members discussed detailed plans for data collection and analysis, the agenda also included a tour through NAWAPI's Water Quality Lab, a field trip to Gia Lam station of Vietnam's groundwater monitoring network, and - last, but for sure not least, a reception at the Swiss ambassador’s residence.
The kick-off concluded with a networking session, fostering a spirit of collaboration and innovation among the attendees.
We thank all participants for a fruitful and vibrant kick-off meeting, and wish all project partners a successful project.
Stay tuned for updates on the project's progress and upcoming events!
