Summary of Project in Benin - Summer 2002

The project in Benin, Africa, is focused on a number of issues, including sampling of groundwater geochemistry, identification of a village in western (southern) Benin for a drilling project, and expansion of educational efforts via reach-out to both the national university and primary/secondary schools in remote regions of Benin.

GEOCHEMISTRY I: Pumping from local well While in Benin, we observed a number of different mechanisms for pumping water from local water-supply wells. These wells were typically between 50 and 80 meters deep. Here Sarah Schooley of Michigan Technological University uses a foot pump to produce water for geochemical sampling. GEOCHEMISTRY II: Analysis in the field and back in the Notre Dame laboratories Water samples were analyzed in the field for Temperature, pH, and Conductivity. Additional water was stored for return to the Notre Dame for analysis via ICP-MS and ICP-OES. Samples returned to Notre Dame were in three forms: non-acidified and unfiltered, filtered and acidified, unfiltered and acidified. Here Sarah Schooley works with Matthew Bussman (Princeton) and Dr. Moussa Boukari (University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin). GEOCHEMISTRY III: TRAVEL THROUGHOUT BENIN Collecting groundwater samples required extensive travel in Benin. Results from this sampling has identified a region of increased Uranium concentration in eastern Benin as well as increased metals in some regions of cotton agriculture. DRILLING: PREPARATION FOR PUMPING IN VOVIO Vovio is in southwestern Benin. Pictured here is one of the existing hand-dug wells actually IN the large lake during the wet season (this well is on-shore during the dry season). Initial driller's training occurred in Togo in December and will continue in Benin in May. EDUCATION I: SATELLITE COMPUTER SYSTEM The internet connection of the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin) is unreliable. Further, remote primary and secondary schools in rural Benin have no access (or limited access) to electricity and telecommunications. To address both of these limitations, we are investigating a battery powered ultralight computer / satellite telecommunication system to allow both education in computer usage and more reliable access to the internet. Shown here is the ultralight computer (center), satellite electronics (left) and satellite antenna (right). EDUCATION II: DEMONSTRATION OF THE SATELLITE SYSTEM IN RURAL BENIN Sarah Schooley demonstrating the satellite system (developed by Ms. Laura Meathe for this project) at a secondary school in south-central Benin. EDUCATION III: DEMONSTRATION TO PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS Students in a rural primary school showed extreme enthusiasm for exposure to and use of the computer.

CONTINUING STUDY: The samples collected this summer were analyzed at Notre Dame. Results from this analysis were presented by Mr. Bussmann at the fall GSA meeting. Continuing studies include: (i) determination of the source of the high U concentrations in eastern Benin, (ii) determination of the source of the high metal concentrations in the regions of cotton agriculture, (iii) continued driller training in Vovio, (iv) continued development of computer /internet resources for Benin, and (v) continued development of educational materials on water and hygeine for schools in Benin.