A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between HU and ERPA.
Hawassa University (HU) and the Ethiopian Radiation Protection Authority (ERPA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on training, research, and community service in the area of nuclear science. Both parties agreed to engage in information exchange and work on the application of nuclear sciences in health, energy, agriculture, and environmental disciplines. Hence, both parties will put their maximum efforts to work together to use out of the science for the safe application and assist the country’s development and transformation endeavors.
Dr. TeramageTesfaye, from HU and who has initiated the collaboration, highlighted that HU is located in the center of Grate Rift Valley, where tectonic activities are more active. Hence, it is highly likely that organisms including human beings are exposed to radiation from naturally occurring radionuclide materials (NORM) both direct from ambient and indirect through the food chain. Further, he added that the university would like to conduct research, quantify the level of radioactivity in the environment (soil, water, air, food stuffs, etc), analyze both dosimetric and radioecological impacts, and provide a recommendation to the monitoring body who develop regulatory requirements and set radiological dose limit for the public through radiation management scheme. Connected to this, the HU will involve in radiation-related researches to identify the possible use of radiation/nuclear science at large to its maximum benefits for social, health, economic as well as agricultural, and environmental applications at the minimum of possible associated risks. Working together and sharing information will definitely help both parties to discharge their responsibility to a wider spatial scale and open rooms for new ways of thinking in the area of nuclear sciences.
The MoU has been signed by Dr. Ayano Berasso, the president of Hawassa University, and by Mr. Solomon Getachew, Director General of ERPA.
