My OSU colleague Sean Fleming has asked me to help with fund- and equipment-raising for Ukraine. His letter follows, You can reach him at: [email protected]
Hi folks,In September, I went on a self-funded humanitarian mission to Ukraine organized through a small NGO to get resources to refugees (technically IDPs) in Uzhhorod (see map below - Uzhhorod is on the western border right by Slovakia (green) and Hungary), a town in the west of the country. This region is one of the poorest in Ukraine, plus it's hosting tens of thousands of refugees displaced by fighting in the east. When our contacts there found out what I do for a living, they also connected me with local environmental and hydrometeorological scientists, and we established what will hopefully grow into some long-term supportive relationships, the war notwithstanding.
One immediate need relates to an environmental quality analytics lab run by the regional government. Its purpose is to analyze samples of soil, surface water, and groundwater for both chemical and biological (microbial, parasitic, and viral) pollutants. These samples are brought to the lab by homeowners who need their wells tested, and by regional government technicians running environmental quality monitoring programs. Some of their equipment has broken down, much of what they have left is old, and local pollution issues are significant (can't drink the tap water etc.), deeply limiting their capacity to protect environmental and human health. At the same time, they're optimistic and resourceful, and they're aiming high, hoping to eventually get EU certification for their lab. This town is on the border with Hungary and Slovakia, so they're sharply aware of what's going on just over the line in the EU and NATO but, at this time, can't take advantage of what those organizations can offer.Inspired by one of my colleagues in our NGO, a doctor who has been procuring and transporting medical equipment like CT machines to Uzhhorod since the collapse of the Soviet Union, I offered to ask around back here in North America for replacement equipment for this environmental lab - for example, second-hand equipment that's fully functional but perhaps a bit outdated, or perhaps a fund-raising drive, etc.So, here I am, starting to ask around like I promised them ;-) The list, as I understand it, is as follows - but please note that my hands-on environmental chemistry expertise ends with the collection of samples and starts up again with the data analysis, with not much understanding of what goes on between those two bookends! Between that and the language barrier, I'm not sure if the list has been translated correctly, but here is what I have:Gas chromatographMass spectrometerChromato-mass spectrometerIR-, FTIR- spectrometerUV-vis spectrometersThere seems to be an emphasis on pesticide detection and characterization, and they appear to be particularly interested in small, portable equipment. It also turns out the university in town (many scientists there have to hold down two jobs to make ends meet, and one of them works at both the lab and the university) is hoping to get a desktop scanning-transmission electron microscope. They had a couple electron microscopes but those were 1970s-80s vintage and no longer work.Any ideas, suggestions, and/or support you can provide would be deeply appreciated. Please feel free to forward this as widely as possible. Perhaps some chemical, chemical engineering, or geochemical folks might have some great ideas, but I'm starting the process by reaching out to folks (you) whom I personally know to one degree or another.Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!Cheers,SeanDr. Sean W. FlemingCourtesy ProfessorWater Resources Graduate Program & College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric SciencesCourtesy ProfessorWater Resources Graduate Program & College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric SciencesOregon State UniversityAt Oregon State University: https://ceoas.oregonstate.edu/profile/fleming/At The University of British Columbia: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/people/seanflemingAt Princeton University Press: https://press.princeton.edu/titles/10978.htm
Mary Frances and I are in for $1,000
"Under the lying stone water does not flow" - Ukrainian proverb ("No pain, no gain")
Sean wrote one of the most impressive hydrology books that I have seen in years!
Posted by: Michael. | Tuesday, 13 December 2022 at 10:18 AM