Sharing expertise on sustainable resource management in China

United Nations University experts Prof. Dr. Daniel Karthe and Dr. Alexey Alekseenko recently concluded a 10-day mission to China, combining academic knowledge exchange with cutting-edge field research in sustainable resource management.

Summer school: building capacity in environmental sciences

At the invitation of Lanzhou University, UNU-FLORES senior researchers participated as guest lecturers at the International Summer School on Earth and Environmental Sciences. The summer school brought together students, postgraduate researchers, and postdoctoral fellows from China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan for a week of learning and collaboration. Senior researchers from UNU-FLORES delivered lectures on integrated resource management, exposing summer school participants with insights and practical tools to tackle environmental challenges in arid regions.

The scientific programme in Lanzhou also included meetings with partners from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and discussions of new cooperative research frameworks, building on their long-standing collaboration with United Nations University.

Field research: innovations in dryland ecosystems

In the second week, the delegation traveled to Dunhuang, where they visited the Gobi and Desert Ecology and Environment Research Station (Chinese Academy of Sciences). Here, they toured laboratories and experimental field sites, exchanging knowledge with experts on dust storm mitigation and landscape restoration strategies tailored to desert environments.

A highlight of the mission was the visit to the Shouhang Dunhuang Solar Tower, a 100MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. The team examined its innovative molten salt heat exchange system, which efficiently stores solar energy for continuous power generation, a promising model for renewable energy development in arid regions worldwide.

Strengthening global partnerships

This mission underscores the commitment to fostering international cooperation in sustainable development. By bridging academic training with applied research, UNU-FLORES experts support global efforts to combat desertification, restore landscapes, and promote the Resource Nexus.