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Saturday, November 15, 2008

Clemson Joins UNESCO Trace Element Network

The Clemson University trustees have approved the creation at that university of an Education and Research Satellite Center in Trace Elements for UNESCO. Vincent Gallicchio, Clemson Associate Vice President for Research, recently represented the international network of 25 UNESCO Trace Element centers at the UN-Rotary Day at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The Trace Element Institute for UNESCO and its network of satellite centers seek to promote:
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Geo-environmental studies - the influence of the ecosystem: industrialised countries versus developing countries
  • Scientific co-operation to reduce avoidable ill-health
  • Sustainable development
The analysis of trace elements, the chemical elements found in trace amounts in a substance, is an integral part of environmental science, the study of soil, air and water. Trace element concentrations in man, animals and plants iare a function of their environment, and determine their health and development. Problems can be caused by either an excess or a deficiency of a trace element.

The development of science education in the field of trace elements is interdisciplinary including chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, genetics, epidemiology, therapeutics and also nutrition, agronomy and veterinary sciences.

UNESCO's Central Institute for Trace Element Research is located in in the South of Lyon, France.
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1 comment:

  1. John Daly4:12 PM

    Bob Maybury, a friend and colleague, allowed me to post this comment that he sent me in an email. Bob is an expert on science in developing nations, a former staffer of UNESCO, a former Board member of Americans for UNESCO, and for many years led the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD).

    "Interestingly enough, IOCD was invited to form a link with the Trace Element Center in Lyon, France, several years ago, this being another one of such centers created through cooperation with UNESCO. We discussed this possibility and decided not to accept the invitation, primarily because we have no scientist in IOCD whose specialization could enable us to appoint him to heading up such an IOCD link.

    "I thank you for bringing the article about Dr. Gallicchio to my attention, however, because I may contact him to discuss the Trace Element Centers and explore possibilities that one of his scientists would consider joining IOCD and heading up such a link. Our contact at UNESCO would be quite pleased and possibly help us find the funding of the activities such a center would then be able to carry out with scientists in developing countries."

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