3rd International Conference on Geosciences

3-Day brainstorming on the role of geosciences at the service of humanity

Dschang,UDs/SIC-8-12/21. The University of Dschang played host to the 3^rd International conference on geosciences organised by the Cameroon Association of Geoscientists from the 8^th to 11^th of December 2021. This Colloquium brought together over 300 participants from State universities, Chad, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Nigeria among others to the Conference centre for a 3-day intense brain storming under the theme Geosciences at the service of humanity.

During the opening ceremony presided  over by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dschang , represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation, Prof Jeannot Mane Mane, a plethora of speeches and an initiation ritual into the CAG was the order of the day. The Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Prof Ngameni Emmanuel opened the floor with a word of welcome, stating that the Faculty was proud to host such a scientific exchange and encouraged participants to make use of the 3 day scientific debate and strategic analysis.

The President of the Organising Committee, Pr Wouatong Armand during his word highlighted the aim of the colloquium, stating that faced with globalization and the development of new technology, it was imperative to eradicate the negative evolution on our environment and culture. Stressing that the communication was divided into 4 main subthemes including; Economic ecology, Environment, petrology, and supergene training and agronomy.

 The president stated that for the colloquium, 310 communications papers were summited to the scientific committee while 295 were accepted with 263 oral communication and 32 billboard posters. He lauded the contribution of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dschang, Prof Roger Tsafack Nanfosso for his support as well the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, the Dschang Council, ART and members of the executive bureau etc. This was followed by a word from the President of the Cameroon Association of Geoscientists, Prof Ndjigui Paul Desiré who in his discourse lauded all participants and appreciated UDs after Yaoundé 1 had hosted the 2019 edition.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Mane Mane in his launching speech emphasized that the 3^rd edition of the colloquium will help boost the usage of natural resources and stake holder as well as students from the State universities will use this exchange to promote scientific debates, stimulate scientific enthusiasm, boost scientific animation and vulgarise results gotten at the end of the session.

The first session of the ceremony ended with an inaugural lesson presented by Prof Njilah Isaac Konfor of the University of Buea which shed light on the scope of geosciences in Cameroon and beyond, its role and perspectives. The second session involved the swearing in of 3 new members (full professors) into the Cameroon Association of Geoscientist. The 3 day scientific exchange with a host of presentations and workshops on geo-technics, engineering, geology, tele-detection, geophysics, cartography, hydrology, geo–environment, geo-tourism among others will definitely better structure the vision of capacity building on geosciences issues and help map out strategies to cope with impact of the process./