University of East Anglia to research impact of war on soil and environment in Ukraine
They're teaming up with a Ukrainian university
The University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich is starting a new research project looking at the impact of war on water and soil in Ukraine.
It’s in partnership with a Ukrainian university after the scheme received £131,000 in funding from charity Universities UK International.
The project will also be developing eco start-ups in Ukraine and is aiming to raise awareness about the impact of war on the environment.
Karen Blackney, who is Head of International Office at UEA told us: “I think this research is going to be unique in that it’s working together with them to really explore how the soil and the water quality can be improved after warfare.”
The Ukraine university that has partnered with UEA is called Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (PNU).
“Higher education shouldn’t just be about the teaching, it should also be about how we create global impact”
The relationship between the two universities is part of a UK-Ukraine twinning initiative - UEA and PNU began their partnership in October 2022.
Karen also says of the funding that they received: “We couldn’t have afforded the kind of equipment that we can now through this grant.”
She went on to say that having the funding for academics in Ukraine and Norwich to meet each other in person is going to “give a real basis for future research and development.”
The universities hope the research will help Ukraine to rebuild its natural resources once the war ends, whilst the eco start-ups in Ukraine are being funded by UEA, who want to set up 20 initiatives to support the growth of eco innovative Ukrainian businesses.
Karen told us: “We very much hope that this project will form part of Ukraine’s future and we are just so excited to be able to help them with that...
“Higher education shouldn’t just be about the teaching, it should also be about how we create global impact, and we feel that together with PNU we can do that.”