Date: 8 – 12 August 2022
Venue: Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

Co-organisers:

• Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State
• Centre for Atmospheric Research, National Space Research & Development Agency, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Anyigba, Kogi State.
• Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering and Design in Africa (AESEDA), Penn State University, USA

Aim of the workshop:
The conference aims to bring experts and practitioners in the environmental and biological sciences together to discuss new results and developments on environmental pollution, including but not limited to low-cost measurements, drivers of pollution, health effects of pollution on humans and living things, policies for reducing pollution, and cost effect of pollution.

Brief Background:
Pollution (air, water, and soil) are insidious challenges which poses clear and present danger to humans everywhere. The perception of citizens towards different types of environmental pollution varies widely based on several factors. The World Health Organization reported that air pollution is responsible for about 7 million deaths annually. Pollution plays an important role in public health, especially with respect to disease spread. There is the urgent need for scientists, industries, policy makers to address issues surrounding environmental pollution and innovative ways to mitigate them. In recent times, the monitoring of environmental pollution through remote sensing and low-cost sensors has been at the forefront of discussion. The war against pollution and its disastrous effect on humans is a battle that must be fought collectively. It will involve multinational and interdisciplinary collaboration for monitoring, data acquisition, information communication and policy formulation.

Air pollution is an insidious danger to living things. The sources of dust within Nigeria are more of anthropogenic than natural. The small dust particles have been shown to exacerbate diseases such as asthma and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Covid-19 has respiratory impact which makes it vulnerable to the environment and air quality. Coordinated network of ground-based observations of air quality have been organized in some African countries to improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of the air quality and the probable relations with Covid-19 cases and some allied respiratory diseases. Studies have also shown that air pollution are drivers of bacterial and viral infections. Much attention has not been paid by citizens and government to this latent menace in our society. This is largely due to awareness and monitoring stations. Advancement in technology has given room for low-cost sensors for air quality monitoring.

This conference is designed for environmental researchers, health practitioners and officers, scientists and policymakers to deliberate and cross-pollinate ideas on the challenges and solution to the environmental pollution menace in our society.

The workshop objectives are to:

• create awareness of the importance of environmental pollution with relation to health in our society
• showcase various advances in monitoring of environmental pollution
• present latest research around environmental pollution
• facilitate the development of the framework for reducing pollution within the country
• facilitate data sharing among researchers, policy makers and health practitioners

Sub Themes

1. COVID 19 and environment
2. Advances in air pollution measurement
3. Soil and water pollution
4. Biometeorology
5. New developments in remote sensing of atmospheric pollution
6. Application of space technology in environmental monitoring
7. Pollution, Policy, Education
8. Modelling and forecasting pollution

Paper/Abstract Submission
All abstract submission should be made online via www.uniosun.edu.ng

The abstract should be written in MS Word with no more than 300 words, 1.5 spacing and submitted in English Language only. Unless extremely important, references should not be cited in the abstract. Authors should please provide a maximum of 5 keywords relevant to their abstract. Proceedings of the workshop will be peer reviewed and published. Authors must commit to developing their presentation into a manuscript format for review and publication.

Conference proceedings

1. Institute of Physics, Conference proceedings
2. AIP Conference proceedings

Journal special issue

1. Geohealth
2. Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences https://journal.nsps.org.ng/index.php/jnsps/

Target Audience and Application for participation:

Applications are invited from academics, researchers, and practitioners in relevant fields as well as and policy makers with keen interest in all areas of environmental pollution. Participants will receive certificates of attendance.

Applications must be submitted online here

Key Dates for the Workshop

• Application and submission of extended abstract deadline – Friday 1st July 2022 [11.59 pm local time (GMT +1)]
• Arrival for the conference – 8 August 2022
• Departure from the conference – 12 August 2022

Overview of activities

• Day 1 (Monday 8 August 2022): Arrival
• Day 2 (Tuesday 9 August 2022) : Opening / Morning / Afternoon sessions, reception cocktail
• Day 3: (Wednesday 10 August 2022 ): Morning / Afternoon session, Guided tours, sightseeing
• Day 4: (Thursday 11 August 2022): Morning / Afternoon sessions, Presentation of certificates, Dinner
• Day 5: (Friday 12 August 2022): Departure.

Venue of the Workshop

The Workshop will take place at the main campus of the Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria (UNIOSUN). UNIOSUN is accessible from anywhere in Nigeria by air (1½/ 2 / 1½ hour drive from Akure/Ilorin/Ibadan airport respectively) and road. All selected and invited participants will receive an information package with details on travel and other local arrangements.

Registration for the Workshop

All participants are required to pay a registration fee to defray the costs of conference materials, lunch and tea breaks. A limited number of sponsored waivers are available for postgraduate students and some early career scientists.

• Conference registration ₦ 20,000-
• Postgraduate students (with evidence of studentship) ₦ 5,000-
• Non-Nigerian participants US$100-

Online participation:

Arrangement shall be made for seamless online participation for participants who cannot make it physically to the Conference.

Accommodation and local transportation:

A list of suitable hotels and negotiated room rates for workshop participants will be made available on the workshop website. Participants shall be responsible for their room, board and all accommodation related expenses. A Shuttle service will be provided to and from the workshop venue from designated hotels.

Enquiry: