St Peter’s School in Leh, Ladakh will host a students programme on sustainable development, climate and hazards in June 2014. The modern, large school sits in the shadow of Himalayan mountains. Credit: Rosalie Tostevin, Geology for Global Development Leh, Ladakh, 2013
Building Peace and Cooperation Through Science and Academia
In today’s blog post we discuss the role that both science and academia have in successfully bringing together stakeholders in areas where co-operation is essential, but challenging. In December 2011 I was fortunate to attend a workshop in Leicester in which academics and researchers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan gathered with others from the UK to talk about strengthening the teaching ...[Read More]
Friday Photo (106): Clean and Dirty Water in Ladakh (India)
Clean water from a small tributary originating in the mountains (clean enough to drink!) enters a major river system and mixes with dirty, silty water in the Nubra Valley, Ladakh. Credit: Rosalie Tostevin, Geology for Global Development Nubra Valley, Ladakh, 2013
New Placement Opportunity: Hazards Education in the Himalayas – Literature Reviews
In June 2014 a conference will take place in Leh (Ladakh Region, India) with a focus on sustainable resource development in the Himlayas. Prior to the main conference, there will be a two-day school’s conference involving students (aged 14-16 years) from 10-15 local schools. A series of lessons will be delivered to these students on the key topics of (i) climate change, energy resources and energy ...[Read More]
Friday Photo (103): Sustainable Building Resources
Used oil canisters form the framework for a wall in Ladakh. Where resources are scarce and often imported, people find creative ways to make use of existing resources. (c) Geology for Global Development 2013
Friday Photo (100): Road Disappearing Under Wind-Blown Sand
Maintaining roads in remote mountainous areas is no easy task, especially in the face of active geological processes. Here wind blown sand is covering a road, making it impassable. (c) Geology for Global Development 2013
Friday Photo (99) – Fitting Life Around Geology
Geology exerts a strong control on landscape, agriculture and infrastructure in Ladakh, India. Here the road (left hand side) is cut into softer glacial moraines, rather than the igneous and metamorphic bedrock. Agriculture is centered on alluvial material from a river predominantly fed by glacial meltwater. (c) Geology for Global Development 2013
Friday Photo (98) – Hydroelectric Energy in Ladakh
Hydroelectric power plants are being developed across the Himalayas. Here, a small-scale system is used to store energy during times of peak supply from other sources, and deliver energy during times of peak demand. This system relies on the shuttling of river water (seen in the background) between different elevations. (c) Geology for Global Development 2013
Friday Photo (97): Solar Power in Ladakh
Energy resources are a key issue in the mountainous Ladakh Region of India – all oil has to be imported by lorry over windy mountain passes that are often blocked by landslides. Any methods by which Ladakh can produce its own energy are very welcome. Solar panels can provide a significant amount of energy during the summer, but they are expensive and difficult to maintain due to the high lev ...[Read More]
The Long Life of Ruzi Mohammed
Ruzi Mohammed thinks that he is around 110 years old. He keeps track of the years using the changing seasons, and there is no missing them in Turtuk, where winters reach -20˚C, and summers are warm and pleasant. Too high for mosquitos, and low enough for a good harvest, Turtuk is a paradise in the summer. The winter is survived by shutting down, almost hibernating, and surviving on wheat mixed wit ...[Read More]