G. Padmanabhan, professor of civil engineering, visited with the environmental sciences faculty at the University of Da Lat, Da Lat City, Vietnam, Oct. 1 through Nov. 25 as part of his sabbatical. He interacted with faculty and students mainly through seminars and discussions on topics of environmental importance to Da Lat and Vietnam. He spent the majority of his time studying and discussing current environmental issues in Vietnam with hopes to develop collaborative research projects between NDSU and University of Da Lat. He also engaged the Da Lat University faculty in discussions regarding training, setting up of laboratories and future directions of their program development.
Seminars presented to the faculty and students included:
- Non-point source pollution of lakes
- Environmental policy and regulations in the USA
- Opportunities for Vietnamese students to pursue graduate studies at NDSU
- What is expected of a graduate student and a faculty member at NDSU?
In addition, Padmanabhan was a guest of honor at the university graduation ceremony of graduate students. Special mention was made of Padmanabhan’s visit by Le Ba Dung, rector of the University of Da Lat.
Padmanabhan also spoke at an event, which welcomes new students of the environmental sciences program at the invitation of Lam Ngoc Tuan, head of the department.
After discussions with the faculty at the University of Da Lat, Padmanabhan has identified three research areas of mutual interest – non-point source pollution of lakes, crop residue management and disposal, and climate impact on agriculture and sociological implications.