NAME OF RESEARCH GROUP: AGROGEOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
PREAMBLE
Agrogeology is a branch of Geology that deals with the usefulness of rocks and minerals (agro-rocks and agro-minerals in agricultural practices. The rocks and minerals are of importance to agriculture with regards to soil fertility and fertilizer components; they are usually sources of essential plant nutrients. That is to say, the rocks and minerals in an area determine the type of soils and nutrients in the area.
Due to the importance of Geology to Agriculture, Geologic information (that is, rocks that underlie an area) is a pre-requisite in the production of Soil maps. The knowledge of Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry, which are specializations in Geology, is therefore a requirement in the study of Soil Science.
RESEARCH FOCUS
The focus of the Agrogeology Research Group will include carrying out researches on the usefulness of rocks and minerals in agricultural practices (agro rocks and minerals); relationship between rocks, soils and crops. It will also involve researches on soil contamination and pollution by potentially harmful heavy metals and phyto-remediation of heavy metal-contaminated/polluted soils.
COMPOSITION OF THE RESEARCH GROUP
Members of the Research Group are:
1. Dr. Smart C. Obiora (Co-ordinator/Leader)
2. Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeyinwa Monica Uzoh
Department of Geology Department of Soil Science
University of Nigeria University of Nigeria
Nsukka. Nsukka.
3. Miss Grace U. Chibuike
Department of Soil Science
University of Nigeria
Nsukka.
BRIEF CVs OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
1. Dr. Smart C. Obiora:
Contacts:
E-mail: smart.obiora@unn.edu.ng; smartobiora@gmail.com
Tel: +234 – 8035333178
+234 – 8055261178
Qualifications
Ph.D. Geology,UNN(2002), with specialization in Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology;
M.Sc. Geology,UNN(1995), with specialization in Mineralogy and Petrology
B.Sc. Hons. Geology, 21, UNN (1989)
Working Experience
Senior Lecturer, -do-(2005 to present)
Lecturer I,-do-(2001-2005)
Lecturer II, -do- (1998-2001)
Assistant Lecturer, -do-(1995-1998)
Graduate Assistant, Geology Department, UNN (1991 -1995)
Dr. Obiora has served the University of Nigeria in various Committees, namely:University of Nigeria Students Electoral Committee, Junior Staff Housing Committee, ASUU Representative on the University of Nigeria Staff School Board; Co-ordinator, Symposium Sub-Committee, Committee on Building trans-disciplinary Climate Change Adaptation Capacity at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2011 to 2013. Dr. Obiora has also served as Faculty Representative in the University of Nigeria Senate.
He has published several articles in highly rated journals both locally and internationally; rendered professional services to several bodies outside the University, including the National Universities Commission(NUC), Kogi State University, Anyigba; Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki; a resource person to the Nigerian Geological Survey, Agency(NGSA), National Technical Committee on Food Security; he is currently Assistant Secretary of the Council of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society(NMGS); an examiner to the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists(COMEG); a COMEG-registered geoscientist; He is Life Member, Association of Geoscientists for International Development (AGID) and Member, Geological Society of Africa.
Dr. Obiora has won several awards on best paper presentation at the Annual International Conferences of the NMGS and awards on published work adjudged to be land contributions to the advancement of the geosciences in Nigeria.
Dr. Obiora was a CSIR – TWAS Post-doctoral Fellow at the National Geophysical Research Institute, Geological Studies Division, Uppal Road, Hyderabad- 500 007, India, July 01, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
He was a member of the International Geological Congress Programme (IGCP)-Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) Project 606, 2011 to 2014. He is the Project Leader in Nigeria of the Field Experimental Team on ‘‘Environmental and Health Impacts of Abandoned Mines in Sub-Saharan African Countries’’ (www.abandonedminesafrica.org).
2. Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeyinwa Monica Uzoh
Contacts
E-mail: okparaify@yahoo.com; ifeyinwa.okpara@unn.edu.ng
Tel: +2348037221088
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy [Soil Fertility and Microbiology], University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2014)
Master of Science [Soil Fertility and Conservation], University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2004).
Bachelor of Agriculture (B. Agric), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1998).
Working Experience
Lecturer I, Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2008 to present
Researcher, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2006 to 2010.
Lecturer II, Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2005 – 2008
Assistant Lecturer, Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2004 -2005
Graduate Assistant, Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,2002 – 2004
Senior Agricultural Science teacher, Koningin Des Friedens College, Enugu, 1999- 2001
Dr. (Mrs.) Uzoh has rendered services to bodies outside the University including Nigeria Fertilizer Policy Drafting Committee where she was a member and International Association of Research Scholars and Fellows, IITA, Ibadan where she served as President. She is a member of several professional Societies including African Biotech, Soil Science Society of Nigeria, International Union of Soil Science and Agricultural Science Society of Nigeria.
Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeyinwa M. Uzoh is a Fellow of the African Institute of Applied Economics (AIAE). She won a Ph.D Fellowship Award of the IITA, Ibadan from June, 2006 – December, 2010. She has published articles in reputed journals and has participated in several professional and ICT trainings both locally and internationally. She has attended and presented research papers in Conferences.
3. Miss Grace U. Chibuike
Contacts
E-mail: chibuikeg@yahoo.com;grace.chibuike@unn.edu.ng
Tel: +234 8189475151
Qualifications
M. Sc., Soils and Environmental Pollution, University of Reading, 2013 (Pass with Distinction)
B. Sc. Agric., Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2010 (First Class Honours)
Work Experience
Assistant Lecturer, Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2013 –present.
Graduate Assistant, Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2011 – 2012.
Miss Grace U. Chibuike is a member of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria and the International Union of Soil Sciences.
She is experienced in soil sampling in the field and laboratory analyses of soils, as well as in the use of various statistical packages in data analyses and the design of test hypothesis. Miss Chibuike has published many articles in international journals and presented research papers at Conferences.
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