SEGH Articles

SEGH2019 Sponsored Attendees: Adewole Michael Gbadebo

02 September 2019
Adewole Michael Gbadebo a Professor of Environmental Geochemistry at the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria shares his experience of SEGH2019

I arrived at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), venue of the 35th SEGH conference at around 4 pm on Monday 1st July 2019  where  I was welcomed by Prof. Sanja Potgieter-Vermaak. On the morning of  Tuesday 2nd July 2019, I came to the venue of the conference from my hotel registered for the conference, mounted my poster on the assigned billboard, attended the welcome and introduction section and attended the day’s sessions (comprising of morning and afternoon sessions). Each session started with keynote speakers’ presentation followed by 15 minutes of Platform /Oral presentations and 2-minute flash presentations with an interlude of lunch break before the afternoon section. I was at my poster stand during the break periods to present my work to poster viewing conference-participating-audience. This I did routinely from Tuesday 2nd – Thursday 4th July 2019.

I also attended behind the scenes evening social at the Manchester City Football Stadium on the evening of Tuesday 2nd. I remember hearing Prof Sanja Potgieter-Vermaak mention that participants at the conference were from 15 countries of the world including Nigeria. At the end of the conference, during the closing ceremony/remarks, hosts of the 36th and 37th SEGH in Kenya and China were announced and acceptance speeches were given by Prof Odipo Osano from Kenya and China representatives. Prizes were given to the best poster presenter and people who worked with Prof Sanja Potgieter-Vermaak to make the conference a huge success. This was capped with SEGH AGM which took place on Thursday at the same venue of the conference with the delegates (conference participants) in attendance and Dr Michael Watts from BGS was re-elected as the chair of SEGH.

With regards to networking opportunities, the conference afforded me opportunities for meeting professional colleagues from diverse institutions and fields of specialization and interests. I was able to discuss with these scientists, possibilities of research collaborations. Some of these people include but not limited to: Michael Watts (BGS); David Manning (on carbon-capturing); Ricardo Godoi (on Pollen & Hospitality); Paul Preton (on Brownfield Sciences); Khadija and Jane (on Household Dust); Alex Stewart (on Iodine Diseases in Nigeria, Nee Africa).

I am grateful for the SEGH bursary I received as an international participant from a developing country.

Presenting my poster at SEGH2019

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