The Network of Excellence in Engineering Sciences of the French-speaking Community (RESCIF) yesterday opened an Asian Centre for Water Research (CARE) at the HCM City University of Technology.

The 200-sq.m centre, a flagship research centre in Southeast Asia, aims to contribute to sustainable management of water resources in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region by undertaking research and training.
CARE will research issues on the Delta and the Sai Gon River, as well as offer support on topics related to global challenges linked to climate and human-induced changes, based on the most innovative technologies.
It will also develop tools tailored to environmental monitoring, and assessment of environmental changes and the associated risks while adapting international discoveries to regional characteristics.
Under its action plan, it will also carry out international research projects and exchange programmes with a focus on fundamental water resources issues such as industrial and domestic waste treatment, regulation of saline intrusion, estimation of flows of sediments and contaminants, urban development plans and urban networks of water distribution.
Only 50 per cent of industrial waste water and 10 per cent of domestic waste water is treated in Viet Nam, said Phan Thanh Binh, director of the Viet Nam National University-HCM City at the opening ceremony held during the second meeting of RESCIF members on November 18-19.
The Mekong Delta region faces unprecedented challenges related to climate change, Binh said.
"Building research capacities and training on technologies and management of water resources is urgent and essential to address these challenges," he said.
Established in 2010, RESCIF implements partnerships between 14 francophone technological universities in 11 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It focuses on issues of water, energy and nutrition.
Source: VNS