RMCA GeoRes4Dev project Participation to the S4-2025

We are pleased to announce that our two scholarship holders, supported by full fellowships, participated in the Speleothem Sciences Summer School (S4) in Morocco. This international event brings together young researchers and specialists in speleothem sciences each year for advanced training, practical workshops, and field excursions in the heart of Morocco’s karst systems.

Our team was represented by Imen Arfaoui (Geologist, RMCA)Nadège Ngala (DEA, University of Kinshasa), andNicy Bazebizonza (PhD candidate, UMNG). The two scholars presented their work as scientific posters. Imen Arfaoui, GeoRes4Dev–RMCA geologist, led several workshops and coordinated and supervised the field missions in the caves explored during the Summer School.

The two GeoRes4Dev scholars presented the research as part of ongoing karst studies in Central Africa.

Abstracts:

1. Ngala N. , Arfaoui I. , Bazebizonza B. , Lutete J. , Thijenira A. , Lusongo J. , Nkodia H. , Libs B. , Laumanns M. ,Dégletagne J.-Ph. , Libs J. , Kakule R. , Pascale L. The Dimba Cave, a Major Karst Geosite and a Heritage Site to Protect. Her study highlights the geological and heritage importance of the Dimba Cave, emphasizing both its scientific potential and the urgent need for protective measures.
2. Bazebizonza N., Samba P., Bounkouta J., Ngala N., Nkodia H., Boudzoumou F., Arfaoui I., Lahogue P. Speleothem-Based Climate Monitoring in the Karst System of Southern Republic of Congo: Insights from Mbelo 1 Cave. Her work explores the use of speleothems as climate archives in southern Congo, providing new data on regional hydroclimatic dynamics.

This participation was marked by a notable success: Nicy Bazebizonza won the award for the 4th best poster presented at the event, an important recognition within a highly competitive international program.

The presence of our scholarship recipients at S4 illustrates the growing impact of our capacity-building initiatives in karst and speleothem sciences, both regionally and internationally. Their commitment, their results, and their visibility significantly contribute to advancing research in Central Africa and promoting its karst sites as major scientific and heritage resources.

New opportunities for collaboration, training, and research are already emerging as a continuation of this exemplary participation.