Biotechnology conference in Cartagena

 

This week I am one more time in the city of Cartagena to assist in one of the SENA working groups of their environmental knowledge network (treatment of by mercury polluted water; one of our EFE program sub-projects as of 2014). This takes place during a conference on biotechnology with staff and students participating from 13 of the 33 SENA training centers from throughout Colombia. On the table to the left the host Bibiana Pinto, Manager of one of the training centers we work with in our EFE program (I have worked intensively this year with Bibiana and her team).

Two of her instructors who work in the municipality of Santa Rosa del Sur, one of the pilot gold mining communities our EFE program will focus on (and whom I met during my visits there in November last year and March this year). Lots of students from all over the country:

At the start of these events everybody gets on their feet for the national anthem and then the "SENA song". Also SENA teacher Rodolfo (in pink shirt) - a mining engineer who works in the south of Bolivar in very remote mining communities and one of my SENA heroes - sings full of passion...

Many of the applied research projects of SENA training centers are displayed at the conference which facilitates knowledge exchanges throughout the event.

Yesterday - before the conference started - I installed myself in a provisionally "outside office", one of the real perks of doing projects in countries with an ocean side located partner organization...

The hotel I stay this time is located right next to the Cartagena conference center where the event this week is hosted. The hotel pool on the fourth floor is just "too cool" with a very nice view...

In the far back of the last photo above you can see the island of Baru where I have been able to go a few times throughout the year in combination with project activities here with Bibiana & team.

This is the 6th time I have been in Cartagena this year. I will close this post with two photos of the view of the city at night from the historic city wall plus another beautiful sun-set...