EPNOE and Springer Nature Books Donation
The books donation is a noteworthy project that EPNOE is carrying out with Springer Nature through the SpringerBriefs book series on Biobased Polymers. The aim is to donate 20 SpringerBriefs books about bio-economy, sustainability, gender equality, and other similar topics to universities in developing countries.
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Books Donation 2024: University of Toliara (Madagascar)
The research group led by Prof. Jean Hugues at the University of Toliara in Madagascar has been nominated and selected for the 2024 edition of the SpringerBriefs Books Donation project, a collaborative project between EPNOE and Springer Nature. As part of this initiative, the research group will receive 20 books on bio-economy, sustainability, and gender equality.
Established in 1971, the University of Toliara is the oldest decentralised higher education center in Madagascar, achieving university status in 1988.
Prof. Jean Hugues and his team are dedicated to the valorisation and conservation of medicinal plants found in southern Madagascar, aiming to develop improved traditional medicines.
A recent survey conducted by the team in southern Madagascar identified several plants traditionally used to treat diabetes and cancer. Their current research focuses on isolating antidiabetic and anticancer molecules. Prof. Jean Hugues is particularly involved in this field, collaborating with the Transformation & Agro-Resources Unit at the University of Artois, directed by Prof. Patrick Martin.
Looking ahead, their vision includes securing a large-scale project to acquire modern equipment such as UHPLC and GC/MS, which are crucial for advancing their research.
As a public institution, the University of Toliara adheres to the “Malagasy State Gender Policy”, promoting gender equality and combating discrimination. The university has achieved significant progress in this area, with women comprising the majority of the administrative and technical staff. Among the permanent professors, there are currently 176 men and 89 women, and the university aims to further improve gender balance through ongoing efforts.
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Book Donation 2023: The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (Nigeria)
Upon suggestions from EPNOE members, the EPNOE Executive Board selected the following university:
- Federal University Oye-Ekiti (Nigeria)
Read here the full list of selected books.
The Macromolecular Chemistry research group of the The Federal University Oye-Ekiti will receive 20 SpringerBriefs books in 2023. Led by Professor Olayide S. Lawal, they work in the area of value-added industrial applications of raw and modified bio-macromolecules.
The group applies both physical and chemical modifications to biopolymers with a view to enhancing applications in diverse industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, textile, medical and household products. Such chemical modifications include oxidation, acetylation, succinylation, hydroxypropylation and carboxymethylation.
The bio-polymers of interest are mainly starches, cellulose and protein isolated from plants and from different sources, particularly lesser-known underutilized plant resources with a view to bringing them to full industrial utilization. To expand the relevance of natural polymers in diverse industrial applications, recent efforts are now on the preparation and characterization of novel bio-based hydrogels for drug delivery and other relevant applications as well as modification and utilization of bio-resources such as gelatin, guar gum, chitosan, chitin, gum arabic and dextran for applications in diverse industries.
Professor Lawal received Ph.D in Industrial Chemistry from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was a postdoctoral fellow of Alexander von Humboldt at the Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Hamburg, in the group of Professor Werner Michael Kulicke (2006-2008). Professor Lawal recently completed another postdoctoral training as a fellow of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (university of Jena, Germany) in the group of Professor Thomas Heinze (2022). He was also a fellow of the Japan Society for Promotion of Science at University of Hyogo, Japan in the group of Professor Miki Yoshimura. He is currently a fellow of Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria and the Chemical Society of Nigeria.
