Fiji Sun

FNU Academic Scoops Aussie Deans Award

- Fiiji National University Assistant Professor Alvin Lal.

An academic of the Fiji National University was one of the recipients of the prestigiou­s Deans Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia.

Alvin Lal, Assistant Professor with the Department of Physics, was one of the 11 recipients recognised amongst the 133 higher research candidates who competed for the award.

Mr Lal’s thesis topic is “Groundwate­r modelling and management”.

“I was nominated for this Award by the Advisory Panel and College Dean at JCU. The nomination was based on the examiners’ reports for my thesis, the internatio­nal recognitio­n of my work, via my publicatio­ns arising from this study and the impact of my research,” he said.

Mr Lal said for his research thesis to be recognised with a Deans Award was a very rewarding achievemen­t.

Having dealt with water security issues in Fiji, Mr Lal said he was adamant to find solutions to the groundwate­r resource management problems in the Pacific.

PhD thesis

“Specifical­ly, my PhD focused on the developmen­t and evaluation of novel groundwate­r monitoring tools, 3D groundwate­r models and management of groundwate­r resources in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Water security in SIDS (small islands developing states) is a key issue.

“Changing climate, urbanisati­on, booming tourism and industrial activities in SIDS are putting more stress on the already depleted groundwate­r resources. There was an urgent need for effective and reliable groundwate­r monitoring and management methodolog­ies.

“Learning different groundwate­r modelling algorithms, different programmin­g languages and computer codes were the most challengin­g part of my PhD. I am not from a computing background and overcoming this challenge was not easy. “However, with the zeal and enthusiasm, I managed to learn and perform to the best of my ability.

“In my PhD, I developed various novel groundwate­r monitoring, modelling and management tools, which are currently being used by several SIDS in the Pacific.”

Mr Lal published in Q1 and Q2 journals and secured several travel grants, which allowed him to participat­e in various conference­s in Australia, Japan, United States of America and Spain. “Completing a PhD in a time-frame of three years and four months and with these many research outputs was a demanding task. However, I am glad that my efforts have been rewarded,” he said.

Originally from Rakiraki, Mr Lal said studying in a foreign country presented many challenges, however the support from his family and fiancée was his motivation.

He is currently working on several groundwate­r modelling projects in collaborat­ion with researcher­s from Poland, Australia, Indonesia and Fiji.

He added in the long run, he planned to establish a Pacific Island Groundwate­r Research and Training Centre (PIGRTC) in Fiji with the support of the Government and other stakeholde­rs.

“If establishe­d, the centre could be instrument­al in solving various waterrelat­ed problems currently prominent in almost all SIDS in the Pacific.”

Mr Lal, who joined FNU in 2016, completed his Bachelor of Science in Mathematic­s and Physics and Master of Science in Physics programmes from the University of the South Pacific before taking up his doctoral studies at the James Cook University.

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 ??  ?? Fiji’s permanent representa­tive to the United Nations, Ambassador Satyendra Prasad.
Fiji’s permanent representa­tive to the United Nations, Ambassador Satyendra Prasad.
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