Science news
- June 2019
Each year, the RMCA organizes a three-month training course on fish taxonomy and the use of FishBase for five African researchers. In a milestone, four of this year’s five participants are women.
- April 2019
A new wood biology laboratory in the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve will be used by Congolese and international scientists to conduct top-notch research on wood anatomy and dendrochronology to better understand forests’ contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- April 2019
Artificial savanna naturally turns into tropical rainforest when annual burning regimes are discontinued. A boost to carbon storage and biodiversity.
- March 2019
A tiny North American freshwater snail, found in large numbers in Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe), can fuel the spread of infectious diseases. Artificial lakes are especially vulnerable to invasive species, which travel the world thanks to globalization.
- February 2019
Since its launch in 2011, EJT has published 1791 new taxa (1602 new species). Taxonomic research enables biologists to better understand and study biodiversity and evolution.
- January 2019
Forest giants have long been considered the oldest trees in tropical forests. Research now shows that small trees can grow older than the big ones, and therefore hold on to longer-term carbon. This finding has important consequences for forest policy in the tropics.
- January 2019
The board game ‘Hazagora’ was designed to give players knowledge and strategies to cope with geological hazards. RMCA geographer Caroline Michellier puts it to the test by organizing courses for secondary school teachers in the city of Goma, Nord Kivu.
- December 2018
Plate tectonics played an important role in the evolution of our planet. A study conducted by an international team of researchers, including geologist Daniel Baudet of the RMCA, has now found the earliest evidence known for the modern-style plate tectonics at 2.2-2.1 billion years ago (2.2-2.1 Ga).
- November 2018
Archaeological research traces 1000 years of copper production in Congo-Brazzaville.
- October 2018
RMCA historians and archaeologists joined forces for the first summer course for Flemish history professors, with a focus on Belgian colonization in Congo.