The Aquatic Ecology Centre (AEC) at Kathmandu University was established in the year 2003 with the objective of improving academic activities through research and scientific networking. It also aims to imparting training and providing analytical services to individuals, government and non-governmental organizations in the field of physico-chemical and biological soil and water quality examination. The centre was built with generous financial support received from Mr. Hasko F. Nesemann, a German Aquatic Biologist.
Ongoing In-Campus Field Research
- Soil and nutrient losses from maize based cropping system
- Long term study on the effect of liming and high organic nutrients input in a farmland
- Surface and subsurface drip irrigation study on different crops
- Rainwater harvesting and its quality
Ongoing Off-Campus Field Research
- Impact of agricultural intensification on soil and water in Ansi Khola watershed, Kavre.
- Water quality, soil and nutrients losses in Pokhare Khola watershed, Dhading.
- Pesticide use & human health in Panchkhal & Baluwa villages, Kavre.
AEC is well equipped with modern lab equipments to meet the international standard in providing analytical services. The major instruments available are GC, AAS, UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, Digestion and Distillation Unit etc.
AEC provides analytical services for soil and water samples on:
- Physical, chemical and biological analysis of soil and water.
- Metals ( Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo).
- Arsenic in soil, water and herbs.
- Faecal and Total coliform.
- Identification of benthic fauna.
AEC has research links with the following organizations:
- University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
- Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
- BIOFORSK/Jordforsk, Norway
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
- University of Manitoba, Canada
- ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Building Design Authority, Nepal
- Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
- Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
- Masaryk University, Czech Republic
- Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Islamabad , Pakistan
- Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
- Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Dhaka
- National Environment Commission Secretariat, Thimphu, Bhutan