VTR Research Center is an interdisciplinary institution providing facilities for scientist from all over the world. Since 2014, VTR Research Center has provided support to students, professors and researchers in the fields of Geology, Biology and Anthropology.

 

Our Mission

To provide a safe and stimulating environment for scientists to fulfill fieldwork research in Botswana and transfer skills to local Botswana researchers and students.

What We've Achieved

BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY RELATED RESEARCH

CURRENT RESEARCH

  • Baseline assessment of Soil Biodiversity Composition in the newly allocated agricultural fields of Barangwe - Chobe Enclave

  • Review and assessment of Human Elephant Conflict mitigation strategies in Parakarungu

MOST RECENT RESEARCH

  • Mokatse, T., Vainer, S., Irving, J., Schmidt, C., Kgosidintsi, B., Shemang, E., Verrecchia, E.P., 2022. Geometry of sedimentary deposits and evolution of the landforms in the Chobe Enclave, Northern Botswana. Geomorphology, vol 415, 108406. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X22002999

  • Vainer, S., Matmon, A., Ben Dor, Y., Verrecchia, E.P., Eckardt, F & Aster Team., 2022. Eolian chronology reveals causal links between tectonics, climate, and erg generation. Nature communications 13, 5714. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33316-7

  •  Van Thuyne, J., Verrecchia, E.P., 2021. Impacts of fungus-growing termites on surficial geological parameters: A review. Earth Science Reviews 223, 103862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103862

  • Diaz N., Armitage S.J., Verrecchia E.P. & Herman F., 2019. OSL dating of a carbonate island in the Chobe Enclave, NW Botswana. Quaternary Geochronology 49, 172-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2018.03.001

  • Romanens, R., Pellacani, F., Mahinga, A., Fynn R., Vittoz P. & Verrecchia E.P., 2019. Soil diversity and major soil processes in the Kalahari basin, Botswana. Geoderma Regional 19, e00236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2019.e00236

  • Vittoz, P., Pellacani, F., Romanens, R., Mahinga, A., Verrecchia, E.P. & Fynn, R.W.S. 2020. Plant community diversity in the Chobe Enclave, Botswana: insights for functional habitat heterogeneity for herbivores. Koedoe. https:// doi.org/10.4102/koedoe. v62i1.1604

  • Van Thuyne, J., Verrecchia, E.P., Darini, I., Mainga, A., 2021. Are fungus-growing termites super sediment-sorting insects of subtropical environments? Journal of Arid Environments 193, 104566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104566

  • Buxton, M., Nyamukondiwa, C., Wasserman, R. J., Othenin-Girard, V., Pigeault, R., Christe, P., Glaizot, O., 2021. Surveillance Studies Reveal Diverse and Potentially Pathogenic-Incriminated Vector Mosquito Species across Major Botswana Tourist Hotspots. Insects 12, 913. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12100913

  • Jouquet, P., Harit, A., Hervé, V., Moger, H., Carrijo, T., Donoso, D. A., Eldridge, D., Ferreira da Cunha, H., Choosai, C., Janeau, J-L., Maeght, J-L., Thu, T.D., Briandon, A., Dahbi Skali, M., Van Thuyne, J., Mainga, A., Pinzon Florian, O.P., Malam Issa, O., Podwojewski, P., Rajot, J-L., Henri-des-Tureaux, T., Smaili, L., Labiadh, M., Boukbida, H.A., Shanbhag, R., Muon, R., Ann, V., Cheik, S., Fall, S., Traoré, S., Dupont, S., Chouvenc, T., Mullins, A.J., Syaukani, S., Zaiss, R., Minh Tien, T., Sobotník, J., Auclerc, A., Qiu, R., Tang, Y.T., Huot, H., Sillam-Dussès, D., Bottinelli, N., 2022. The impact of termites on soil sheeting properties is better explained by environmental factors than by their feeding and building strategies. Geoderma 412, 115706.

  • Mas-Carrio, E., Schneider, J., Nasanbat, B., Ravchig, S., Buxton, M., Nyamukondiwa, C., Stoffel, C., Augugliaro, C., Ceacero, F., Taberlet, P., Glaizot, O., Christe, P., Fumagalli, L., 2021. Assessing environmental DNA metabarcoding and camera trap surveys as complementary tools for biomonitoring of remote desert water bodies. Environmental DNA. 2021; 001:1-16

ANTHROPOLOGY RELATED RESEARCH

Current Research

  • Sanitation in Primary Schools

Researcher : Prof. Barbara N. Ngwenya

  • Socio-economic and environmental impacts of Jatropha cultivation and biodiesel production in Botswana.

Researcher : Prof. Donald L. Kgathi

  • Soils, Science and the Politics of knowledge: Perspectives from Scientists and Ngamiland Smallholders on Integrated soil Fertility Management in North-western Botswana. 

    Researcher: Dr Oluwatoyin D. Kolawole

  • Documentation and Validation of medicinal plants used for managing reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Ngamiland and North-Eastern Botswana 

    Researcher. Prof. Barbara N. Ngwenya

     

Past Research