The Executive Committee of the IULTCS has announced the winners of the 2022 IUR research grants to be awarded to two young scientists, under the age of 35. The monetary awards help support the work of young talent in the leather sector.
This is the eighth year of the grants which have been generously supported by industry and IULTCS alike. The Selection Committee of the IULTCS Research Commission (IUR), chaired by Dr Michael Meyer, is pleased to announce the following recipients:
– Young Leather Scientist Grant 2022 Basic Research
Fitsum Etefa Ahmed from the Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology of Bahir Dar University. IULTCS has provided the monetary sponsorship for a single sum of €1,500 grant to Basic Research. The title of the project is ‘Study of anti-ectoparasitic activity of medicinal plant extracts in terms of reducing cockle damage on sheep and goat skin’.
– Dr Mike Redwood Young Leather Scientist Grant 2022 Sustainability / Environmental Award
Louret Atsenga Andalo, from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya will be the beneficiary of the generosity of Leather Naturally who have sponsored the €1,000 grant for the project entitled ‘Extraction of natural dye (batalain) from beetroot peel (Beta Vulgaris) and application in leather dyeing using bio-mordant’.
“Leather Naturally is proud to continue sponsoring the Dr Mike Redwood Sustainability/Environment grant with the monetary sum of €1,000 sponsorship” said Egbert Dikkers, Chairperson. “With Leather Naturally focussing on providing education to designers, brands and consumers, it was a logical step to sponsor this award named in honour of our founder Dr Mike Redwood.”
The grants have been very successful and well received by industry. Referring to the awardees of the 2021 grants Dr Meyer said “We are very happy that the research results of last year’s two awardees were presented at the perfectly organised IULTCS Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last November. Although the number of physical participants was limited, due to the pandemic, we had the chance to attend the remote presentations delivered by Dr Caroline Agustini (Brazil) and Dr Nilay Ork (Turkey).
This year we again received some strong new proposals and two of them have been selected. IULTCS is looking forward to seeing the research outcomes from Fitsum and Louret of the projects we are supporting and wish them every success as they contribute to expanding our industry knowledge.”
Michael Meyer
Fitsum Etefa Ahmed from the Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology of Bahir Dar University
Louret Atsenga Andalo – Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya