Reducing vector borne disease risk from artificial lights
The use of artificial lights at night is increasing across Africa, especially so in rural areas. While this increases comfort, work and leisure hours, it may pose a threat to human life. Artificial light can attract insects into homes and if these are mosquitos, they can carry some of the world's worst vector borne diseases.
Dr Bernard WT Coetzee, from the University of Witwatersrand’s Global Change Institute, has been announced as the winner of the second, annual US$150,000 (R2.5 million) Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant Grant. The Grant was established to honour the late Mrs. Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer and continue her extensive contribution to, and passion for Africa, environment and science. It is awarded annually by Oppenheimer Generations to support an African-led research programme that has the potential to significantly contribute to the advancement of environmental and allied sciences ‒ specifically to identify and address real-world issues that affect Africa.
In this video Bernard outlines the proposed project to unravel the mechanistic link between artificial light and vector borne diseases.
