ITCER e.V. and ITCER Kenya are non-profit, privately sponsored partner organisations in the tertiary education sector, focusing on scientific research, teaching and outreach in an international training centre in Siaya County in Western Kenya (see Location)

Background

Organizational Structure

ITCER is a regional organisation, registered in Germany (e.V.) and Kenya as an international NGO. Both, ITCER Kenya and ITCER e.V. has a Board of Directors comprised of elected Board members. These Board members include representatives from Kenya and other international experts from different countries. ... more

Members and Memberships

The members of ITCER Kenya and ITCER e.V. have so far been recruited mainly from members of Egerton University, University of Eldoret, JOUUST, and Maseno University (Kenya), of University of Bamenda (Cameroon), furthermore of University of Bayreuth, University of Hohenheim, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, and Hochschule Karlsruhe (Germany), as well as of institutions dedicated to environmental diagnostics, environmental protection, and public relations (BIO-Diverse, SNSB IT Center, Stiftung Pfennigparade (all Germany) and others).

Cooperation agreements with local universities on the basis of MOUs will be listed here.

Donors and funders to date include the University of Bayreuth, University of Hohenheim, University of Tübingen, the SES, and the AGYO.

ITCER e.V. and ITCER Kenya themselves will become partners and members in other organisations, which will be listed here.

Kenyan governmental support: County Government of Siaya, Kenya Forest Service, KEPHIS, NEMA, NGO Coordination Board Office.

ITCER’s Role

Environmental Science Research and Training

• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: integrate sustainable management of natural to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services for community livelihoods and human well-being.
• Climate Change: facilitate regional mechanisms for assessing and addressing the impacts of climate change and promote grass-root actions to build community resilience.
• Sustainable Agriculture: work with communities to promote sustainable agriculture.

Strategic approaches

Actions

Many higher education curricula focus more on theoretical aspect and have a gap in teaching of practical skills in newest methods. ITCER will fill this gap ... more

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Activities

Educational Concept and Planning

ITCER bases its educational programme on international lecturers, who voluntarily share their specific expertise in particular state-of-the-art methods used in environmental research to students from Kenya and its neighbouring countries. ... more

Programme

The envisaged academic learning programme is three-fold, as we will offer

• Teaching modules ... more
  over a period of 2 weeks with up to 15 MSc and PhD students per course: these training courses will combine diagnostics and measures by conveying skills in newest methods and their application in particular use cases.
• One-day educational seminars ... more
  to target groups informing and sensitizing them on state-of-the-art methodologies and approaches, and on relevant scientific outcomes.
• Selected scientific talks ... more
  and engagement with the local community to encourage participation in ITCER’s work on socially relevant issues of conserving and restoring the natural environment.

Examples of Training Courses

ITCER courses offer training and skills in the fields of vegetation science and conservation, plant pathology and parasitology, omics-driven microbial ecology, soil science and hydrology, biological informatics and data management, GIS-analysis and remote sensing.

• Biodiversity and Conservation ... more
  (cellular, species, and ecosystem levels) will centre around disseminating knowledge on restoration of degraded lands and declining native species, addressing questions related to invasive species and assessment of environmental health and ecosystem services of the existing ecosystems. The training will introduce techniques for quantifying ecosystem functions and structure.
• Soil and Water Conservation ... more
  will address soil ecology, engineering, chemistry, and hydrology. Training is intended to provide sustainable solutions to the various forms of pollution and will be designed along biological control mechanisms. For instance, microorganism-bioremediation experiments for controlling plastic pollution in the environment will be conducted using fungi and bacteria to demonstrate the ability of the microorganisms to degrade plastics.
• Plant Pathology ... more
  will address mycology, bacteriology and nematology. The training is intended to focus on sample collection from infected crops and plants and morphological, cultural, molecular studies and control measures will be demonstrated. This training will provide solutions to ensure food security and provide basic knowledge on the pathogen biology.
• Environmental Data Management ... more
  will focus on data integration and management in environmental research. The complete workflow and data pipelines are explained based on use cases and by applying the free open-source software tool Diversity Workbench (DWB) with its various components and particular strength of implementing data standards. The training covers particularly the setting-up of a database from scratch, data exchange formats, schemas and data transformations as well as the DWB GIS tools for working with and managing georeferenced data.

Selected Specific Topics to be Taught at the Centre

• Rhizosphere interactions impacting plant response to drought in semiarid environments
• Soil and plant-associated mycobiomes – structures and interactions
• Complex, adaptive responses of plants to changing environmental conditions
• The economic importance of insects in agricultural systems
• Interactions between ecosystem functioning and socio-economic needs of local communities
• The role of secondary metabolites in plant health and defense mechanisms

Apply for a Course

(Functional as soon as training courses are announced)

Ongoing Research Projects

A number of research projects are being established. One is already underway since Jan. 2023.

Recent Publications

The activities within the framework of ITCER research are resulting in first publications: ... more

Facilities

Google Maps

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See Privacy Policy

Photo Gallery

Main building – 25.11.2021

Water tanks – 09.02.2021

Water tank tower – 25.05.2021

Main building – 25.05.2021

ITCER staff to start activities – 14.11.2020

Veranda – 20.05.2021

Secretary room – 20.05.2021

Office – 20.05.2021

Laboratory (blinders on the windows now) – 04.08.2022

New lab sinks installed – 10.01.2023

Demarcated plots on site – 09.10.2021

Water pond on site – 27.11.2021

Phytomonitoring station – 10.2021

Vegetation recording – 23.03.2022

Event – 25.03.2022

GBIF Data Workshop participants from Kenya and Germany – 27.10.2022

GBIF Data Workshop participants from Kenya and Germany – 27.10.2022

Seminar with student from three universities – 12.11.2022

Seminar with student from three universities – 12.11.2022

Seminar with student from three universities – 12.11.2022

Seminar with student from three universities – 12.11.2022

Seminar with student from three universities – 12.11.2022

Seminar with student from three universities – 12.11.2022

Gallery images © ITCER e.V., 2023

• Floma Guest House
• Ka’baba Resort
• Dhe Jomels Hotel Siaya
• Siala Apartments
• Madit Hotel Siaya

Roadmap

The ITCER facilities are developing with time. While the plot of land was purchased in 2016 and construction of the first building (hosting lab and seminar room) started in June 2018 (both financed via private financial means), the final finishes to the building are expected for mid-2022. ... more

Location

LOCATION OF TRAINING CENTRE

ITCER is placed in Ng’iya along the road leading to Nyang’oma Kogelo. As such it is located in Siaya County in Western Kenya, 60 km by road from Kisumu at Lake Victoria (see Site map).

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The location is characterised by a developed public infrastructure (transport, water, electricity). The site can be reached by public transport, and internationally from the airport in Nairobi with domestic flights to Kisumu. ITCER is placed in proximity to diverse natural ecosystems such as savanna, rainforest, and wetlands, which serve as training grounds for the field work.

Google Maps

By clicking on the map to use Google Maps, information, including your IP address, is transmitted to and stored on a server belonging to Google in the USA. By using this service you confirm that in this regard you are in agreement with the recording, processing and use of your automatically collected data by Google, one of its representatives, or third-party suppliers.

See Privacy Policy

Biodiversity on Site

The organismic diversity of the site is continuously monitored and the data is forwarded to international platforms. A selection of plants, fungi, animals and other organisms is presented here. It can whet your appetite to go on a plant, bird or insect safari, which can be done on site and in the surrounding area.

cf. Crotalaria sp. (Fabaceae, Faboideae) – 20.06.2022

Indigofera volkensii (Fabaceae, Faboideae) – 28.06.2022

Vigna cf. luteola (Fabaceae, Faboideae) – 13.07.2022

Senna bicapsularis (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae) [art pos] – 25.06.2022

Chamaecrista mimosoides (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae) – 09.03.2022

Plectranthus ecklonii (Lamiaceae) – 18.03.2022

Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae) – 19.07.2022

Urena lobata (Malvaceae) – 09.03.2022

Ipomoea fistulosa (Convolvulaceae) – 07.03.2022

Hewittia malabarica (Convolvulaceae) – 09.03.2022

Thevetia peruviana (Apocynaceae) – 23.06.2022

Asystasia gangetica (Acanthaceae) – 06.06.2022

Solanum incanum (Solanaceae) – 07.03.2022

Commelina benghalensis (Commelinaceae) – 04.07.2022

Vincetoxicum sylvaticum (Apocynaceae) – 19.07.2022

Lantana trifolia (Verbenaceae) – 03.03.2022

Euphorbia heterophylla (Euphorbiaceae) – 04.07.2022

Bothriocline inyangana (Asteraceae, Cichorioideae) – 07.03.2022

Crassocephalum crepidioides (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 14.03.2022

Guizotia scabra (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) with Apis mellifera scutellata (Apidae, Apinae) – 09.03.2022

Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 06.06.2022

Titonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 04.07.2022

Striga hermontheca (Orobanchaceae) – 19.07.2022

Uraeginthus bengalus (Estrildidae) with fallen twigs of planted Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) – 18.03.2022

Lanius collaris (Laniidae) – 02.03.2022

Passer cf. rufocinctus ♀ (Passeridae) with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) with Convolvulaceae sp. – 16.03.2022

Lophaetus occipitalis (Accipitridae) – 27.05.2022

Trachylepis striata (Scincidae) with cemented surface – 01.03.2022

Apis mellifera scutellata (Apidae, Apinae) with Guizotia scabra (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 09.03.2022

Synagris analis (Vespidae, Eumeninae) with Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae) – 18.03.2022

Rhynchium marginellum (Vespidae, Eumeninae) on dead ##### – 12.03.2022

Sceliphron spirifex (Sphecidae) with Crotalaria comosa (Faboideae) – 26.02.2022

cf. Vespidae, Polistinae sp. with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 25.06.2022

Chrysis lincea (Chrysididae) with dead wood – 16.03.2022

Formicidae sp. with Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae) – 28.06.2022

Papilio demodocus (Papilionidae) – 23.02.2022

Junonia sophia (Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae) with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 20.06.2022

Junonia chorimene (Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae) – 20.06.2022

Junonia terea (Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae) with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 03.03.2022

Junonia oenone ♂ (Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae) – 20.06.2022

Neptis kiriakoffi (Nymphalidae, Limenitidinae) – 20.06.2022

Acraea serena agg. ♂ (Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) – 14.03.2022

Acraea encedon f. fumosamale (Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) with Poaceae sp. – 19.07.2022

Hypolimnas misippus ♀ (Nymphalidae) with Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 28.06.2022

Hypolimnas misippus ♂ (Nymphalidae) with Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) – 22.07.2022

Danaus chrysippus f. dorippus (Nymphalidae, Danainae) – 10.05.2022

Yphtima asterope asterope (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) with Poaceae sp. – 20.07.2022

Cacyreus marshalli (Lycaenidae) with Poaceae sp. – 06.06.2022

Zizeeria knysna ♀ (Lycaenidae) – 19.07.2022

Syntarucus pirithous (Lycaenidae) with Vigna cf. luteola (Fabaceae, Faboideae) – 13.07.2022

Eretis lugens (Hesperiidae) – 27.07.2022

Mocis conveniens (Erebidae, Erebinae, Euclidiini) with Poaceae sp. – 25.06.2022

Mocis cf. mayeri (Erebidae, Erebinae, Euclidiini) – 16.06.2022

Parachalciope deltifera (Erebidae, Erebinae) – 04.07.2022

Rhanidophora cinctigutta (Erebidae, Erebinae, Calpinae) – 13.07.2022

Chiromachla leuconoe (Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) – 12.03.2022

Alpenus maculosa (Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) – 22.06.2022

Amata schellhorni (Erebidae, Arctiinae, Syntomini) – 12.03.2022

Ceryx fulvescens (Erebidae, Arctiinae, Syntomini) with Poaceae sp. – 20.06.2022

Amyna axis (Noctuidae) with planted Dovyalis caffra (Salicaceae) – 02.03.2022

cf. Ozarba sp. (Noctuidae) – 27.07.2022

Erebidae sp. with Poaceae sp. – 21.07.2022

Zebronia phenice (Crambidae, Spilomelinae) – 06.06.2022

Spoladea recurvalis (Crambidae) with Poaceae sp. – 20.06.2022

cf. Samea ecclesialis (Crambidae) with Poaceae sp. – 26.06.2022

Diasemia monostigma (Crambidae) – 23.06.2022

Aphelia cf. elegans (Tortricidae) – 06.06.2022

Eretmocera sp. (Scythrididae) – 25.06.2022

Adelidae sp. with Poaceae sp. – 25.06.2022

Aciptilia sp. (Pterophoridae) – 27.07.2022

Hycleus tinctus (Meloidae) on Hewittia malabarica (Convolvulaceae) – 27.05.2022

Scarabaeidae sp. – 04.08.2022

Cheilomenes sulphurea (Coccinellidae) – 21.07.2022

Lilioceris sp. (Chrysomelidae) with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 07.06.2022

Diacantha sp. (Chrysomelidae) – 21.07.2022

Conchyloctenia hybrida (Chrysomelidae) with Solanum incanum (Solanaceae) – 19.07.2022

Aspidomorpha sp. (Chrysomelidae) with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 28.10.2022

Hypolixus sp. (Curculionidae) – 21.03.2022

Curculionidae sp. – 04.08.2022

Curculionidae sp. – 13.07.2022

Lycus sp. (Lycidae) with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 28.06.2022

Rhagonycha cf. fulva (Cantharidae) sp. – 05.07.2022

Lagriinae sp. — 26.07.2022

Calidea dregii (Scutelleridae) with Poaceae sp. – 12.03.2022

Sphaerocoris testudogrisea (Scutelleridae) – 03.03.2022

Aspavia armigera (Pentatomidae) with Poaceae sp. – 20.07.2022

Agonoscelis versicoloratus (Pentatomidae) with Sida acuta (Malvaceae) – 23.03.2022

Caura rufiventris (Pentatomidae, Pentatominae) – 05.07.2022

Caura rufiventris (Pentatomidae, Pentatominae) – 04.08.2022

Caura rufiventris (Pentatomidae, Pentatominae) (nymph) with Cyperus sp. (Cyperaceae) – 26.06.2022

cf. Dolycoris sp. (Pentatomidae, Pentatominae) – 20.06.2022

Anoplocnemis curvipes (Coreidae) – 03.03.2022

Acanthocoris sp. (Coreidae, Coreinae) with Solanum incanum (Solanaceae) – 23.06.2022

Myrmoplasta vittiventris (Pyrrhocoridae) with Poaceae sp. – 26.07.2022

Spilostethus furcula (Lygaeidae) with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae, Asteroideae) – 02.03.2022

Riptortus cf. dentipes (Alydidae) – 04.07.2022

Rhynocoris tristis (Reduviidae) – 20.06.2022

Rhynocoris sp. (Reduviidae) (nymph) with Asystasia gangetica (Acanthaceae) [background] – 20.06.2022

Rhynocoris tristis (Reduviidae) (imago, eggs) – 11.03.2022

Phonoctonus cf. fasciatus (Reduviidae) with Lantana trifolia (Verbenaceae) – 26.07.2022

Hydara cf. tenuicornis (Coreidae) with Poaceae sp. – – 16.06.2022

Hydara cf. tenuicornis (Coreidae) – – 09.06.2022

Hemiptera sp. (nymph) – 25.06.2022

cf. Eurybrachidae sp. – 23.06.2022

Aphrophoridae sp. (Cercopoidea) with Tylosema fassoglensis (Fabaceae, Cercidoideae) – 16.06.2022

cf. Aphrophoridae sp. (Cercopoidea) – 23.07.2022

Cercopidae sp. (Cercopoidea) – 27.07.2022

cf. Oxyrachis sp. (Membracidae) – 22.07.2022

Dilophus sp. (Bibionidae) – 21.07.2022

Chrysomya sp. (Calliphoridae, Chrysomyinae) – 06.06.2022

Bombomyia discoidea (Bombyliidae) – 20.06.2022

Diopsis mayae (Diopsidae) with cf. Amaranthus pungens (Amaranthaceae) – 27.07.2022

Ischiodon aegyptius (Syrphidae) with Poaceae sp. – 04.07.2022

Episyrphus sp. (Syrphidae) with Poaceae sp. – 22.07.2022

cf. Thelaira sp. (Tachinidae, Dexiinae) – 20.06.2022

cf. Chrysops sp. (Tabanidae) – 03.03.2022

Sciomyzidae sp. – 25.06.2022

Palpopleura portia ♂ (Libellulidae) – 16.06.2022

Palpopleura sp. ♀ (Libellulidae) – 18.03.2022

cf. Trithemis arteriosa (Libellulidae) – 23.02.2022

Libellulidae sp. – 26.02.2022

Mantidae sp. with Solanum incanum (Solanaceae) – 04.07.2022

Mantidae sp. (nymph) – 25.06.2022

Acrididae, Tropidopolinae sp. – 01.03.2022

cf. Acrididae sp. – 18.03.2022

Acrididae sp. – 15.03.2022

cf. Neoscona sp. (Araneidae) – 29.03.2022

Thyene inflata (Salticidae) – 31.10.2022

Salticidae sp. – 04.07.2022

cf. Pleuroloma sp. (Xystodesmidae) with clay soil – 18.03.2022

Achatina sp. (Achatinidae) – 14.03.2022

Gallery images © ITCER e.V., 2023

Resources

Biodiversity Information Resources

• GBIF – Global Biodiversity Information Facility (Kenya)
• EOL – Encyclopedia of Life
• Biodiversity Atlas Kenya
• Africa Wild

Donation and Membership

ITCER welcomes everyone interested in contributing to the training and communication of environmental science relevant for local communities in East Africa. ... more